On a Slow Ride Through Molasses – Part two

"Help!"

Daniel joined his voice to the others already shouting for the guards, his horrified gaze fixed on Jack's convulsing body. He stretched as far as he could, feeling the metal of the chain tearing his skin, but ignoring it as he tried to find those extra inches that would allow him to reach his friend – extra inches that meant the difference between life and death. He was aware that beside him Teal'c was doing the same, loud grunts of exertion coming from the normally quiet Jaffa.

Jack's struggles had ceased and he lay still now, only a slight bubbling sound showing he still strained to breathe, but even as Daniel watched, the sound ceased and Jack's body went incredibly limp.

It had all happened so suddenly. After days of watching their commander die a slow death from dehydration, it seemed inconceivable that the end had come in just a few short minutes.

Hands grabbed him, pulling him back. He stayed where he fell for a second, breathing hard, then started to struggle up again, straining to see what was happening. One of the burley, yellow-clad, guards was removing the gag from Jack's mouth, while another was unlocking his hands. Then he was gone – hauled out, his arms dragging across the floor as their captors pulled him by his legs. Daniel winced at the sound of the hard thump of Jack's head hitting the side of the doorframe.

"Jack." He muttered the name softly as he stood staring at the still open door.

"Shit! They can't do that. Hey!" Lou's frustrated shouts finally brought Daniel's attention back to his fellow prisoners. "Was he breathing? He was, wasn't he?" Ferretti turned, imploring the others to answer in the affirmative.

"I don't know." Sam's eyes briefly met Daniel's then flittered away as she shook her head, looking down at her feet. Daniel could see the moment her training kicked back in – her shoulders stiffened and she lifted her head once more. "There's nothing we can do for the Colonel now. We have to get out of here and get him back home."

"And just how do you propose we do that?"

She glared fiercely back at him. "We've already found a weakness, now we just have to exploit it. I know it looks impossible at the moment, but I'm not prepared to give up." Her eyes gleamed with suppressed emotion. "Are you?"

"No. No, of course not. I'm just worried about Jack." Daniel gave Sam glare for glare. He wasn't suggesting just give up, and never had been, but he didn't want vague plans, he wanted action – now. He turned away, feeling the worry growing in the room. The two younger members of SG-2 both sat frowning, while Captain Jones was still staring at the doorway.

He shouldn't be bickering with Sam. It wasn't helping the situation one bit.

"I'm sorry, Sam." He watched as his teammate turned back to face him, and summoned up a slight smile. "You're right. Let's go over what we know about the prison. We may have missed something."

"Good idea." Lou sat back down, pulling his blanket over his legs. The temperature in the cell dropped at the same time each day, as the light grew dim in the small high window.

Teal'c was the first to move, beckoning them closer until they huddled together, keeping their voices low.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack was only dimly aware of the efforts his captors took to revive him. He was turned on his side and something was stuck down his throat, clearing it out, then he was pulled up and it felt as if a rock was being pounded violently on his back. He was too weak to protest as his throat spasmed and filled with the acidic taste of bile

He was laid back down and something was pressed against his lips. The sensation of liquid slipping into his mouth almost had him crying with pleasure, but it was over all too soon and his head spun, sending him back towards the darkness.

". . . died. We need to find . . ."

Jack tried to grasp onto consciousness, the deep voices impinging on the thoughts that flew chaotically through his mind.

"It is time . . . next stage . . . trust . . . "

He tried to make some sense out of what he was hearing, but he kept fading in and out. The few mouthfuls of water hadn't been enough to clear the awful taste from his mouth and he couldn't help it. He coughed.

The voices stopped.

Long seconds passed and Jack began to wonder if he had been left alone, when they began again.

" . . . awake. Did he hear?"

"If he did we must dispose of him."

Something sharp prodded him in the left thigh and he was unable to prevent his eyes from opening. He blinked at the sudden light, only able to see shadows and shapes looming over him. One shadow came closer, slowly coalescing into a face he didn't recognise. The man's brows moved together as he frowned down then abruptly pulled away, his place taken by other men.

"Get him up."

They obeyed the order immediately, yanking him by his still handcuffed arms and holding him upright. He tried to take some weight on his legs, but failed miserably, slumping in his captors' grasp. The sudden movement brought back the dizziness and Jack's eyes slammed shut.

"How is your Circle protected?"

Jack flinched back at the rush of breath in his face and opened his eyes to find the blurred face of the speaker thrust close into his. He shook his head, unable to speak even if he had been inclined to do so.

The man didn't raise his voice, but the words were edged with ice. "Tell me."

"Go . . .to . . . hell."

"Let him go."

The pressure on his arms was released and Jack found himself falling, only to have his throat grabbed by a large hand, its inhuman strength too much to struggle against.

"I will have your secrets. Lord Cronus will reward me well." The pressure began to increase and his already tender throat seemed to catch fire while the breath was forced from him.

"Stop!" The second voice brought the pressure to a halt as the grip was loosened. It was almost too late – his vision was filled with flashes of light, growing more violent by the minute. The men argued, their voices getting louder, but he couldn't make out the words through the noise of the blood rushing through his head.

Then he was flying across the room to land hard, the sharp corner of a metal table connecting with his forehead and bringing with it utter blackness and an all consuming silence.

xoxoxoxoxoxo