I've almost finished writing the story now – I'm up to writing chapter 35 at the moment. What I want to know from everyone reading this, is how you want me to end it? Should I stop when Jack is rescued? Do you want me to write about the wedding and the baby? Let me know one way or the other.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story. It has far exceeded my expectations, and my previous stories. Hugs guys for your patience and enthusiasm, your comments have made it worth my while.

Junior

By Lingren.

Previously:-

"Master Bra'tac and I will lead the free Jaffa into Ba'al's citadel and encourage the Jaffa there to join with us. Then we will locate O'Neill and Jonathon Junior," Teal'c stated, as if it was going to be that easy.

Jacob knew better of course, so did the others, but it was their only choice in reaching Jack and Jon.

Chapter 28

Jack was feeling oddly relieved when the Jaffa came for him. The fact that they'd left Jon behind in the cell was comforting. Jack glanced back at Jon's miserable tear-stained face as he was taken away again. It left a gaping hole in his heart, but at least the kid would be a whole lot safer in there.

He was marched along the corridors and eventually ended up in the same room as before. Ba'al was waiting for him, looking smug as usual.

"Ah! General O'Neill, come, kneel before your god!" Ba'al ordered superciliously.

Jack walked into the room further but refused to kneel; instead he shoved his hands into his pockets and slouched.

"Just get on with it Ball. What the hell do you want from me?"

"Oh, come, come O'Neill, must there be a purpose to our little conversations?"

"In the grand scheme of things, I'd say, yeah, so cut the crap and tell me why I'm here!"

Ba'al laughed and the sound grated on Jack's nerves. Inside his pockets, his hands fisted; itching to finish the snake off whatever game he was playing.

"You are here so that I may take my pleasure in killing you and your son."

"Leave him out of this. He's just a kid."

"But he's yours O'Neill, and anyone that bears your life-code I will destroy," Ba'al sneered. His false smile mocking Jack as he casually strolled about the room, hands behind his back, as if taunting Jack; tempting him to act irrationally, therefore allowing himself the pleasure of retaliation.

Jack wasn't playing ball though. A wicked smile creased is lips at the intentional pun and was satisfied to see the Goa'uld hesitate for a moment before he resumed his pacing; his dark eyes watching Jack more intently now, wondering what he was going to do. This made Jack smile all the more; he had Ba'al worried, though the monster that was inside him tried to cover it with more arrogance.

Jack looked round to see that they were alone. It would be the ideal opportunity to act, but he suspected the slimy SOB might have something planned. He didn't trust him one little bit.

Jack noticed a small table on the far side of the room and he squinted against the bright lights in order to make out the items sitting on it. It was the contents of his backpack, his vest and his weapons. Ba'al casually made his way over to it and picked up the 9mm pistol, testing the weight of it in his hands. He took aim at Jack who closed his eyes and tensed slightly, taking what he believed might be his final breath. Ironic really to be killed with his own gun. Poetic justice, he deliberated, after all, it was his gun that killed Charlie too. Just the thought of that made him wince.

Suddenly the gun fired, and Jack expected the excruciating pain to hit any second, but it didn't. Behind him the dust from a stone pillar filled the air from the impact just above Jack's head. Jack's eyes shot open and he wondered whether it was a deliberate miss or if it was that Ba'al's aim was slightly off? Ba'al didn't appear to be put out by the fact that he'd missed so, maybe he was just trying to scare him.

"Such crude weapons you Tau'ri possess, and so noisy too," Ba'al remarked snidely.

"Effective though, don't ya think?" Jack countered.

"Is it?" he questioned and fired again, this time hitting Jack in the shoulder.

Jack couldn't help the muffled cry of pain and stumbled backwards, dropping awkwardly to his knees. He stayed there for a moment, breathing harshly through the agony, trying to clear the spots that danced before his eyes.

Defiant to the last, he staggered back to his feet, swaying slightly, holding his right arm tight against his body with his left hand. He was still breathing heavily, his features screwed up against the vicious pain, but he was damned if he was going to let the snake think he'd beg for mercy. No way.

