Chapter Two

It was dark by the time Jack reached the grounded mothership. Thanking all his lucky stars that the outside of the pyramid was relatively unguarded, he sneaked into the palace.

This mothership was different in layout and design to any Jack had been on before and he soon realised he had absolutely no idea where the cells were, and, Special Ops trained or not, there was only so long he could sneak around on a Goa'uld ship before getting caught.

His cheerful train of thought was interrupted by a piercing scream, coming from a room to Jack's left. He sneaked a look though the doorway.

The doorway opened out onto a darkened balcony, below which was something that looked like an amphitheatre. The lighting was such that anyone on the balcony could not be seen by anyone in the room below.

The scream came again. And now that he could hear it better, Jack knew who it was. 'Carter. Damn.'

Jack looked over the balcony to see what was going on in the room.

Sam Carter was strapped to a raised platform. Beside her was a large screen, in her head was what looked, to Jack, like the memory recall device that Hathor had used on them almost six years previously.

Sam was obviously in a lot of physical pain as well as seeming utterly confused. Jack wondered if she'd been given something like that 'Blood of Sokar' thing again.

On Sam's other side stood a woman. From her voice and demeanour she was a Goa'uld.

The Goa'uld spoke. "We have your friends. You will tell us where to find the one called O'Neill."

Sam didn't reply, just shook her head. Unable, or unwilling to answer.

The Goa'uld smiled at Sam's resistance. She raised her hand in which she held a pain stick. She touched the weapon to Sam's stomach and discharged it.

Immediately the screen swam with horrible images from Sam's memory.

Once the agony had subsided the Goa'uld tried again.

"Where is O'Neill?" She asked.

"He's not here." Sam said though gritted teeth. "He doesn't go off-world anymore." This much information seemed to exhaust her, and she stopped struggling against her restraints.

Her uniform was torn in several places Jack didn't want to think about. She was cut and bruised too, showing the pain stick hadn't been the only torture implement used.

Jack gritted his teeth, remembering when Baal had tortured him.

This time the Goa'uld actually laughed. "We know he is here, Colonel Carter. My Jaffa saw him come through the Stargate along with the shol'va, Teal'c; a Tok'ra named Selmak, and another man we do not know the identity of. We have captured the others, but O'Neill managed to elude my Jaffa. He is here, Colonel Carter."

"No…" Sam's voice was broken, distraught.

"No matter. I believe O'Neill will come to us. Perhaps were we to hurt you further…" She touched the pain stick to Carter's stomach again.

Before Jack had fully realised what he was doing, he said, "Don't." His voice carried into the room below.

"Who is that?" The Goa'uld asked, her tone of voice indicating that she was enjoying this immensely.

Sam's memory provided the answer. The screen displayed a montage of images of Jack.

"O'Neill." The Goa'uld said, happily.

She brought out a knife and held it to Carter's throat. "Do not attempt to harm us, or Colonel Carter will die."

When no reply was forthcoming, the Goa'uld's grip tightened on Sam. "You will disarm yourself and emerge from the shadows slowly.

"Like hell I will." Jack replied.

The Goa'uld laughed again. "Ah, O'Neill, you do not understand. I will kill her, and every one of your friends, until you comply with my wishes, and those of my lord Baal."

There was silence from the balcony. Then the sound on Jack's P-90 hitting the ground. Various clunks and clinks followed that were the sounds of O'Neill completely disarming himself.

He found the stairs and began to descend into the light, slowly, hands up. He was wearing only his basic uniform, having removed his flak vest.

"Thank you for your co-operation." The Goa'uld said.

"No problem. You can let her go now." Jack said.

The Goa'uld ignored his suggestion. "So you are the one called O'Neill." The Goa'uld said.

"I am," Jack replied. "And you are?"

"Sir?" Sam sounded incredulous; as if she wasn't sure he was really there.

"Its okay, Carter."

