Content warning – strong language.
A Single Man of Courage – part eleven
Sam and Hassuf were shown into the same cell Jack had been left in the previous day. The guard with them gave Jack a hard kick in his side, smiling as he moaned with pain as he stirred. Sam had to fight with herself to keep her head down knowing any reaction would sign all their death warrants.
Hassuf grinned at the guard and then went into a sort of tirade with him. The guard laughed and spat at Jack before leaving then with a parting kick at the helpless man.
Sam hurried to Jack's side, reaching him as he began to properly regain consciousness. He felt cold and clammy to the touch. Hassuf handed her a mug of water and she crushed more antibiotics into it, hoping they would keep the risk of infection down. She raised his head slightly, pressing the mug to his lips.
"Come on Colonel. You've got to try and drink this," she whispered.
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Jack's good eye opened slightly. His vision swam and it was several moments before he could see the face so close to him.
"Sam?" he whispered, believing himself to be dreaming again.
The 'vision' nodded to him. "Colonel, please drink."
He did his best to comply, thinking how real his dream felt. As he drank, his head began to clear slightly.
"Not dream?" he asked, peering at Sam closely.
"No, I'm really here, Sir."
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Hassuf moved closer and began to speak to Jack softly.
"No, mustn't… don't stay …" He struggled to sit up, but fell back weakly as the room spun. His breathing was labored, his chest rattling painfully as he took short breaths.
"Colonel, stay still. This won't help."
Hassuf began to speak again. Jack lay still, obviously trying to take in all Hassuf was telling him. His expression became angry and as he replied to Hassuf, gasping for breath as he did so, before he laid his head back down, spent.
It was a short while before he had the breath to speak again.
"Carter, you get away and get the others back."
"We're all going, Sir. I don't know how yet exactly, but we're all going."
Jack shook his head. "Hassuf says both your lives are forfeit if I die. Leave now while ..." His words robbed him of his breath and Sam shushed him.
"You're not going to die. We're all going to the gate, and there's a chance we can do something - a chance General Hammond can help us. I'm going to give you a little morphine to help for now."
Jack sighed, shaking his head weakly, but Sam determinedly gave him enough of a dise to put him out. They'd barely had time to check his dressings when the guards returned.
Hassuf and Sam moved away keeping their heads down as the guards hauled Jack up and dragged him up the stairs, through the corridors, and out into a courtyard where several wagons stood waiting. Hassuf ushered Sam to one of them, gesturing for her to get in. He then called to the guards holding Jack and they placed him into the wagon with Sam.
The interior of the wagon was thickly lined with cushions and Sam got Jack into as comfortable position as she could, placing the cushions around him to prevent him from rolling once they were under way. Hassuf busied himself putting more things inside, including water, bowls and some food. He pointed to himself and signaled he would be driving then pulled the covers down to shut out the hot sun. It was already stifling in the wagon, but at least the thick canvas gave them shade.
A few minutes later his head appeared through a slit at the front and he gave Sam a reassuring nod to let her know all was ready.
Sam settled back making herself as comfortable as she could, drawing Jack's head to cradle him on her lap. She sat lost in thought, gently stroking his hair. The wagon jolted forward, breaking her from her reverie. Sam braced herself against the motion and drew more cushions around Jack to secure him.
As they traveled, she bathed his face and neck and gave him drops of water frequently.
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It was late morning before Jack came around, his good eye squinting in the brightness of the wagon that contrasted as strongly with the dungeon's shadows.
Sam had slouched over in a light doze, his head still on her lap. The motion of the wagon, harsh and jerking, jolted him from time to time and he had to bite down to avoid crying out in pain. Everything was hazy. He began to feel very hot, the sweat dripping from his forehead. One sudden extra harsh jolt made him give a strangled cry of pain, awakening the sleeping Major.
"Uh, Colonel" Sam anxiously looked down at him. She saw the film of perspiration and gasped out an apology. "Oh God, I'm sorry I must have dozed off." She reached for the water she had placed at her side and helped him to take a drink.
The pain settled down to a point where he could talk. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice nothing but a harsh whisper.
Sam could feel the heat radiating from him. His eyes looked glassy.
"They've decided to take you to the gate. They're going to try bargaining with Hammond, I think. Hassuf is driving. Daniel and the others are following us at a distance, with some of Hassuf's people."
"What day is it? How far is the gate?"
Sam reckoned up quickly and they worked out they'd have a full day at the gate before Hammond was expecting them.
"We may be able to make a distraction and get through the gate."
"It'd have to be a big … distraction, Carter." Jack grinned weakly, his energy fading fast. Sam gave him more water and then his eye slid shut as he lost the battle to stay awake. She continued to bathe him to try and keep him cool as the wagon rolled on
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The caravan came to a halt at midday and Hassuf bade her stay in the wagon while he joined the other men to rest. No one disturbed them as the heat mounted, adding further to Jack's discomfort. He moved restlessly, moaning and flinching in his sleep.
