83

For Queen and Country

Evree was moving about the room she was in, the best word to describe her motions would probably be she vibrated. She was afraid to leave the room, since in the throes of her addiction, she had failed to ask about O'Neill and the others. Until she knew their fate, and maybe not even then, she dared not act. But neither could she sit still.

Her wanderings had taken her near the table where the flower sat. Every cell in her body, it seemed, screamed for her to inhale its scent and quell the intense craving. She could tell that Draylea was feeling it too, the drug was so suffused throughout the body's system that it would have taken more concentration than Evree was able to muster at the moment to shield her host from the effects. She fought back another sob and lifted her hand to dash the innocent-looking poison to the floor.

'No.' Even given their method of communication, Draylea's 'voice' was weak. 'The vial could be an accident. But if you do this, Konaseus will know that you know.'

Reluctantly, Evree pulled her shaking hand back. But she went back across the room, well away from the temptation. She remembered that she was supposed to be resting, little though she felt like it, and laid back down on the couch, hoping that O'Neill would be able to rescue her.

&&&&&&

"Five minutes isn't very long," Daniel remarked unnecessarily.

"Then let's not waste any of it," Sam said. "Any ideas, sir?"

"If you supply your genetic code," Teal'c warned. "In her current state, Evree will almost certainly comply with Konaseus' wishes."

"I know," Jack replied. "And if I don't, he'll kill her."

Sam was blushing deep red, but still managed to speak. "You.., um.., didn't happen to bring.., anything with you, did you, sir?"

"No." O'Neill gave her a pained look. "This is a mission. I was trying to treat Evree like just another team member. Which meant not sleeping with her."

"Well we can't just stand here and let her die, either," Daniel pointed out. "She may be the next Tok'ra queen, probably will be, once they're sure of her. They need a queen, and we need the allies."

"Do you think you could persuade her to produce one of those blank symbiotes like Egeria created?" Carter suggested. "It would probably satisfy Konaseus. I doubt if he'd be able to tell anything was wrong with it until it was too late."

"Risky," Teal'c mused. "But it may be the only way to placate Konaseus without actually giving him anything."

"Hold the phone a minute," O'Neill protested. "We're still talking about my personal DNA here."

"Jack, Evree is too important to allow her to die," Daniel argued. "If you won't do it.., I.., I will." Daniel suddenly found the floor of supreme interest.

"There is another possibility," Sam suggested. "With all his little tech toys and mechanical advantages, Konaseus might find a way to do what would amount to artificial insemination."

"Don't give him any ideas, Carter," Jack cautioned. He mulled the possibilities, and didn't see but a single answer. "Do you think he'll want to watch?" he asked in horror.

&&&&

Evree lay on her couch, fighting to stop the tremors, which she was sure that Konaseus would notice. And despite the fact that she knew that it was an effect of the drug he had given her, she was still thinking, if not warm, fuzzy thoughts about Konaseus, neither was she able to recreate the nearly paralyzing fear she had had for him initially.

She knew also that not only was she going to have to try to behave as though she were not going through withdrawal, but she was also going to have to attempt to pretend a drug-induced affection for Konaseus to maintain the illusion.

It wasn't going to be easy.

When she heard someone enter, she didn't see, her back was to the door, she steeled herself, tried to muster up a smile. She pulled herself up off the couch and turned around, false smile in place to face..,

"O'Neill!" She flung herself at him.

&&&&&

"What if it doesn't work the first time?" Konaseus was marching O'Neill to Evree's apartment, and Jack, as much as he wanted to see Evree, was stalling.

"What precisely do you mean?" Konaseus gave O'Neill a strange look. He truly hadn't understood the question.

"Well, with humans, a woman doesn't necessarily get pregnant the first time," O'Neill replied. "Sometimes it can take years..,"

"It does not work that way with Goa'uld," Konaseus answered shortly. "Enjoy your time with her, Colonel O'Neill. It shall be the last." He turned to face O'Neill for a moment. "I am giving you the entire night together. For her sake, not yours. But should you fail to do that which is required of you, you will watch her die, and then die yourself, just as painfully." He stopped, opened a door and gestured for O'Neill to enter.