"It is not." The Goa'uld said. "Take her away!" She commanded imperiously. Her Jaffa began to move towards Sam. "But first…" The Goa'uld waved a hand in Jack's direction. Four Jaffa aimed their staff weapons at Jack. They fired. Jack fell to the ground, obviously dead.

Sam screamed. The Jaffa dragged her from the room.

The cells were cold. The Jaffa had thrown Sam in with her friends about two hours ago. They'd left the memory device in her head, and had set up the screen outside, so that her friends had to watch the awful memories roiling around in her mind.

Every attempt they made to talk to her or comfort her was met as though they were trying to hurt her. Even Jacob and Pete Shanahan got this reaction. Teal'c ended up with scratches down his cheek.

"Its like she doesn't even know us!" Shanahan exclaimed, frustrated.

His outburst was followed by a whimper from Sam and the screen began displaying images of horrible memories again.

Jacob glared at Shanahan, then said, "She is severely traumatised."

Shanahan, visibly chastened, did not reply.

Eventually Daniel said quietly, "Wonder what's happened to Jack?"

He hadn't been quiet enough. Sam screamed. The screen showed Jack walking into the room where they had tortured Sam. His hands were up.

/"So you are the one called O'Neill." The Goa'uld said.

"I am." Jack was unarmed. "And you are?"

"Sir?" Sam seemed vaguely coherent, but incredulous; as if she wasn't sure he was really there.

"Its okay, Carter."

"It is not." The Goa'uld said. "Take her away!"

The Jaffa began to move towards Sam. "But first…" The Goa'uld waved a hand in Jack's direction. Four Jaffa fired their staff weapons at him. Jack fell to the ground, dead.

Sam screamed./

"Oh god." Daniel whispered.

"This does not make sense." Teal'c said.

"What?" Daniel asked. He was too stricken by the death of his friend to really think.

"Why would Baal go to the trouble of having us captured, only to kill O'Neill?"

"Teal'c has a point, Daniel." Jacob said.

No one spoke for a long time. Sam sat shivering and sobbing in the corner of the cell.

About an hour later the doors leading down to the cells opened. The occupants of the cell instinctively moved to hide Sam from view. Two Jaffa marched to a point in front of the cells. They were followed by…

"Jack!" Daniel yelled.

"Silence!" One of the Jaffa screeched pushing his staff weapon through the bars to shove Jackson backwards. O'Neill appeared unmoved.

Jack was still wearing his BDU's; there were holes in the material.

"O'Neill?" Teal'c questioned.

Jack's eyes flashed. "Shol'va!" He hissed, his guttural tone revealing the symbiote that was really speaking.

The shock in the cell was palpable.

"Leave us!" The Goa'uld inside O'Neill barked, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture that was just too… Jack.

'Wait a minute…' Daniel thought, narrowing his eyes.

"My lord!" One of the Jaffa protested.

"Kree!" The Goa'uld yelled. "Leave us! Do not return until I call for you!"

The two Jaffa abruptly turned and exited the room. Closing the door behind them. The expression on the Goa'uld's face softened, into one that, while better, was still quite unlike Jack.

"Do not be alarmed. I am Nerron, I am Tok'ra."

"I know you." Selmak replied, inclining his head.

Before Nerron could speak Teal'c interrupted. "How can we be sure that you are indeed Nerron?"

Nerron nodded and his head dropped to his chest. When it came up it was wearing an irritated expression that was so Jack that Daniel sighed in relief and Teal'c visibly relaxed.

"Damn sneaky Tok'ra…" Jack was muttering.

"O'Neill, are you well?" Teal'c asked.

"I'm fine, Teal'c. You? How's the shoulder?"

"I am also fine." Teal'c said, smiling at his friend.

"Daniel? Jacob? Shanahan?" Jack said looking at each of them in turn.

"We're all fine, Jack" Daniel said. "What happened to you?"

But Jack wasn't listening. "Where's Carter?" He asked.

"She's here. Tell us what happened." Daniel said evasively.