Sam wanted to check on Daniel and the others, but the camp was too quiet. She would have to wait until they were under way again. Finally, with a creak, the wagon set off and she reached for her radio.
Daniel's voice came in loud and clear, informing her they were all okay and only about four hours behind them, and would maintain that distance until the Stargate. He let her know they were with a group of twenty five men, all armed and willing to fight. Sam signed off, saying she'd call in again tomorrow.
The caravan stopped just on dusk and tents were quickly erected. Hassuf had disappeared to help and it wasn't long before two guards appeared at the wagon and hauled Jack out, none too gently, before dragging him into a tent. Hassuf came to Sam's side quickly and helped her to gather some of the things they would need for the night before leading her to the tent, past the two guards at the entrance.
Jack had been thrown to the floor and was lying where he'd fallen, unmoving. Hassuf left quickly, returning with armfuls of cushions and fashioned them into a rough bed. He then helped Sam put Jack onto them.
Jack was hot and restless and Hassuf, together with Sam, stripped his shirt off and bathed him with the water to try and cool him.
Later, after eating, Sam fell asleep while Hassuf sat watching. It seemed like she had only been asleep a few minutes when she was rudely awakened with an urgent shaking and whispered words she didn't understand. Hassuf hauled her up, pulling the veil across her face, and dragged her to the side of the tent near the door. He pushed her to her knees, urging her to put her head down, as he himself was doing.
Sam heard the guards entering, followed by two more people. Sam kept her head down and could only see feet and lower legs as they passed her. She heard them conversing in their own language and one voice she recognized as Samels, giving the guards instructions.
The guards hauled Jack to his feet and held him up by pinning his arms behind him. Sam heard the sound of slapping and raised her head just enough to see what was happening.
Samels stood in front of Jack slapping at his face to bring him around. The other man was Kissain himself.
"Colonel, come now," coaxed the commander. "I would like to ask you some questions."
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Jack was barely standing. If it weren't for the guards holding him he'd be flat on his face. His vision blurred, but he could make out Samels and Kissain.
"Ask away," he whispered.
Kissain gave a grim smile. "Do you feel like co-operating now Colonel?"
"Hey, I didn't say I'd answer." Jack coughed a little, wincing as the pain flared in his chest and stomach and, after a brief pause, panted out the rest of his answer. "… just like the sound of your voice."
Samels smacked Jack hard across the stomach with the large stick he carried. Jack grunted and hunched forward, but his head was immediately pulled back up by one of the guards.
'Damn that hurt. Damn fuckin' bastards …bastards!'
"What code opens the barrier to your world?"
"Three, four knock on the door," gasped Jack, barely able to speak, but the answers he would have loved to give ran through his mind. 'Fuck off … go back to playing in the sands …go torture some other poor smuck.' Crack! Another blow from the stick … 'Know what … I'd like to ram that stick up your …' The next blow hit harder still. 'Crap … bastards …'
"What are the codes?"
"Five, six … pick up sticks," groaned Jack, writhing in agony.
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Sam clenched her hands together, biting her lips to prevent herself from intervening. She knew it would be useless to act now, but that didn't stop the guilt at letting her commanding officer take another beating without trying to do something to stop it.
Samels moved behind Jack and viciously hit him across his back. The bandages did little to protect him and Jack cried out, jerking against the guards.
"There are many worlds you can travel to. What are the addresses?"
Jack gave a wry grin, blood dribbling from his mouth, panting as he gasped his reply. "Hell, I couldn't tell you this address … wrong man."
Kissain looked at Jack with undisguised hatred and backhanded him across the face.
Jack struggled and lifted his head up to face Kissain then he pushed his head forward and spat a mouthful of blood at the enraged commander face.
Samels laid into Jack with the stick, hitting him several times across the stomach, back, and face. Kissain watched closely as he calmly wiped the blood that Jack had spat at him from his face and only stopped Samels when he was clean, by which time Jack was completely unconscious.
Samels prodded Jack in the stomach but got no reaction. After a moment Kissain walked out, closely followed by the other man. The guards let Jack fall to the floor then followed their leader from the tent.
As soon as they left Sam flew to Jack's side, tears of rage and fear already falling. His face was dark with blood and new bruises were forming. Sam hugged Jack to her, wiping at the blood as gently as she could, her silent tears falling freely as she nursed him, wondering just how much more of this punishment he could take.
Hassuf could only sit and watch, his face showing his distress.
Eventually Sam let Hassuf help her move Jack over to the 'bed' and they began to check his injuries.
His back was a mass of livid red welts, but Sam could do nothing about that. She cleaned him and changed the dressings on his wrists and side, but there was nothing else to do except wait. Hold him … and wait.
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