Not long after Ventirii's introduction 6 more large men had appeared and put black hoods over Jack's and Michael's heads. Michael had to recall every ounce of his training from when he first entered The Agency in order to keep himself from panicking as they walked for what felt like hours. The only thing that made the trek any easier was Jack's constant snarking at their captors.

Michael wondered how much of it was an act or if Jack had been telling the truth and really had been in similar positions so many times before that he was simply bored. Whatever the reason it helped make the forced march slightly less intimidating. Although Michael did worry each time a sarcastic comment was followed by the sound of a smack or punch and the stumble of feet.

After hours had passed and their clothes were damp with sweat the march finally ended. After stumbling down seemingly endless flights of stairs their captors deposited them into a dark jail like room. As the door locked both men removed their hoods and cast a critical eye over the other. Satisfied they were both relatively okay they each had turned to investigating their new cage.

It was as he was analyzing the locking mechanism on the door that Michael's stomach growled. "I know you were joking earlier, but it's no lie; I wish we had time for breakfast before all this. I'm famished." He mindlessly complained.

Jack let out a huff of amusement, "Kidnapped, brought to who knows where, locked in a dirty basement and you're thinking of the breakfast we missed. You and Teal'c will get along well."

Michael looked over his shoulder, "Teal'c?"

Jack stopped his investigation of the wall joint to turn around, "Yeah, big guy at the bar? Polite talker?"

"Oh, right, Daniel had introduced him as Murray Tealk. I guess I forgot his last name."

Jack smiled, "Actually Teal'c is his first name. Murray is just for new people who may have a hard time with the pronunciation."

"I got the sense he wasn't local." Michael observed dryly.

"Oh yeah..." Jack agreed. Forgoing his search for a way out, he looked around at the floor before lowering himself to a seated position with a groan.

"You okay?" Michael turned his full attention to him.

With a smirk Jack waved off his concern, "I'm fine. Just flying a desk for a couple of years is enough for the knees to protest after a little walk."

With a final glance to the door Michael crossed the room and sat across from Jack. "Little walk? We had to have gone a good 15 miles."

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, "12. But hoods aren't typically my preferred accessory on mountain terrain."

Michael nodded in agreement, "Yeah. I'm not sure how long we were in that other vehicle but do you think we're still in Colorado? It's a little warmer, think we could be as far as Northern Arizona?"

Jack looked around the room with an enigmatic smirk, "Ohh I definitely think we're not in Colorado anymore..."

"Damn." Micheal breathed and leaned back against the wall.

The sound of footsteps had both men scrambling to their feet.

Ventirii appeared at their doorway, flanked by the large man they had first met and 5 more large men each bearing similar tattoos or brands. To the side stood a dark, slender woman who held a clasped leather bag.

"The General first, then the brother." Ventirii pointed.

"Oh yay, I do love being fir..." Was all Jack was able to manage before 4 of the men had entered the room and tackled him to the ground. Instinctively Michael moved to help but he was held back by the two others although it was unlikely he would have been able to anything at all.

Jack was still valiantly struggling against his assailants but his resistance slowed as they finally pinned him on his back. One brute held Jack's arm down with a foot on his elbow and wrapped his massive hand tightly around Jack's throat until his face flushed and he obviously struggled for breath.

The man with his hand at Jack's neck gave a final shake to be sure Jack could not escape then nodded to the slender woman. With graceful movements that were in stark contrast to the violence before her she entered the room and knelt at Jack's side. With slow, deliberate motions she placed her bag upon the floor beside her and opened the clasps. She removed a familiar looking needle and flexible tube.

Jack's eyes widened as they followed her movements.

She scanned Jack up and down before turning her attention to the brute holding Jack's neck, "I need access to a large vein. Your hand or your foot, move one."

With a sneer the man removed his hand from Jack's neck. Jack barely had the opportunity to gasp for air before the man's bearpaw sized hand was at his temple and forcing Jack's head to the side and to the ground, leaving his neck exposed. "Neck is faster. I do not wish to be here all day." The man barked.