"They shot me. I woke up in another damn sarcophagus, tied up. Then they stuck the snake in my head. Nerron explained that he was an undercover Tok'ra –"

"I'll bet you took some convincing." Jacob said, ruefully.

Jack nodded. "Then my lady he said sarcastically, meaning the Goa'uld who had captured them, "suggested I might like to interrogate the prisoners myself. For interrogate, read torture." He paused, "Now, where's Carter?"

"She's in bad shape, Jack. She isn't really with it. She doesn't know who we are." Daniel said.

"Is that what happened to Teal'c's face?" Jack asked, indicating the large scratch marks.

Daniel nodded. "They left that thing going." He added, pointing to the memory screen.

"Stand back," was all Jack said. He raised his hand, which had on it a ribbon device, which he used to retract the cell doors into the ceiling. He walked into the cell, saw Sam and moved towards her.

"Jack, I don't think you should-" Jacob was cut off by Sam's warning growl and Jack jumping back slightly.

Jack stood in thought for a moment, before turning to Jacob. "Jake, please don't kill me." He said.

Jacob shot him a puzzled look.

Jack was already moving back towards Sam. He stopped just out of her range and yelled. "Lieutenant Colonel Carter! On your feet!"

Sam's body responded before her tortured mind could stop her.

Behind Jack, the memory screen flickered to life.

/Sam was sitting on the deck of the Prometheus, she looked a mess.

Jack's voice came from nowhere. "All right Carter, come on, on your feet, let's go."

Sam looked up to see him standing in darkness in the doorway." I was wondering when you were going to show up."

Jack walked into the room. He was dressed in civvies. "You just gonna sit there?"

"Too tired, sir."

This seemed to amuse Jack. "Samantha, I'm a figment of your imagination. You're gonna call me Sir?" He said, sinking down next to her.

"Old habit. Sorry." Sam said, she really did sound tired.

"So, you gonna save yourself or what?"

"I've tried."

"Just giving up then?"

"I just don't know what else to do right now."

"You'll think of something." Jack sounded absolutely certain.

"Came to give me a pep talk?" Sam asked.

"That's what friends are for."

"Friends?"

"Hey. This is you talking here. Might as well be honest."

"What if I quit the Air Force? Would that change anything or is it just an excuse?"

"I would never ask you to give up your career." Jack said

"Because you don't feel anything for me?" Sam challenged.

"Carter." Jack admonished.

"I'd let you go right now if I knew."

"That easy?"

"I didn't say it would be easy."

"Then what's stopping you if you really wanna know?"

"I'm trying."

"Maybe it's not me that's the problem here. Let's face it, I'm not that complex." Jack said.

"Me?" Sam asked.

"Sam. I'm a safe bet."

"As long as I'm thinking about you, setting my sights on what I think is unobtainable, there's no chance of being hurt by someone else."

"Jacob was right. You deserve more." Jack said. "I will always be there for you, no matter what. Believe me."

"So what now?" Sam asked.

"Go save your ass."

"One last thing."

The next second she was kissing Jack; his hands were in her hair.

Then… they weren't.

"Never mind." Sam said./

Daniel glanced at Shanahan, who looked apoplectic. Luckily Shanahan refrained from saying anything, probably due to the fact that Jacob would probably kill him if he upset Sam again.

Then Sam's mind finally caught up with her body. She tried to hit out at Jack, but he ducked and spun her around, holding her gently, but forcefully against the wall. He kicked her ankles together, to show he didn't have any intention of either raping or hurting her.

She struggled, raw sounds coming from her throat. Jack held her gently, but firmly.

"Shh." He soothed. "Carter, its okay. You're safe now."

The images behind him belied his words. "Oh for cryin' out loud… go to your safe place, Carter." It had been a sort of joke, but the images changed.

/Sam was with Cassie, many years previously. She was pushing her on the swings at the park./

/Sam was sitting on Janet Fraiser's family room carpet, slightly inebriated. She and the doctor were laughing heartily at something./

/Sam was floating in one of Apophis' death gliders, just after they defeated him the first time. She was looking up at the Earth. The sight was breathtaking./

/Sam was crouched down behind a rock at the destroyed Alpha Site. Jack was beside her.

