Chapter 5
It was late. The kitchen slaves had picked up the mugs and bowls and replenished the water jug. Daniel was sprawled fast asleep in the center of the bench. Teal'c was still deep in kel-no-reem. O'Neill lay on the foremost section of the bench and motioned Carter over. It was quite dark and eerily quiet, he didn't think they would be observed. She sat on the floor near him so they could talk quietly.
She had noticed him rubbing his side and asked if he was alright.
"I'm fine." Noting her skeptical expression he continued "really I'm fine."
"What did they do …"
"Asked a few questions but they don't believe our cover story." He sat up making room for her, he couldn't leave her on the floor. "They may come after you or Daniel next. We have to be on our guard. You know they'll use our feelings and loyalty to one another against us."
"We'll stick to the script." She sat next to him.
"I know you will. I'm ordering you... when you have the chance... the very first chance, I want you to get them out of here. Get them through the Stargate. Get them home."
"Not without…" Her fingers grazed his arm. He caught her hand.
"I'll be alright." Or I won't, O'Neill thought, but not every thought that crosses your mind has to come out of your mouth.
"Sir."
"Aah. Don't wanna hear it. That was a direct order." Although a command, his voice was gentle.
"Yes sir." She thought a moment and added "Better if we all get out of here together."
Sitting up O'Neill did not release her hand, his thumb stroking her palm. "You're cold."
She nodded her head in the dim light.
"C'mere" he said and tugged on her fingers.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"They're primitive tech wise, no cameras and too dark. Anyway, no one's around this time of night."
It wasn't really why Sam objected Jack knew.
"Should I kick Daniel off? I could take the floor."
"No sir."
"Come on, I'm cold too." He said, tugging her closer.
It was two team members sharing body heat, two team members imprisoned in a tight spot. It was the Colonel giving his second orders, nothing more.
He put his arm around her and held her cold fingers against his chest. "As soon as you get the chance, Sam, as soon as you get the chance."
She relaxed against him and sleepily said "I'll take care of them."
"I know you will Sam."
If she turned her head just a little, let go, took the first step. But no, no. So what if it seemed close to a fantasy of hers, this was a mission, this was real, nothing more.
The morning found them spooned together. Whatever configuration they started out in the evening in this dank cell, the morning always found them spooned together. When they slipped down to get horizontal he was always in front, facing the door, guarding his team, guarding her. If they could only get some time away, at his cabin in the woods where he felt safe, it might be quite different.
He got up before Khon'du usually arrived and readied himself for another day, another day like so many before the Jaffa arrived at the cell door. As Jack was marched off they could hear him carping at the Jaffa.
"I hate to complain but I'm not pleased with the room service. There were no chocolates on the pillows last night - in fact there were no pillows. I think we deserve an upgrade. "
"Silence!"
He spent hours standing there in the empty throne room. It was so damned pointless. Khon'du did not hang around for long. He had an important meeting to attend.
Khon'du entered the luxurious private audience room and bowed low before his god.
"Tell me of these humans." the deep voice of the Goa'uld demanded.
"My lord, they continue to claim they are explorers looking for trading markets for their people. And as you know, my lord, they have no good with them yet they possess powerful weapons."
"Perhaps they are scouts of a world seeking conquest. You will double the guard at the Chappa'ai."
"As you command my lord. They travel with a female and employ a Jaffa for protection. I do not understand them."
"Perhaps they are fleeing another world for crimes or persecution. Or perhaps they are looking for a new home for themselves or their people.
What of the Jaffa?"
"They call him Teal'c." Khon'du responded
"Ah, a good name for a body guard - Strength."
"Yes, my lord. He said he would not give these humans his true name - Obi Wan."
"That is most unusual."
"He said his mother named him for a tale of a great seer and warrior. The tale was told by the wandering bard, Lu'kas."
"Why does this Jaffa not serve his god, the serpent lord?"
"The vessel he commanded was in a great battle and all in the battle, save him, were lost. He was gravely wounded and his ship destroyed. He threw his lot in with these so that he might regain his strength and return to his god. It has been many cycles and the Chappa'ai would not connect to his homeworld."
"Hmm" Sop'du needed to think about this.
"Is he amenable to join our warriors and will he be an asset?"
"Yes, my lord. He is anxious to be well shed of the human weaklings." He would serve you, my lord."
"Khon'du, do not give your trust too easily." Sop'du advised.
"The older man, their leader, perhaps he will be more forthcoming when faced with solitude. In any case they will not return through the Chappa'ai to give information to those who sent them. You know my will regarding the woman and younger man. Dispose of them according to my will."
"Yes, my lord. It will be done as you command. But if you will indulge me lord, may I again try to break the leader of this group?"
"Another few days Khon'du, but don't waste your time or mine."
With that Khon'du bowed low and exited the presence of his god.
Sop'du was no fool. He was certainly aware of the rivalries and jostling for power among those of his kind who assumed the names of the Egyptian pantheon. But these all bent the knee to the great Lord Ra. Sop'du assumed the order had been kept for the past two or three thousand years that he had guarded this border of Lord Ra's domain. He had not heard from Ra for a long time although his beloved Hathor had visited. She gave no mention of change in the order of things. Why then was this Jaffa, Obi Wan, a servant of Apophis, on his doorstep?
Had he, Sop'du, the loyal vassal of the great god Ra, been sidelined, overlooked or forgotten?
And so the next five days were as the days before. O'Neill stood off to the side in the audience room of the Goa'uld who rarely made an appearance. Afterward he was questioned and always stuck to his story. For his efforts he received a blow or a taste of a pain stick from an increasingly frustrated Khon'du.
The last time O'Neill was brought before Lord Sop'du, the Goa'uld spoke only to Khon'du and said "Do as I have instructed you."
Khon'du bowed low and said "Yes, my lord."
Khon'du marched out leaving O'Neill with his guard, saw to the orders of Sop'du and returned later in the day to the main audience room.
Sop'du looked to Khon'du. "As you have will it, my lord." He struck his breast with his fist bowed to the god and marched the prisoner out.
He accompanied Jack and his guard down to the cell block. The walk gave Jack time to anticipate what new form of brutality Khon'du would inflict on him.
They stopped before the cell door. And nothing. The door swung open and Jack was allowed to walk in. The door slammed and locked and the Jaffa left, except for Khon'du.
Jack stood stock still. The cell was empty. At first he felt a frisson of terror. What had they done with his team? Where the hell was Carter, Daniel and Teal'c?
Did they escape?
He had ordered Carter to escape and take Daniel and Teal'c with her. He trusted her judgement, she wouldn't take foolish risks not with their lives no matter what he ordered. So he thought it was highly improbable. Khon'du must have had something to do with this. Maybe he was just messing with him. Maybe they moved them to another cell. Maybe they were being interrogated. Jack could not allow his agitation to show. Khon'du smirked and walked away.
Jack sat, paced, sat again. Hours passed and they did not return. He waited. He listened for their voices. He asked. He yelled at his jailers. He yelled for his team. He was ignored.
The Jaffa did not come for him the next day.
