A/N: Thank you for the reviews! You're all wonderful.

Prisoners

It is the first night here; Jack is on first watch- not that it would be necessary because by the constant fidgeting of the laying Daniel, Carter's perfectly rhythmic forced breathing and Teal'c's not-so-still-ness, they were all definitely still awake.

He is sitting there, uncomfortable, but fully aware of his surroundings. He hadn't anticipated that the mission would have ended up as road trip to alien prison. 'Yeah this place smells like crap, but I suppose I've gone through worse' he thought to himself. As he does every night, he was retracing the day. He was going over what had happened and anybody he had to keep an eye on. Or somebody. What was his name again? The big bald ugly guy. Vin/Vo/Vishnoor? Who cares. His face is clocked, he's bad news.

He remembered the first contact with everyone, especially Linea. She seems to be top dog around here, barking round orders. He couldn't tell why she was feared, he guessed she must have done some shady ass stuff to get to the top. Because she was at the top, that was clear with the whole 'this woman is under my protection, she is not to be taken by any man' comment about Carter. He squints at the distance, "well I couldda told you that" he mutters unintentionally.

"What sir?" a ball of blonde pops up.

Jack looks round at her confused. "What?"

"You said something sir?"

"Oh, nothing Carter, go back to sleep."

"I don't think any of us is sleeping Jack." Oh for crying out loud Jack thought as Daniel started to prop himself up. "This is prison after all."

"Yes Daniel it's a prison, which is why you're going to need your rest." He snaps.

"Colonel O'Neill is correct. We do not know what misfortunes may cross our paths during our time in captivity, we must gather as much strength as we can in order to defend ourselves and formulate our plan for escape."

"And yet, you're also awake Teal'c." The Colonel sighs.

"Indeed."

Irritated that nobody was sleeping, Jack scratches his head. He'd been in prison before, in places where they had no time to rest. Or if they had, it was to get more energy for some bastards to torture them some more. And anyways, they'd all been in difficult situations off-world, they know the drill. Sleep, eat, do missions, repeat. He glances over at Daniel who is nosily studying Carter as she rummages through her pockets for something, God knows what. As Jack watched, he felt his feeling of irritation downgrade to annoyance, and he thought about how this must be for the two of them. He wondered how Carter was, being in a prison filled with a ton of scummy guys, she'd not mentioned anything and seemed fine. Anyways, he'd made sure she was always teamed up with him when they spilt off. Not that Carter can't fight her own battles, it just felt… right, right? But the same went for Daniel, without Teal'c trailing his footsteps he'd probably be eaten for lunch, and then some.

Jack figured that at this moment in time everyone was going to stay awake.

"Okay kids, if you could be anywhere in world- wait no- if you could be anywhere on earth-" He looks at Teal'c. "Anywhere in the universe" Carter smiles. "If you could be anywhere in the universe right now, where would you be?"

"Not here." Daniel complains.

"Okay smartass." Jack says, he looks at Teal'c.

"I would be on Chulak with Drey'auc and Rya'c. Teaching my son the early ways of the Ma'Tok staff, as my father once taught me. I have not fulfilled my role as a father in training him as he has been under the care of Bra'tac. Throughout my communications with Drey'auc she informs me oh Rya'c's wellbeing, it appears he grows greater by the day."

"That's great Teal'c, really great. " Teal'c nods in response. "Maybe take a day or two off to visit them when we get back." Jack says.

"I shall suggest it to General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill."

"Don't feel bad about not being with Rya'c, what you're doing is saving him in a way he can't even comprehend yet. What we're doing- it's bigger than us." Daniel says. "We know you miss them, it's okay to talk about it. I find it helps. I mean with my whole Sha're situation, I need to talk about it. Otherwise I just feel like I'm going to explode."

"Drey'auc and Rya'c are the cause for all I do. As Sha're is yours."

"Do you ever think of leaving SG1 and going back to them?" Daniel asks. Jack frowns slightly at the invasive question, the deal has always been that Teal'c brings his family up when he feels like it not Daniel playing the team shrink.