Michael could see Jack flex and attempt to squirm, but he was held too tight. His breath quickened as the woman's fingers landed on his exposed skin. "I suggest you stop struggling, General." She advised lightly, "Ranorku is correct that the veins on the neck will be faster for all of us but it is much more risky; if you move I could stab your artery and then it would be very hard to keep you from bleeding to death."

Jack gave one last violent attempt but the one referred to as Ranorku pushed harder on his head and Jack was still.

With final stroke of her fingers the woman found the spot she was looking for and deftly inserted the needle under his skin. Jack twitched involuntarily and his hands clenched as the dark crimson blood quickly flowed through the tube attached to the needle and began to fill the attached container.

Michael could see it was a relatively small container but definitely larger than the pint bags he was used to seeing when donating blood. He struggled against the ones who held him, "Stop it! That's too much!"

The women checked the progress of the glass before turning her attention to Michael, "Do not fret Brother of O'Neill. I have no intention of killing him. I do not know how much I will need. Until the project is complete it makes more sense to be patient and take a few measurements at a time from a rejuvenating source than to kill him and only have a limited supply. Granted this first time around I may extract slightly more than is required if only to keep him docile for now. Your brother has quite the reputation as a trouble maker you know."

Even as she spoke he could see Jack's muscles relaxing as he continued to bleed in to the jar. Feeling helpless Michael did the only thing he could do; to keep his word, "He's not my brother." He muttered weakly.

The woman clucked under her breath and looked back at Jack as she spoke, "Your lies matter not. We will draw from you as well and I will be able to judge for myself if your blood holds what we need."

Michael looked on in horror as she finally, clinically removed the needle from Jack's neck and placed a padded cloth at the site of the small wound. She ordered the man holding Jack's legs to put some pressure on the bandage and told the other men they could let go of their grips on the prone man. Jack's eyes fluttered and he let out a small groan but did not move further.

With a sneer and a kick for good measure Ranorku shoved Jack's limp form aside before turning his grotesque smile to Michael, "Next!"

Michael blinked wearily as the woman carefully packed everything away in her bag. His eyes tracked her as she checked to make sure first Jack and then himself were no longer bleeding from the needle punctures.

Sensing his recoil as her hand touched his neck the woman gave a gentle smile to Michael. "Do not look at me with such distaste. I did as I promised only took what I need for now. We shall get you food and you shall be feeling well soon enough."

He tore his eyes from her and glanced back at Jack who appeared to be unconscious. The wicked nurse followed his gaze, "Do not worry for him. He lives and we will keep him that way. Know that it is his own fault that we must take extra precautions to protect ourselves. And let it be a lesson to you as to how to preserve your own health."

With that she stood and glided out of the room. "Be sure to bring them meals shortly." She snapped to her savage entourage before disappearing down the hall.

Michael slowly rolled to his front and pushed himself up. True to her word she did not take as much from him as she had Jack but it was still closer to two than one pint and on an empty stomach Michael was uncertain if he would be able to stand without passing out.

He crawled over to where Jack was laying and was surprised to see his eyes open.

"You're awake!"

Jack blinked slowly and gave a small grin, "Yeah...I'm here."

Michael let out a long, slow breath. "I thought for sure you were going to be out for a long while."

Jack adjusted his shoulders but made no move to sit, "As long as Ragu and his friends thought the same."

"Allowing them to underestimate you...?" Michael questioned as he settled himself to lean back against the wall near Jack's head.

"Well, I'm not going to be running a marathon any time soon..." Jack began to push himself up but before he could his eyes fluttered and his face paled and he lay back down with a groan, "Or sitting up apparently..."

Michael grimaced and tentatively placed a hand on his newly discovered brother's shoulder, "Just rest for a bit. She said they will be bringing us food. That will help even out your blood sugar."

Jack nodded, "Yeah." and his eyes blinked closed and his breathing evened out.

Michael sat, watching Jack's chest rise and fall until he too fell asleep.