"You wanna get up?" Jack asked.

Sam was obviously exhausted. "I just need to rest for a minute." She replied.

Jack looked down at her for a moment, then said, "C'mere."

He put his arm around her and she leaned into him./

"What the hell!" Shanahan, who had apparently forgotten his earlier warning, exclaimed.

Daniel, Jacob and Teal'c all glared at the man. Jack ignored him, as Sam, having been almost relaxed, was starting to panic again.

All of the men turned to look at the screen when they heard Sam's voice.

/"What do you mean, nursery? Where's Cassie going to sleep?" Sam asked Pete.

"I didn't think she'd be staying with us."

"I don't care what you thought, Pete! Cassie is like a daughter to me!"

They were in Sam's den, Shanahan was sitting comfortably on the couch and Sam was standing in front of him glaring.

"She's not your daughter though, is she? And she'll be fine, we'll get a pull out sofa for when she comes to stay."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Sam shouted.

"Look, Sam, I'm not makin' room in my new house for some alien kid who –"

"What!" It wasn't Sam who yelled this time. It was Cassie herself.

Pete and Sam both looked like they didn't know what to say. Finally Sam said, "Cassie…"

"What did your boyfriendjust say about me?" Cassie raged at Sam.

"He didn't mean it like that –"

"Oh for cryin' out loud, Sam!" Cassie yelled, sounding remarkably like Jack, "When are you gonna wake up?" Cassie stormed out of the room into the kitchen. Sam followed her. Pete flicked on the TV, unconcerned.

In the kitchen Cassie was dialling Sam's cordless phone.

"Cassie… Cassie, stop. It's one in the morning, who are you calling?"

Cassie ignored her. Then, "Hello? Jack? Were you asleep? … Yes I'm fine…. The flight was fine…. I'm fine, honestly, I just need to ask you a favour… Can I come stay at your place this weekend? … Well I was gonna stay at Sam's but I don't think she has room… No we didn't have a fight... Please, Jack … Okay, thanks… see you soon." The teenager hung up the phone.

"Cassie, you don't have to stay at General O'Neill's." Sam protested.

"I'm not staying in this house while he's here, Sam. I'm sorry." Cassie turned and left the kitchen.

Sam followed her as she collected the bag she'd dropped by the front door.

"Cassie…"

"I'm gonna wait outside for Jack. I'll call you tomorrow, Sam." Cassie exited the house.

Sam looked after her, watched her from the window until she saw Jack's truck pull up. Cassie got in and the truck pulled away./

The image faded and was replaced.

/Sam entered the new house that she shared with Pete Shanahan. He was standing in the hallway.

"You're late." Shanahan sounded angry.

"My team was delayed." Sam replied. She looked very tired.

"By what?"

"You know I can't tell you."

Suddenly, Shanahan lost his temper. "I'm sick of this!"

Sam looked surprised. "Sick of what?"

"You, going off to work and me not knowing what's going on!" His anger seemed to subside slightly. "Thankfully it'll change when we're married."

"What?" Sam asked, her tone revealing that she knew where this was going and didn't like it.

"Well, I assumed you were gonna take a backseat, once we're married." Shanahan replied.

For a moment Sam was speechless. "Pete, I just got command of my own team! I'm needed at work!"

"I'm sure they can find someone else to command your –"

"Pete, I love my job! They don't have to find someone else! Anyway," Sam lowered her voice, "I'm the foremost expert on the Stargate, General O'Neill needs me at the SGC."

"O'Neill again! And when is that guy gonna give you a holiday?" Pete was yelling now.

"Pete –"

"I'm sick of that guy knowing more about you and your life than I do! I'm your fiancé for god's sake!"

"Pete –"/

The memory faded. Jack was shushing Sam, making soothing noises, still holding her tightly.

