Thanks you to everyone who reviewed again. I'm still in shock over the fantastic response to this story. Hugs!

Sorry, but there will be a lot of angst over the next few chapters, but then I do promise you the rest will be fluffy, so stay tuned; it'll be worth it!

Junior

By Lingren

Previously:-

"It's okay Junior. It'll be okay. You'll see. I'm here!" Jack kept up the soft mantra, reassuring his son, that he didn't hold his guilt against him; that he forgave him for the unwilling role he'd had no choice in playing. That he was just an innocent child used as a pawn in an evil game invented by a sick and twisted mind.

Chapter 25

Jack could feel the nausea building up when he thought about how Ba'al had used his own son against him, and wondered what sick game they were going to play now to satisfy the evil snake-head.

Jon had fallen asleep in his arms and regretfully Jack had to move to a more comfortable position. He eased himself backwards so that his back rested against the wall behind him. He laid Junior down so that his head was lying on his thigh, and he kept one arm draped over his back, keeping the contact between them.

His head pounded with each heartbeat still, a legacy from the hand device, no doubt, he sighed. Why whenever he was captured did they always take away his aspirin. He could really use some right about now. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off.

The sound of clanking boots hitting the floor woke him with a start. Junior had awoken too and squeezed himself against his father's body as far as he could go. Jack's arm held him secure, and he reassured the boy that he was there. He couldn't guarantee they'd be safe, not with Ba'al. He was more than likely to take a perverse pleasure in killing him over and over again. Again!

The door hissed and slid open to reveal an armed guard, led by the First Prime himself.

Jack didn't move from his spot, and slightly turned so that Junior was protected from them.

"You will come with us!"

"Me? Just me?"

The Jaffa merely nodded and Jack stood, turning towards his son.

"I'll be back before ya know it kid! Order me a slice of pie when they come round with the menu, will ya!" Jack said sarcastically, hoping that they would take the hint and bring some food and water for them at some stage soon. His mouth felt as dry as the Sahara desert and he guessed Jon's was too.

Jon frowned but as Jack winked at him, he smiled, knowing his father was always kidding him.

Jack turned back to the First Prime; the man was a little taller, and almost twice his width. Choosing his words carefully for a change because he didn't want Jon to witness him getting flattened by the guy, he asked if there was a chance to get the boy something to drink, if not some food.

"Look, is there a chance that you guys could get the kid some water and something to eat. I'm sure Mr. Boss-man never intended to capture us and then let us starve to death. It's not in his MO." Torture to death, yes, but not starve. Jack mused inwardly.

He received a nod, and the Jaffa turned to one of his minions and waved him away with a curt order which Jack had no idea what it was. For all he knew he could have been ordering the guy to fetch a whip or something. He took it to be nourishment though and thanked the beefy giant.

"Kree!" Was all he received in response.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

He was prodded in the back by a staff weapon. A none too gentle reminder that he had been ordered to appear before his snakiness, so with a last look at his son he was herded off down the corridor. He just hoped that it wouldn't be the last time he saw the child.

The corridors were boringly familiar; they were lit by flaming torches which reflected the light off the hieroglyphs adorning the gold coloured walls. Jack blinked in the brightness as he passed into the room at the end of yet another passageway.

There was a throne made from stone but it had a thick cover carelessly thrown over it, and Jack idly wondered why none of them seemed to bother with a cushion...hadn't they heard of comfort? Obviously not.

The walls around the room were draped with tapestries but what exactly they depicted Jack couldn't tell in the quick glimpse he paid them before the inevitable cry came from the Jaffa behind him.

"Kree! Kneel before your god!"

Jack folded his arms, resolute in his defiance to ignore the order, but as usual, he was struck across the back of the knees, making him fall on all fours. He pushed himself back up into standing position, when Ba'al entered the room with a maniacal laugh.

The Goa'uld waved away the Jaffa who was about to strike Jack down again. The Jaffa retreated leaving the Tau'ri and his god alone.

"I see you haven't changed at all O'Neill. Perhaps we can alter that situation," the Goa'uld gloated, an evil smile turning his lips upwards.

Jack could only see the glint of loathing in eyes that held no amusement, and stand there and watch him closely, waiting for the Goa'uld to make his move. It was time to call this game to an end, and one way or another, he would kill the snakehead, even if he forfeited his life in doing so.

"Oh, I don't know, I think I have...changed that is."

"Of course, finding out that you have fathered a child on another planet would make you more...shall we say...vulnerable?"

"Cut the crap Ball! Leave the kid out of this, he's just a child."