Jack stepped inside, and while the door was shutting behind him began taking in the details of the opulent room. Then, he detected movement, saw a dainty figure struggle to rise from a couch and turn around slowly. Once she saw him, the false grin became the genuine article, and she launched herself at him.

"O'Neill!" She hit him with enough force that he was glad he'd braced himself for the impact. "I knew that you would come to rescue me."

&&&&&&

"What do you think Konaseus will do with us after he's gotten what he wants?" Daniel was full of nervous energy, and at the moment, talk was his only outlet for it.

"Kill us, probably." Teal'c didn't seem particularly disturbed by the idea. Either he still had faith that they could get themselves free or would be rescued, or else he was truly unafraid of dying.

"Since he seems to know so much about the Goa'uld, he might have the intelligence gathering resources to know that we'd make a pretty good bargaining chip with some of them," Sam offered. She wasn't exactly sure if that was a better prospect than death.

"Well, I doubt that he'll try to turn us into slaves," Daniel mused. "He's got his robots for that."

"It's a shame we didn't have more time to discuss things," Sam put in. "We could have had Colonel O'Neill suggest that Evree ask Konaseus if she could keep her 'staff'."

"Maybe Jack will think of it on his own," Daniel said. "I suppose we all agree that there's not a snowball's chance in hell that he'll just let us go when he's done with us?"

"Nice thought," Sam replied. "But I can't see it happening, myself."

"Nor can I," Teal'c agreed. "Should we get the opportunity to escape, however, we should be at our best. Since sleep is one thing we can do in this room, I suggest that we do so."

"I'm too wired to be sleeping right now," Daniel remarked. "I guess that means that I get first watch."

Teal'c looked at Sam who still appeared as if she hadn't fully shaken the effects of the tranquilizer. "I shall take the second watch, then. Sleep well, Major Carter."

Sam hid a huge yawn. "I probably will."

&&&&&

Konaseus was in no mood to sleep himself. He paced, he fidgeted. Part of him wanted to monitor the activities in the queen's chamber, even though he wanted to see her with no other man but himself. And, he was forced, in self-honesty to admit, he only wanted to look because he wanted O'Neill out as soon as the deed was done. But he had promised them the whole night together, and that they would have. He may not have liked O'Neill, but he did respect him.

&&&&&

For long moments, Jack just held the trembling queen in his arms. Slowly it began to sink in to him that the trembling was wrong. He could see the flower from here, surely Evree had been keeping her face buried in it most of the time she'd been awake. He held her out at arm's length and studied her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, giving the appearance that she'd been crying. There was a shiny layer of perspiration on her ashen face. And she was shaking visibly. Then, the pieces of the puzzle clicked together for Jack. "How did you find out?"

Evree stared at him for a moment in confusion, then she realized that he must have know she was addicted, had, probably almost from the start, surely. And could likewise see the signs of withdrawal she had tried so hard to hide. "You knew?" she queried. "Why didn't you tell me, O'Neill?"

"I was afraid that under the influence the way you were, you wouldn't believe me," he confessed. He pulled her back into his arms. "Of all the things that Konaseus has done, that's the one I want to kick his fat butt for the most."

"Draylea told me." Evree had jumped back to the original question, which she noticed she hadn't yet answered. "What have I done, O'Neill? I have gotten both of us addicted."

"No, you didn't," Jack said firmly. "You had no way of knowing. It's Konaseus that's responsible, not you."

"I should have been able to detect the drug and counteract its effects before it got so far," Evree declared, wallowing in guilt. "I have endangered the entire mission with my recklessness. You were right not to want to bring me along."

Jack sighed. He didn't know whether or not he could pull her out of the pit she was digging for herself, and he wasn't sure he had the time. But there was one thing he could set her straight on. "I didn't want to bring you along because I wanted to leave you where I knew you'd be safe," he informed her gently. "And I wasn't sure I could be effective with you around to distract me. As far as the mission goes, you've done fine. None of us saw it coming, and at least you have the excuse that you're new to this."

"Truly?" Evree perked up almost as if she had had a hit of the drug. But it was only momentary. Then, her mood deflated again. "But if we are just standing here talking, it means you are not here to rescue me, doesn't it?"