"Until all Jaffa are free, I will fight for them."

"That wasn't my question."

"As you stated Daniel Jackson, our mission is greater than us."

"If I knew Sha're was-"

"You'd leave SG1?" Carter cuts in.

Daniel pauses. "I- I mean she is what this all was about for me. But now- I don't know. I love exploring worlds and all, and I love you guys. I guess I don't know what I'd do if I had Sha're again. I've always said I'd be done, but honestly… I don't think that's the case."

That was an answer to one of Jack's many mystery questions. He felt a sting of relief hearing Daniel say that out loud. But, he could feel everyone's walls starting to drop, that was great for the team and all but he didn't want them to be too comfortable. This is only day 1 in prison after all.

"What about you Carter?" Jack chips in.

"What, would I leave SG1?!"

"No- the game, where would you rather be?"

"Oh, urm I don't know sir. I guess a beach or something."

"Captain this isn't a test, just a question. Where would you actually want to be?"

"In my lab." She says sheepishly, everyone looks at her. Teal'c raises an eyebrow. Her cheeks are now turning a gentle shade of red.

"The whole universe! Carter, you have the whole universe, and you choose your lab?"

"You said it wasn't a test sir!" She says defensively.

"Well yeah but I just-"

"What's wrong with her being in her lab Jack?"

"I-um-"

"Or maybe see my dad. Or my brother." She quietly, and quickly, says.

Jack had eavesdropped into enough of Carter and Daniel's family conversations to know her answer came with complications. He had follow up questions, but they couldn't be asked. Not here.

"When was the last time you-"

"It's been a while." Carter answers Daniel, before he's finished his question.

"Don't worry Carter, most of us don't have much time for family."

"Yes, sir."

"We're in prison. You can drop the sir." He knows she won't.

"Yeah, so what's the deal with Linea tomorrow then Sam?" Daniel yawns.

Sam proceeds to tell them everything that was said that day and every little potion she'd discovered. Jack would have cut her off as she'd already been through this with him, but it seemed to not only put her at ease, but the guys too. Even Jack. He knows if Carter has a 'theoretical' idea then there's hope as she always seems to transform ideas into reality. It's probably not a good idea to have such high expectations of her, but the problem (if it's even a problem) is that she always comes through. So hearing her trying to convince everyone of her plan is a sort of lullaby to them. And quite literally so, as after a few minutes of talking, Daniel was asleep lent against a wall. And once the conversation was done, Teal'c drifted into his Jaffa matrix.

Jack and Carter repositioned Daniel so he was laying down and covered him with his jacket.

"How does he not wake up when we do this?" Jack asks, astonished.

"I couldn't tell you sir."

"Ha." He chuckles. "You should get some rest Carter."

"I'm really not tired sir, I can finish your watch if you want."

"No I'm good. Lie down, that's an order." Her eyes pop open and she lets out a small laugh. "Oh, that didn't come out right."

She smiles. "It's alright sir, I suppose I really should get some sleep."

"Night Carter."

"Night sir."

He looked at his team, with the dirt floor as a mattress and their BDU jackets as their source of warmth. Teal'c had generously given Carter his Jacket, but she politely refused it so it was sitting awkwardly in-between them. As time passed, it got colder. Jack got up to place the jacket on Carter, but before he did he spotted some rag like thing in the corner, it looked like a shirt that was ripped. Jack thought, gross, but he'll thank me. He picked up the rag and covered the bottom half of Daniel with it. Then, he picked up Teal'c's jacket and as lightly as he could, lowered it onto Carter's lower half without waking her. Noticing her jacket was exposing a part of her arm, he readjusted it to make sure she could keep warm. Finally, he checked Teal'c, oh screw it. He took off his jacket and hung it around his meditating friend. Jack crept back to his spot, patted the ground and sat down. He breathed into his hands and rubbed them for warmth. It was going to be a long few hours ahead, we better find a way out of here.