"You see...we've barely spoken of him and yet here you are getting all protective of him already. As I said...vulnerable," he gloated, seeing Jack straighten his back and give him a deep scowl.

"Is there something you wanted, or am I just here for entertainment purposes? A little unfinished business, shall we say?" Jack retaliated verbally. He was the one that had the unfinished business...that of killing the SOB.

The next thing Jack knew he was flying backwards to connect heavily with the wall. He dropped to the floor, agony burning through his back and shoulders, and a painful lump was forming on the back of his head.

He lay on the floor, blinking away the dark spots before his eyes, trying to stave off the approaching blackness.

After several minutes, he staggered to his feet, his dark eyes like pinpricks of ice spearing the snake as he made his way back towards him trying to ignore the stiffness in his limbs.

"Touched a sore spot, did I? Well, good. Now we see who's vulnerable too."

Ba'al breathed heavily for a moment to control his temper. He detested this Tau'ri with a hatred so deep it twisted inside his gut and made him act without thought to his actions. The human was more dangerous an enemy than anyone from his past had ever been. More so than any other of the System Lords that had lusted after his power.

Jack stood awkwardly hunched over, his breath coming fast and hard as he rode out the new aches and pains, pushing them aside, ready to fight.

The two faced each other; each waiting for the other to make the first move, until Ba'al burst out laughing, startling Jack with this sudden change of tactic.

"Come O'Neill. Enough of this sparring. I apologise for my lack of control. I have refreshments. Take a glass of wine with me. It has an excellent taste you will find."

Jack looked at him as if wondering if it might be poisoned, but Ba'al poured two glasses and let him chose first.

"Go ahead, take one."

Jack took one and sniffed it. It smelled like...wine. He watched the snake take the other and sip at it slowly, as if savouring the flavour. Jack refrained, watching the Goa'uld closely. Nothing happened. Not that he expected the snake to kill himself in the hope that Jack would too.

Ba'al tossed the rest of his back in one gulp and poured himself some more, and Jack knew that he wasn't faking it because the level in the clear crystal glass decanter was diminishing. Jack tentatively tasted a little and was pleasantly surprised. It was an excellent wine. He'd have preferred water but he was so thirsty that any liquid would do in an emergency.

Ba'al pointed to a pile of cushions on the floor in the corner of the room and they both retreated there to talk.

Sitting down stiffly, Jack couldn't help wondering where all this was leading to. Ba'al was suddenly treating him like he was a favoured guest.

Something was wrong.

He didn't know what it was yet, but he had the notion that he wasn't going to like it one little bit.

Jack wondered if the wine was going to affect him, drinking it on an empty stomach, but as Ba'al kept drinking it too, he made the most of his opportunity to drink.

"Tell me O'Neill, how did you survive the attack from my Ashrak?"

Jack watched him closely, trying to see the menace that he heard in the voice. Ba'al was hiding something from him and it was difficult to read him.

"I have friends in high places," Jack snorted a little smugly. Was the wine affecting him? He felt high, and cursed himself for a fool. He should have just asked for water. He placed the unfinished drink down; he'd already drunk too much of it.

"Ah!" Ba'al sighed with a smile. "The Tok'ra Selmak. I understand he and Colonel Carter are very close," he mused.

Jack wasn't buying it. He wouldn't reveal anything, even if this wine was drugged. It didn't taste like the 'Blood of Sokar' or anything like that, but then, he didn't know what sources were available to the Goa'uld to make people talk. He wasn't falling for that old trick, he'd been trained to withstand questioning despite the drugs.

He felt woozy. Tipsy even.

A sharp pain knifed through him and he looked up aghast at his opponent, realising the truth. He hadn't been drugged; he'd been poisoned.

He staggered to his feet, doubling over in agony and dropping to his knees again. He stared at the glass in Ba'al's hands and looked pointedly at the snake. The Goa'uld laughed defiantly, reading the accusation in his mind.

"You are correct O'Neill. The juice of the Mint'ral cannot harm me. I am a god! It kills its victims slowly, agonisingly, and they know that death awaits them, but, there is no release from the pain through unconsciousness. You will be aware of your coming death until your final breath. There is no cure O'Neill. You will die! At last I shall be rid of you and the boy will be mine to do with as I wish.

Ba'al roared his glee as Jack picked up the glass and hurled it from his hand towards the Goa'uld, who amazingly caught it in his hand, laughing louder.

Jack curled up from the agony burning through his body. It was like he was on fire. His arms wrapped tightly around his stomach, he didn't know how he could last long but Ba'al had told him it would be a slow process. He wanted nothing more than to die there and then, but he was afraid. Not for himself, but for his son. What was going to happen to Junior now?

TBC