Jacob glared at Shanahan for daring to talk to his daughter that way.

Surprisingly, it was Daniel that actually said something to the man. "You obviously don't know Sam as well as you thought." He said, careful not to frighten the woman in question.

"Its okay, Carter. You're ok. You're safe." Jack was murmuring.

Behind him, the memory screen lit up again.

/Sam walked into the infirmary. It was empty except for Jack, who was sitting on his bed, pulling his t-shirt on. His abdomen was bandaged.

"Sir, heard you were up and around."

Jack looked up "Yeah… Uh…still a little tender but they said I could go home."

"We're lucky that staff blast hit you where it did. That new vest insert works well." Sam said, obviously trying to keep the conversation positive.

Jack, however, didn't seem to be playing ball. "Didn't help Fraiser much."

Sam took a deep breath at the mention of her friend. "No."

After a moment's silence, Jack got up and reached for his BDU jacket. "How's Cassie?"

"She's a strong kid, she survives. You know."

"Yeah." Jack carefully pulled on his jacket. "You speaking at the memorial?"

Sam nodded. She took a deep breath "Sir…I…I just wanted to say…" She paused, obviously finding this difficult. "When you were lying there I…" Sam was now fighting back tears in earnest. "I'm really glad you're okay."

Sam was crying now and looked away.

Jack moved closer, slowly. Sam looked up at him.

"C'mere." He said softly.

Jack pulled Sam into his arms. She held onto him tightly, as if trying to reassure herself he was really there./

The image faded.

"Jack?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, Carter. It's me." Jack sounded infinitely relieved that she was coherent again, and didn't seem to notice her use of his first name.

Sam shook her head. "You're a Goa'uld. I can sense it."

Inwardly, Daniel swore. They should have remembered Sam's ability to sense the naquadah present in symbiotes.

Jack, however, didn't seem phased. "It's a Tok'ra. Damn spies are everywhere."

"You're lying." Sam sounded slightly desperate now. "I saw him die." This obviously conjured strong enough emotion to trigger the memory recall device, as the screen lit up again.

Daniel, Teal'c and Jacob didn't want to watch, but couldn't not. Shanahan, however, seemed to have no problem watching Sam's memories played out on-screen.

This time the memory was just a flash, long enough for the watchers to see what was going on.

/Jack, on this ship, getting hit by multiple staff blasts./

"No, Carter. They had a sarcophagus." Jack said, calmly. "This is me. Believe me."

It seemed a lot to ask of Sam's panicked mind. But she seemed to be considering it.

"I'm gonna let you go now, Carter." Jack said. Slowly he released her and stepped back slightly.

For a moment Sam didn't move. Then she turned and looked up at Jack.

"I thought I'd lost you." She said. Daniel felt sure she wouldn't have said that had she noticed the others in the cell. Again the screen flickered and displayed flashes of Sam's life.

/Jack unconscious and freezing to death in Antarctica./

/Jack impaled on the gateroom wall./

/Jack after being implanted with a Goa'uld and then frozen, at Hathor's base./

/Jack going to the Tok'ra to be healed of the Ancient plague by Kanan./

/Jack stumbling back through the Stargate after escaping from Baal, his clothing full of bloody holes./

/Teal'c and Sam sitting in the SGC locker room, Teal'c asked "Have you given up hope of finding O'Neill?"

"Hope?" She repeated. "No. I'm starting to think Dr Lee is right. I don't think the doorway is the answer. It's been almost a month Teal'c, if there were a way back… It's just, it feels like we just lost Daniel, and I don't know if I can…"

She began to cry and Teal'c pulled her into a hug./

/Jack getting hit by a staff weapon blast and falling to the ground./

/Jack slumped in the Ancients' chair after defeating Anubis, Sam spoke: "Please, Jack."/

"C'mere." Jack said. Sam stepped forwards and Jack gently pulled the memory device out. She winced and he put his arms around her. She clung to him.

"I thought I'd lost you." They heard her repeat, murmuring into his shoulder.

