Thanks once again to everyone who read this and reviewed it. Your comments are always much appreciated. Not much more angst to go now!

UNITED WE STAND

By Lingren.

Previously:

"Jack O'Neill!" he finally ground out through the persistent throbbing. "Colonel Jack O'Neill."

Chapter 11

"Ah!" Enlightenment dawned. "So! The infamous Tau'ri Colonel O'Neill. My Mistress with be most thrilled that we have recaptured my Lord Baal's escaped prisoner. You will not so easily escape from him this time."

With that comment he turned on his heel and left; the door shutting with a low rumble as it slid down to the floor.

"Ah crap!" Jack muttered.

Jack lay still and quiet, his pain temporarily forgotten but his thoughts were racing, beating a tattoo inside his brain. His worst nightmare had come true. He would be back in Baal's hands again. "Crap!" he exclaimed again to no-one. A lone tear tracked down the side of his face, gathering momentum as it ran, gravitating towards his temple to dampen his silvering hair. He gave up then. Gave up any hope of rescue. Last time he'd managed it only because of Yu's attack, now though it seemed a desperately hopeless situation. Again he had no idea where he was, having been unconscious when he was brought to this place. He didn't even know if he was on the same planet any more.

He closed his eyes in pain, though nothing physical could hurt as much as this revelation. His thoughts wandered momentarily until they settled onto Sam.

Would he ever see her again?

He doubted it. There were too many unknown provisos to overcome this time. His outlook was bleak and his heart sank at the very thought of what was to come. He regretted not saying anything to her, for not making a move to be with her when he had the chance, but in a way he was glad. It would spare her from the heartache knowing that he was here. This time he was determined to stay dead; he couldn't go through all that again.

If he'd made that much desired move, then she will have been devastated, but he'd kept quiet, waiting for the right moment, and so now she would be spared that all encompassing needless heartache that his death would bring. She need only to mourn for him as a friend and colleague, and not as a lost lover. Perhaps the pain wouldn't be so hard for her to bear.

"Jack!"

Jack's eyes flew open. He blinked and looked around him. His fuzzy sight fixed on a figure that stepped forward from the shadows to stand over him.

"Daniel?" he gasped, surprised to see his friend. Or was he just dreaming this? Delirious perhaps?

"Oh ye of little faith!" Daniel's ascended self answered cryptically.

"Who me?" Jack snorted.

"Yes Jack."

"Why?"

"I told you last time, that you'd be fine."

"That was then. I doubt it now."

"Jaaack!"

"Come to watch the grand finale?"

"Not this time."

"Sooo, not staying to the end then?"

"No, and neither are you."

"Why? You gonna help me join Oma Desultra's fan club this time?"

Daniel chose to ignore the mispronunciation.

"No need to Jack. You'll survive."

"How?"

"Because you're strong Jack!"

"Not any more Daniel. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a few pints short of the red stuff." Jack waved a weak, shaky hand at his blood covered clothes. "It's supposed to be on the inside, and I think I left most of it in the forest." His arm fell back to his side, the effort almost taking all his energy.

"You just have to hang on a little longer."

"That sounds all too familiar."

"You managed it last time, Jack."

"Yes, because they kept putting me inside that infernal 'revive the body, but blow your mind' box, afterwards. Not doing it now though, just when I could actually do with the damn thing." He lay panting from exhaustion now.

"Trust me!"

"That's kinda difficult," he gasped out, "when I'm lying here...bleeding to death."

"She's coming Jack."

"She? Who? Hathor's replacement?"

"No...Sam."

Jack closed his eyes and silently prayed that he could believe Daniel. He was tired. Tired of being where he was. Tired of hurting, again. Tired of not having the one thing he needed right now; to be home with Sam. Could he never cut a break? He just needed to be reassured. When he forced his eyes open again it was to look up into Daniel's face, wanting to know the truth.

"Daniel?"

"I'm right here Jack."

