This is only a small part, but I thought I'd post it so questions asked in reviews are answered. Oh – and thanks for the reviews. I appreciate that you take the time to tell me you're enjoying the story. It makes writing so much more fun.

On a Slow Ride Through Molasses – Part nine

The whistled signal came much sooner than Daniel expected, and he hesitated for a moment before collecting himself and making a run for the Gate. His task was clear – dial and send the IDC through. All around him there were energy weapons firing and bodies falling. He knew Sam and Lou were with him, but where was Teal'c? He was meant to be the first one through.

Thoughts raced through his mind as he ran, reaching the DHD without a hitch. Sam and Lou took up positions on either side of him as he frantically dialed, tapping in the IDC code as the wormhole formed.

"Go! You must go through. The Jaffa is coming, but you need to tell your people to hold the Circle open." Jaahn urged him forward, practically pushing him into the vortex.

Lou turned for a moment, giving a quick nod. "Go on. We'll hold the Gate and send the women and children as soon as they arrive."

Daniel took one last quick look around at the confused scene, still unable to see either Teal'c or Jack, and stepped into the shimmering surface of the wormhole.

"Where are the women and children?"

Sam shouted the question to Jaahn, looking out into the darkness from her position on the Stargate's platform. To her surprise his response was to lower his weapon and utter another piercing whistle.

All movement ceased and for a moment there was silence, broken by Ferretti's voice.

"What's going on?"

The smile that drifted across the face of the man in front of them was chilling. He raised his gun once more, taking a step forward and placing it hard up against the side of Sam's head. She felt the heat of the barrel scorching her hair.

Lou's weapon snapped up, pointing straight at the other man. "Put it down."

The barrel pressed harder into Sam's skull and she couldn't help a wince of discomfort.

"Your weapon is disabled, Major. Mine however is not." Sam couldn't see the smile on Jaahn's face anymore, but she could hear it in his triumphant words.

Sam spun as his grip loosened, only to be pulled short by an inhumanly strong tug on her arm. She found herself pressed up against Steffen's massive chest, his large hands positioned across her breasts. She struggled as the hands kneaded her viciously, Steffen's breath ghosting across the top of her head.

"This is very enjoyable, Major. Please continue to struggle. I like my women to have a little spirit."

Sam gasped as she realized Steffen was speaking perfect English.

"Shit. Jack was right." Lou spat out the words in disgust.

She could only groan as Jaahn laughed. "Yes, you should have listened to your colonel."

The little man gestured to one of his men and Sam was released from Steffen's grasp. Her relief was short lived however, as her hands were handcuffed tightly behind her. Beside her Lou was suffering the same fate. Jones and Rutledge were pushed forward from the mass of men standing at the foot of the Gate, Bob's face already discoloring where he had obviously taken a punch to the jaw. The only positive Sam saw was that there was no sign of O'Neill, Teal'c and Nguyen.

"Where are the others?" Jaahn's smile dissolved into a grimace of anger when Kelvin answered.

"We cannot find them. They must have escaped into the forest."

Sam sighed in relief. At least the colonel was safe for the moment.

Jaahn's next words had her heart sinking in her chest.

"No matter. Without the antidote to the drug Steffen has been administering to him O'Neill is dead anyway. The other two will be easy to recapture without his leadership. I will deal with them when we return." He turned his attention back to Sam and the others, once again smiling broadly. With a wide gesture, he motioned towards the still open wormhole.

"Come. We have a world to conquer for Lord Cronus."