Part 4

I make it to ten and still the urge to scream is...no, it is still there. I haven't turned around. Do I think that if I don't see him he'll cease to exist?

I open my eyes and see Daniel and Teal'c. They understand my reluctance to turn around. They had been there when my nightmares had overtaken me and I was left screaming out for help and drenched in sweat.

I never told them what had been done to me. Saying I didn't want to replay the past. That I had survived and that was all that mattered.

I heard a moan and knew Carter had awoken.

"Since you don't seem to enjoy my company Colonel O'Neill I think I'll ask Major Carter's opinion of her new home.

I took a deep breath and knew what I had to do.

I had to divert his attention to me. I was to be the one to go through all of this not them. Carter would not survive the wall. She was only just making it now and to go through that...no! I wouldn't allow it.

I spun around and started my plan of attack.

"Ba'al buddy long time no see. Sorry about the last place but you know Yu doesn't like to be kept in the dark about his pals or whatever having secret bases or fortresses hidden from him. So like what you've done to the place. I see you did bring some of the old furnishings, but the gold is so last year, why not some silver or platinum? I hear it's the new black this year."

He laughed and walked towards me. Good. Away from Carter. Okay snakehead divert all your attention to me and me only.

"I see you have not loss your insolent behavior. This is good; it would be an example to the rest of your team about how not to act. You do remember the last time? You had been blended with that To'kra. Remember the interrogations, how you pleaded with me to stop, that you had no knowledge about why you were here? You lied. You had returned for my lotar Shayla. That is why you will never defeat us. You could not resist coming back to save an insignificant slave like her."

I held my tongue. He was upset about Shayla. I had forgotten about her. Oh, this wasn't good.

He picked up a knife and came towards me. I was familiar with this one. This one was the one he would use when he was through with me. This one had a jagged side and a smooth side on the blade. My heart started to ache. In my mind there I could feel it plunging into me. I tried to stop the shaking in my hands. I was tied and he came behind me and undid my binds.

The circulation came back to my hands. This was a good sign I thought but I was held by two of the guards and started to be dragged to the wall of horror.

I struggled with them I had reacted automatically, my first mistake.

"Leave him and take the woman," Ba'al bellowed.

I was dropped to the floor and they went after Carter.

I scrambled to my feet and went after them. I knocked one down and the other had yanked Carter from her bad arm and she let out a scream that made me stop. I had never heard her yell out and it startled me. That was my second mistake.

Daniel and Teal'c yelled I turned to receive a face full of a staff weapon. I saw stars and was sprawled next to Carter.

I opened my eyes to see her biting her lip and tears falling down her face.

I whispered, "Hang in there Carter, and don't give up."

She nodded but didn't open her eyes. She was lifted from the floor and was taken to the wall.

"Hey I thought I was first. What changed your mind bowling Ball? Remember I was the one that escaped you inescapable fortress. I was the one that stole your girl hell I was the one that spread the rumor around the galaxy that you were a nice guy."

I was babbling I needed to get the attention focused back to me. She would not survive the first line of questioning and I didn't think he had a sarcophagus since he hadn't flaunted that in my face.

He went to the pedestal and started to maneuver it Carter was attached to the wall. I had failed.

"Colonel you are correct to all that you said you did escape but you will not escape this time".

He had picked up a vial of acid. My stomach turned and the scream inside of my head was deafening. Carter was looking at me and back to Ba'al as the first single drop left the bottle and landed above her right breast.

"Oh god," she moaned as it ate through her vest and straight to her skin. She turned away and was biting her lip so hard that it started to bleed.

I couldn't show that this was affecting me. She would be used to get me to break I put on my best face and started to slow down my breathing.

I looked at Teal'c and he nodded Daniel was about to protest and

Teal'c nudge him he turned to him and then to me. He stopped and understood.

Ba'al picked up a knife and started to play with it.

"You were my main objective in the ambush. Capturing the rest of your team is a bonus. So Colonel would you care to tell me the code to your iris? The location of your Alpha Site? The planet the free Jaffa are training and occupying?"

He held the knife aiming for Carter's chest. I couldn't look at her I would lose it and he would win.

"Bite me," Carter yelled out.

I turned and smiled at her she was being brave but I wanted to tell her it was no use. He would find it amusing and tell you so before plunging that knife so deep you think it would split you in half.

"It seems your team takes after you. Pity."

He got off the pedestal and walked over to Carter.

He had taken a cloth from his cloak and wiped the blood from her mouth and her temple.

"You would follow him to hell and back wouldn't you major? It's a shame he would not do the same thing for you. Before this day is out I will have all the information I want and you will cease to exist."

She looked at him and he stopped. He caressed her cheek and she moved her face away.

"You so do look like the woman O'Neill took from me. Could this be the reason he came back? Thinking he was saving you? There is more to this then meets the eye and I will enjoy getting the tale from either you or him."

Sam spat at him and with cold fury spoke.

"Go to hell, I'm not telling you anything'.

Ba'al wiped the spit from his face and shook his head.

"Pity you will not be around to watch the demise of your friends."

With that he took the knife and slashed her throat with one swift move.

"No!"

I heard the voice yell it was one of deep pain and sorrow and only realized later it was mine.