Ba'al smiled haughtily again and Jack felt the heat of anger burn through his veins.

"You may be right of course," Ba'al gloated, firing again.

Jack dropped like a stone; his lifeless body hitting the floor with a dull thud.

The Goa'uld smirked and stalked towards his victim, a victorious gleam in his eye as he studied his handiwork; a neat round hole in Jack's forehead marking his passage into the afterlife.

"Perfect!" he drawled, delighted with the outcome. "Very effective O'Neill, as you said."

Ba'al hefted the weapon in his hands again, then returned it to the table before calling his guards to remove the body. He could see his proposed final plans taking on a victorious conclusion.

OoOoOoOoO

A bright light appeared and suddenly Thor was standing in the briefing room once more.

"Greetings General Landry."

"Thor!" Landry exclaimed, still shocked that the aliens could do that; appear out of nowhere. Sometimes he had to shake himself to see if he was still awake and not dreaming.

Thor nodded a silent greeting to the others gathered in the room.

"Did you find them?" Sam asked eagerly, dropping down on her knees to be eye level with the Asgard Supreme Commander; her years of working with him, allowing her to touch his tiny shoulder in a desperate plea.

"I did not, unfortunately, locate the whereabouts of O'Neill. I am sorry Colonel Carter; however I did detect another human life-sign, a child, probably that of O'Neill's son."

"Why didn't you 'beam' him out?" Daniel grumbled, annoyed to think that they had left Jon there all alone, before he fully realised what Thor had said.

"If Junior is there, then where is Jack?" Sam wondered aloud, voicing her fears. She felt as if a lump of concrete had just settled in the pit of her stomach. "He should have been there with..."

"I am sorry Colonel Carter there was no sign of O'Neill," Thor apologised.

"Oh God! Jack!" she whispered suddenly overwhelmed by the idea that Jack might be dead.

Teal'c was beside her in moments, lifting her to her feet. Her limbs were uncooperative so he half carried her back to the nearest seat, and sat her down. He held her face gently in the palm of his huge hand and forced her to look at him. Daniel stood at her elbow, his hand resting on her shoulder, gently squeezing it to offer his support.

"O'Neill has been through this before Colonel Carter. Ba'al has most likely killed him, I agree. But, that does not mean he will not rise again. You know this for a fact. This Goa'uld takes extreme pleasure in killing O'Neill only to have him revived again and again. And merely because Supreme Commander Thor has not detected any life-signs, it does not signify that O'Neill will not be there when we arrive. You must believe this in your heart. Do not give up on O'Neill, Colonel Carter. You must be strong for his sake. My friends and I are ready to play our part in his rescue." Teal'c said, relieved to see Sam nod slowly through the tears.

"Teal'c is right Sam," Daniel confirmed. "This doesn't mean anything with Ba'al you know is doesn't. For all we know Ba'al could have imprisoned him in a room that is shielded against a sensor sweep or an Asgard transporter beam."

"Just so Dr. Jackson. If O'Neill is there, he may believe that Ba'al has destroyed his son if the boy suddenly went missing, and it would give Ba'al an advance warning that we have discovered his whereabouts."

Sam nodded in acknowledgement of Thor's reasoning.

Jacob moved to wrap a comforting arm round Sam's shoulder and offered her a drink from the glass he held out to her. She sipped and swallowed the cool liquid with difficulty, but thanked him after she'd had enough.

Sam held up her hand to gain their attention. She may not be allowed to go with Teal'c and the Jaffa, but she had an idea now.

"Thor could you drop us inside the citadel or whatever structure it is that they're in?"

"I can see no problem with that, Colonel Carter. What is it you wish me to do?" Thor said, and to those who knew him well, he seemed to be smiling, eager to help.

Sam explained her ideas and it was agreed it was the better option all round. SG-1 dashed off to get ready, including herself which pleased her no end. She so desperately wanted to see Jack again.

Minutes later, A white light engulfed SG-1 and Jacob Carter, leaving only General Landry in the briefing room. He sighed and hoped to god they made it in and out of there without too much hassle and that they manage to get Jack and his son out of there too.

TBC