CHAPTER SIX

Jack's imagination wasn't far off. If anything, it wasn't brutal enough, and that was saying something. Back on P5X-462, or as Samantha Carter had labeled it, the final level of hell, things had gone from bad to worse.

Carter was relatively unscathed, and felt like shit for it. She was eaten up with guilt for being so lucky. Since Daniel was the only one of them who could speak the native language, albeit not extremely well, the guards and higher ups unmercilessly continued to choose him for their little 'interrogations'. It was taking it's toll, and Sam wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out. Her own cuts, bruises, hunger, and thirst were minor inconveniences compared to what Daniel had had to endure.

Right now, Daniel was off with the guards again, and while no noises came from where they had taken him, Sam knew nothing good was going on in there. Before their captors realized she was of no use to them, they had been equal opportunity in the beating department, and she knew what they were capable of. She had gotten off pretty light, but around here that still meant a few broken ribs and a lot of hurt. Teal'c had been in a similar position, but because of his greater strength, he had weathered the blows pretty well. He had tried repeatedly to get the guards to take him instead of Daniel, but it never worked…and now…now he was unable to do much of anything.

The guards had taken everything except their clothes when they locked them in this hellhole, and now, barefoot and shivering, Teal'c was in desperate need of Tretonin.

Sam tried to comfort his sweating body as he shook, but it was no use. She mopped sweat off his brow and cradled his head to keep him from striking it against the walls or floor. She barely heard him when he began to whisper.

"Major Carter."

Sam didn't even think of correcting him, but she knew that Teal'c would never use a wrong title for anyone if he was lucid. She was afraid she was losing him right then and there.

"I'm here, Teal'c."

"Major Carter…please…if the time comes…you must escape, even if I still draw breath. This will be slow for me, and I may linger, but promise me that if you get a chance, you will run. Only you can save Dr. Jackson and get word to the SGC of what has happened here."

"Teal'c, I won't leave you…you're going to be fine."

At her words, the Jaffa seemed to draw strength from a brief flare of anger, and his voice rose in volume slightly. "I am NOT, Samantha Carter. You must escape! Promise me!"

Carter knew there was no reason to argue, and also that Teal'c was unlikely to remember this conversation, so she said the only thing she could. "Ok. I promise, Teal'c. I promise."

That seemed to settle Teal'c down, and he relaxed into a fitful sleep. Carter was reminded of another time when she had lied to comfort a then dying man, and thoughts of Jack O'Neill came unbidden to her mind. She'd missed him every day since he'd been re-assed to Washington, and even though her rational mind told her there was no way help was coming (she had seen Mitchell fall after being shot, and no one else knew where they were or what had happened) she clung to hope like a lifeline. If anyone could get them out of here, it was General O'Neill. The words she'd heard Daniel utter days before in a tortured gasp came crashing into her consciousness then, and she lifted the same prayer.

"Jack, please…"