"We're.., working on it," O'Neill answered evasively, though point in fact, he didn't have a real clue how they were going to get out of this.

Evree racked her less than optimally functioning brain for an answer, but could find none. "Then why are you here?" she asked bluntly.

O'Neill sighed again. This was really going to be the hard part. Explaining exactly why they were going to deliberately do something they'd been going to great pains to avoid almost since the start of their relationship.

&&&&&&

"Any word yet?" General Hammond asked the gate tech.

"No, sir," came the reply. "And they should have reported in a good half hour ago."

"Give them another hour," Hammond said slowly. "Something may have come up to delay them."

"And if they don't?"

"Then, we'll start worrying," Hammond replied grimly. He had jumped a few steps himself though. He was already worrying.

&&&&&

"But we agreed that is was not in anyone's best interests for me to have your genetic data." As O'Neill had expected, the explanations were not going well.

"It's also not in anyone's best interests to have you die, either," he stated. "Besides, we're not totally without options. Do you remember us telling you about Egeria?"

"The Tok'ra queen?" Evree looked up at him wonderingly. "I am not sure if I can do that, O'Neill, although I will try. But what of the others? Goa'uld have litters, as you have said upon occasion."

"Is there any way you could control how many you give birth to?" O'Neill asked wincing at her quoting one of his less than flattering remarks. He really hadn't given any thought to any symbiote by the one Konaseus would take into himself. And, for a Goa'uld, Evree was quite maternal.

Evree considered. "I might be able to keep it down to a mere handful," she conceded reluctantly. "But after Konaseus takes one, that will leave the rest. Poor, mindless things, destined to die."

"I know you don't like the idea," O'Neill said, holding her closer. "Come to that, I'm not all that thrilled with it myself. But it may be the only way we can all get out of this alive. And, incidentally keep Konaseus from fulfilling his delusions of godhood."

"What if Konaseus has some method for detecting that the offspring are defective?" Evree was only seeking information now. She had gone through much for what she believed in before, and would do so again, however reluctantly.

"Let him think it's because of that damn drug he addicted you to," Jack replied, with overtones of a snarl. "I just hope that crap hasn't screwed you up permanently."

"Is that possible?" Evree was starting to get that horrified look on her face again, and O'Neill could have kicked himself for saying something that didn't really need to be said at the time. She had enough to deal with as it was, she didn't need to be worrying about 'what ifs'.

"Why don't you try to forget that I ever said that?" Jack requested ruefully. "We'll worry about that when the time comes." He looked down into the chocolate-brown eyes that gazed so trustingly up at him, despite everything that had happened. He bent down and brushed his lips across hers, more reassuring than provocative. "Right now, why don't we just do what we can to increase the odds in our favor?" he suggested. Then, he kissed her again, and this one wasn't meant to be reassuring.

&&&&&&

"Teal'c." Daniel said it softly, so as not to wake Sam. But he wasn't about to touch a battle-ready Jaffa while he was sleeping. He wasn't feeling suicidal at the moment.

Teal'c came awake immediately, and looked at him questioningly.

Daniel shook his head. "Nothing stirring. We probably don't even need to keep watch, but..,"

"Best to be prepared for any eventuality," the Jaffa finished for him. He looked over where Carter slept so soundly despite having nothing softer than the bare floor to lie on. "I am concerned about Major Carter. She seemed to have a great deal of difficulty shaking off the effects of the tranquilizer."

"Maybe she was sitting closer to wherever it came out and got a bigger dose than the rest of us," Daniel hypothesized.

"A possibility," Teal'c conceded. "But there is also a chance that she has a physical antipathy to it."

"I hope not," Daniel replied worriedly. "We already know that we're going to be taking back one person in need of immediate medical attention. I was hoping that we could kind of keep the numbers down to that one."

Teal'c considered. "I am quite well rested. Perhaps it would be best if I let Major Carter sleep through her watch. If, as you suggested, she merely had a higher rate of exposure to the gas, then the extra sleep may be what she needs to get over the aftereffects."

"Your call." Daniel yawned, the adrenalin had burned off, and was starting to call in its debts. "I'll see you in the morning then."

Teal'c nodded, then took his place as sentry near the door. Daniel took off his jacket and tried to wad it into an acceptable pillow and laid down, hoping he could sleep.