"Yeah well, rumours of my death, yadda yadda yadda." He repeated what he'd said to Jacob earlier.

Sam snorted her amusement.

"There you are." Jack said, relief in every syllable.

Sam was shivering. Jack shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. "Here." She took it and pulled it on, snuggling down into it.

"Now, you ready to play nice, or are you gonna assault Teal'c again?"

Sam nodded and Jack turned to allow her to see the rest of the cell.

"Hey kiddo." Jacob said. Sam went and hugged him. She smiled at Daniel and Teal'c.

"You guys okay?" She asked.

"We are fine, ColonelCarter." Teal'c said, warmly.

Sam finally turned to the cell's final occupant. "Pete? What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I called the base for you and they put me through to the General's office. He told me you were overdue, and I offered my help in finding you. He accepted." Shanahan said.

Sam looked at O'Neill suspiciously. "Sir?"

"That's basically what happened, Carter." Jack said. Sam looked like she wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Jack. "Well, kids, we gotta go."

Jacob's head dipped down and came back up, the signal that Selmak wanted to talk. "O'Neill, I would like to talk with Nerron."

"Damn." Jack muttered, before he too dipped his head.

When he next spoke his voice took on the deep tone that indicated it was a symbiote speaking. "Selmak?" Nerron asked.

"Is there any possibility that we can take this ship?" Selmak asked.

Nerron smiled a slow, pleased smile. "I was thinking along those lines. I believe it is possible," he paused, and looked at SG-1, "as does O'Neill."

"How?" was all Selmak asked.

But Nerron was gone, and it was Jack who replied, "Follow my lead." Then he waved a hand to open the cell and moved outside the cell. Once outside he again switched to Nerron, who said: "Jaffa! Kree!"

Inside the cell Daniel remarked, "Now that's just weird." Teal'c and Sam nodded.

The two Jaffa entered the room. "My Lord?" one asked.

"Hand me your weapon." Nerron said.

The Jaffa handed over his staff weapon, and was promptly shot with it. Before the other could react he also went down under fire.

"Sorry T," Jack said in his own voice, "They didn't look the rebellion type." He opened the cell and SG-1 exited, followed by Jacob and Shanahan.

"Indeed." Teal'c replied, looking disdainfully at the bodies.

"Our weapons are just down the corridor," Jack said, giving Jacob the hand device.

Then he led the way out of the cells.

Taking over the ship was easier than they anticipated, with the help of Nerron. They split up into two teams, Sam, Pete and Teal'c, and Jack, Jacob and Daniel.

There relatively few Jaffa on board, most of them either having been killed or joined the rebellion. Evidently Baal did not think this outpost important enough to warrant the presence of his stolen Super Soldiers.

Once they had cleared the mothership of Jaffa, none of whom wished to join the rebellion, though the choice was offered, they met up in a corridor.

"Sir, we're all clear." Sam said.

"Same here, Carter." Jack paused, "You guys get the Goa'uld?" he asked.

"Actually, no. We couldn't find her, sir. We assumed you got her."

"Nope." Jack replied. "Okay, I want this done quickly. We'll split into teams of two. Jacob, you go with Teal'c, Carter you and Shanahan, Danny, you're with me."

As she turned away Sam smiled at the familiar commands.

"What?" Shanahan asked.

"Nothing. Just… feels like old times." Sam said.

"Why didn't you tell me your dad was a… what was it? A Gould?"

"He isn't. He's a Tok'ra."

"Oh. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You didn't need to know." Sam said, her tone not betraying the annoyance she felt at his questioning.

""O'Neill knew." Pete sulked.

"Of course he knew, we have worked together for eight years. He was there when dad became a Tok'ra." Sam snapped.

"So what is it between you and O'Neill? Did you guys ever…" Pete broke off at Sam's glare.

"Ever what?" She asked, her voice icy.

"Y'know, have a thing?" Pete asked, avoiding her eyes.