"You wouldn't...just be saying that to...placate me? Would ya?"

"No Jack. She really is coming. You just have to be patient."

"Not going anywhere! I hope."

"They won't touch you until Baal arrives. You're safe here for now. Sam won't leave you behind Jack. She'll come."

"Don't let them...you know! I couldn't…" he pleaded.

"You'll be fine. Get some rest, you're gonna need your strength."

"I can...I can do that," Jack replied wearily, his eyes already closing, the conversation having worn him out in his weakened state.

"I'll be right here Jack. I won't leave you. I promise!" Daniel watched as Jack gave into the pull of pain, fever, and weakness. He watched as Jack slipped once more into oblivion, and he rested cross-legged on the floor beside him, an invisible sentinel to watch over his greatest friend.

OoOoOoOoO

The flickering blue light shimmered eerily round the gate room and then the event horizon wavered, bringing forth two of the Tok'ra operatives.

George Hammond looked pleased, as did Sam as she stood by his side. She didn't look any better for the hours of rest she was supposed to have had.

"Jacob. It's good to see you," Hammond said, greeting his old friend.

"You too George." He turned to his daughter, pulling her into an embrace. "Sam...how's my favourite girl?"

"I'm okay thanks Dad."

Then Jacob turned to his companion, who stepped forward to greet them.

"This is Janara, she's just returned from an undercover mission inside Anat's fortress. She's pretty much knows all there is to know about Anat. She can give you the necessary Intel which may be enough for you to rescue Jack."

"Let's take this up to the briefing room," he suggested, before turning towards an SF standing nearby. "Find Teal'c and Jonas Quinn, and have them join us in the briefing room a.s.a.p."

"Sir!" the SF snapped to attention, saluting, then hurried off on his quest.

Hammond led them up the metal stairs to the briefing room where they took their places around the conference table to wait for the others to arrive.

Sam helped herself from the ever present coffee pot, pouring one out for Jacob and the General too, Janara having declined the offer. Seating herself beside her father again, the door opened and she looked up and gave a brief smile to her former team-mates when they entered, having forgiven them for leaving Jack behind after hearing the facts, and apologising.

"Teal'c, Mr. Quinn. Take a seat gentlemen. Jacob has some information that may enable us to mount a rescue for Colonel O'Neill," Hammond greeted them, smiling, and hoping that the intelligence gained by the Tok'ra would be of some use to them.

General Hammond looked to Janara for her to start relaying her knowledge, but she remained silent, so Jacob spoke up in her stead.

"You'll have to forgive Janara, George. She's not too happy about parting with her hard earned information; or about it being shared with the Tau'ri," he drawled, giving her a wry smile which lifted one side of his mouth.

Janara frowned and denied the accusation.

"Please do not believe everything Selmak says General Hammond. He has acquired something of a twisted sense of humour since she blended with one of your kind. I merely waited while I gathered my thoughts together to better acquaint you with the facts," she stated with a bland face. Her voice sounding even sterner with its typical Tok'ra timbre.

The comment only reinforced Sam's idea that the Tok'ra had no sense of humour at all.

"I spent some weeks undercover as a member of my Lady's retinue, where I gleaned much information on the Goa'uld Anat. At the moment she resides in her fortress awaiting her consort, Baal, who is due to arrive within the next few days," she paused at the sharp intake of breath that Sam gasped at the news, and then continued. "There was talk of a former Tau'ri prisoner being recaptured and she intends to present him to Baal as a gift in exchange for his favour. She has few Jaffa at her disposal at the moment, and if you plan to rescue your Colonel O'Neill, if this prisoner is indeed him, then you must act without delay. There is little time left for debate."

"Did you actually see Colonel O'Neill?" Sam asked, urgently needing to know how he was.

"I did not, but I learned he had been injured, and was very weak."

Sam closed her eyes and prayed that they would be able to reach him before it was too late, but at least they knew where he was now.

TBC