&&&&&&&

O'Neill looked at the figure laying beside him, carefully pushing back a sizable quantity of hair so that he could see her features. There was the occasional twitch and tremor as the throes of withdrawal made themselves evident, even while Evree slept. He hoped that she could keep sleeping a while longer, just to spare her the agonies that were surely to come as her body became even more desperate for that which it had become dependant upon. But his internal clock said that it must be morning, or nearly so, and Konaseus was sure to be around soon. Jack didn't know if he could keep the big man from waking Evree, or even if she would keep sleeping, but he thought it would be best if he was up and dressed and ready to go when their captor showed up.

Getting up without disturbing Evree was a bigger challenge than just sliding out of bed. First, O'Neill had to slide his arm out from under her. That took a little time, as there were also the masses of hair to consider. Usually she put in a loose braid to sleep in, but there hadn't been time for that last night, and Jack idly wondered if Konaseus had, or would build a robot that could deal with tending to Evree's hair.

O'Neill had barely gotten his pants on when the door opened. He should have known that Konaseus wouldn't bother to knock. He hurriedly yanked his shirt on as the big man entered and put a finger to his lips hoping that Konaseus would get the hint. And, more importantly, take it.

Just as O'Neill started making his way towards the door, hopefully keeping Konaseus from bothering Evree, a low moan came from the direction of the couch, rapidly followed by another.

Both men moved towards the disturbance, but O'Neill was nearer and quicker. He looked at Evree, and as he suspected, she was still asleep. Two nightmares in two nights was unusual nowadays. Either the stress was getting to her, or it had something to do with the drug Konaseus had introduced into her system. He sat carefully on the edge of the couch. It was still warm from where he'd been laying.

"Sshh, it's all right," Jack soothed. "I'm here." Experience had taught him to speak before he touched her. Touching her without announcing himself, as it were, tended to set her off into a violent screaming episode. Now that she knew he was here, if only subconsciously, it should be okay to touch her. He gently pushed the hair out of her face again, stroked a pale cheek. "Evree, it's O'Neill. You're having a bad dream, honey."

Konaseus stood near and watched as O'Neill handled a situation that was obviously familiar to him. "What ails her?" he demanded softly. What could give a god nightmares?

Jack didn't answer, but gathered the shaking Evree into his arms, exposing her bare, hideously scarred back where Konaseus could see it.

For once, Konaseus was truly taken aback. Who would dare to treat a god thus? Who could? And why had she not healed herself in a sarcophagus? It did explain the nightmares, though.

"You will always be here to protect me, won't you, O'Neill?" Evree murmured. "I only feel truly safe when you are near."

Jack wasn't sure if it was a new ploy, or just Evree coming out of a nightmare, but it wouldn't hurt to play it honestly either way. "As long as I can manage," he promised, without promising anything specific.

Konaseus looked about ready to boil over, but from appearances, his rage was not focused on O'Neill, even though Jack was still holding 'his' queen in his arms. His gaze was fixed on Evree's disfigured back.

"Who dared to do such a thing?" he snarled.

Evree jumped. She had been aware that Konaseus was near, just not that near. She laid her head on O'Neill's shoulder and tried to regulate the beat of a heart that seemed to want to pound hard and loud enough to be heard several feet away. or so it seemed to her.

O'Neill stroked her hair and let her cuddle. For all they knew, although he hoped not, it could be the last time. "It was a Goa'uld name of Ahriman," he informed Konaseus. No harm in letting him have the information. Then, he couldn't resist adding, "That was the last guy to try to make Evree do something she didn't want to do."

"What did he try to make her do?" Konaseus was all ears now, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.

"Breed," said Evree shortly, pulling away from O'Neill so that she could slip something on before Konaseus could see more than she cared to show him. Once decent, she turned a plastic smile in his direction. "But of course with you it is different, isn't it? You're not forcing me."

"Nor would I," Konaseus lied smoothly. "Seeing just what it would take to force you to cooperate."

Despite the conversation, O'Neill could see that Konaseus was getting twitchy, so he rose to his feet after one final squeeze. "You're wrong about that, Konaseus," he drawled lazily. "Ahriman never got what he wanted."