"No, we did not. He's my commanding officer; it's against regulations." Sam said, her voice still sub-zero.

"Oh." Pete said, still unable to get the images on the memory screen out of his head. "So why was he the only one you'd listen to, back in the cell?" He asked.

"I've known General O'Neill for nearly nine years, Pete," Sam explained patiently, "I trust him with my life."

"You don't trust me?"

"What is going on with you?" Sam asked, exasperated.

They walked on in silence for a minute, then Shanahan asked, "Why does O'Neill call your father 'dad'?"

"I don't know, really. It's just something he's always done. I think it's mostly to annoy dad." Sam replied.

"'Mostly'?" Pete questioned.

Sam remained silent.

Jacob and Teal'c were walking down another corridor, checking recesses as they went.

Teal'c glanced at Jacob, who appeared to be distracted. "Are you well, JacobCarter?"

Without preamble Jacob asked, "What do you think of Shanahan, Teal'c?"

"Should you not have this discussion with ColonelCarter?" Teal'c asked.

"Teal'c was that evasion?" Jacob asked. Teal'c inclined his head. "Anyway, I'm having this discussion with you." Jacob added.

"I do not believe he is a suitable companion for ColonelCarter to spend the remainder of her life with." Teal'c said.

"Well that was… honest." Jacob said. "Any reason for your apparent dislike of the man? Jack doesn't like him either, but won't talk about it."

Teal'c simply said, "PeteShanahan does not trust ColonelCarter."

Jacob nodded and the pair continued searching for the Goa'uld.

"You okay, Jack?" Daniel asked. They'd been walking in silence for some time, and he was worried about his friend.

"Huh? Yeah." Jack sounded distracted and irritated.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh… Nerron keeps nagging me about… something." Jack replied.

"You're arguing with Nerron?" Daniel asked, incredulous.

"Yeah, why?"

"Only you could argue with someone you're blended with."

"Actually it's a common occurrence." Jack said.

"Oh." The two men walked on in silence once more.

Then, "So why is he really here?" Daniel asked.

"I told you, he was undercover and they put him in my head…"

"Jack, that's not who I'm talking about and you know it." Daniel said.

Jack shrugged and tried again. "Jake just turned up at the –"

"Jack!" Daniel said, exasperated.

"Fine. He insisted. Said he'd expose the program if we lost Carter, all sorts of crap. And… I thought he could help Carter if she'd been… tortured, or somethin'." He paused then went on, "I mean, you had me and Teal'c, so it's only fair that Carter had her dad and her… fiancé."

Daniel looked up at his friend, but remained silent.

Suddenly, Jack stopped. "What?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"You wanna say something, I can tell." Jack narrowed his eyes at Daniel.

"I do not."

"You do."

"Do not.

"Do too."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Daniel!"

"It's just… you brought him along to help Sam, and it was you that ended up doing it." Daniel said.

When Jack said nothing, Daniel went on, "It just seems to me that –"

Jack cut him off, abruptly realising where this was going. "Don't even go there, Daniel." He began walking again, his long stride making it difficult for Daniel to keep pace.

Consequently, Jack rounded the corner before Daniel did. Daniel heard him cry out in pain,

"Jack!" He yelled, already running.

As he turned the corner he was hit square in the chest by a zat blast.

Sam heard Jack cry out and Daniel yell and began to run towards the sound, Shanahan close on her heels.
She skidded around the corner, P-90 at the ready, only to almost trip over Daniel's prone form.

The scene in front of her was horrible. Jack was on his knees in front of the Goa'uld that had captured them. The woman was using the same sort of hand device the Ashrak had used on Sam and Jolinar many years before. Jack was dying.

Sam took a split second to analyse the situation before opening fire on the Goa'uld. The woman went down under the hail of bullets and the hand device snapped off.

Jack fell to the ground.

Sam ran to his side just as Teal'c and Jacob entered the corridor. Teal'c moved to make sure Daniel was okay.

Sam looked down at Jack. "Sir?"