PART FIVE
Jack tried to pretend he was back home, chess set in front of him on the coffee table, a hockey game blaring out of the TV and a cold beer lifted halfway to his parched lips.
It didn't work. What a surprise.
He had to give Zakar credit; he sure knew how to turn the screw without even trying. Jack was alone and he didn't have a clue what Jacob and Sam were going through right now. Sweat popped out on his brow and the hairs rose on his arms with wondering where Carter was. Twisting his wrist to check his watch, he groaned low and tipped back his head to bang against the metal wall of the holding cell. Only an hour had passed and already his legs were shaking hard enough he didn't think he could stand up.
Held down by two Jaffa while he writhed in agony, Jacob tried and failed to hold back his screams. His insides felt liquefied with heat and the pitiless energy that even during respites still streaked through his body in echoing waves. Despite suffering herself, Selmac still did her best to repair the damage as it was being wrought.
Jacob appreciated that even as he wondered if she was wasting her time.
Zakar, dressed in full regalia of peacock blue and gold with his fancy beard and thick long hair oiled was sitting on a golden chair that was only a little less ornate than his throne. Onyx eyes watched avidly as Jacob hung limp in the Jaffa's grasp and that wide, mobile mouth curled into a smile as sweat dripped down his face. Contrarily, he didn't want Zakar to leave. It had nothing to do with heroics and everything to do with being a father. If his pain meant Sam was safe, he could put up with it.
"You're unusual for a Tok'ra, Kelnan," said Zakar conversationally, "If I didn't know better I'd say your host is stronger than you are." He held up a hand and examined his fingernails casually, "Of course we both do know better because humans exist to serve the symbiote, not the other way around."
Jacob said nothing. One, he had nothing to prove and two, he was busy trying to stop his muscles from going into spasm as more shudders wracked him.
Perhaps recognising he wasn't going to get a rise out of him, Zakar let it go and leaned forward to say, "You're right, let's not waste time on trivialities. I'm curious about those two humans you were meeting with. Who are they?"
Panting, Jacob tightened his jaw and seeing the silent signal sent to the torturer behind him, he stiffened in preparation for a fresh wave of white-out agony. He wasn't to be disappointed. Mouth open and flashing blue sparks, fresh screams rent the air.
"Are they from the Tauri?"
No answer. More pain.
"Why were you sent here? Was it the Tok'ra or the Tauri who gave you your orders?"
The screams grew hoarse and the air was rank with sizzling flesh.
It went on and on…
"Where is my missing toy, Kelnan, surely you know I will get it out of you eventually. Unlike the lucky slave who betrayed you, I will keep bringing you back to life for more of this. You don't want that do you?"
Another signal, this time a flick of his fingers resulted in Jacob being released to fall and sprawl on the floor; the metal was icy on his blistered skin. Behind Zakar, a new guard had arrived and waited to be given permission to speak.
"What is it?" Zakar snapped impatiently.
"My Lord, the other two prisoners appear to be getting sick. I thought you would want to be informed."
Swimming back to the surface, Jack felt the cold metal floor against his cheek and rolled over. His body was filmed with sweat and his tee-shirt was like a second skin. Worse, the churning of his guts was strong enough to have him dry-heaving every time he attempted to sit up. He felt like crap and knew this was only the beginning.
Oh joy!
Being hauled up by his outer vest and put on his feet managed to force him to crank open his eyes, but didn't help with trying to focus. Everything swayed, even the man he was swung around to face. "Stand still," Jack demanded weakly, "Or I'm gonna spew."
A thick eyebrow quirked, "I am standing still, human."
He hated being called that; like it was some kind of insult or something. "Hey! It's Colonel Jack O'Neill. Jesus! You sound like Bratac." The room went bleary again and powerless to prevent it, Jack's head lolled forward.
Bearded and fancily dressed, it was pretty obvious who his visitor was. Cold fingers came up to grasp his chin and jerk his head back up. "Why are you sick, Colonel?"
"Flu," replied Jack flippantly, wishing everything would stop spinning. "It's the pits."
"You're lying," said Zakar flatly, although he appeared more amused than irritated and the dawning understanding in those black eyes gave Jack the heebie-jeebies.
"You've obviously never had flu," he countered and managed to jerk his face away from that light grip.
Zakar gave another cold smile and Jack wondered if it was a bad idea to point out that some folks idea of pleasant was in fact exact the opposite. Before he could meander his way through that convoluted line of thinking, the goa'uld asked, "Where are you from?"
"Minnesota- lotsa trees and fish. You should visit." He thought about it, "Or, maybe not."
The simultaneous blow to the back of his knees and head sent Jack thudding to the floor and retching. When the engulfing blackness receded leaving behind a thumping headache to go with the persistent dizziness, he risked a glance up at his captor.
The second their eyes met, Zakar tilted his head and said, "What I find thoroughly intriguing is that the woman found with you is also sick. Does this bother you?"
Uhm yeah! "Let me see her."
Zakar appeared thoughtful, "You think that would help?"
The sadistic sonvabitch was playing with him. The sudden surge of aggravation helped clear his head some. Pushing up on his knees, Jack decided to cut the game short. "Oh, c'mon! We both know you're not going to let me near her."
"I might," retorted Zakar, "if you tell me where the device is that made you react to separation this way."
The idea of denying that was the cause flickered briefly before he decided it was useless to even try. "Even if I did it wouldn't do you any good. You can't get at it." The temporary return of energy dissipated and it was all Jack could do not to curl in on himself like an infant.
An ugly gleam entered the goa'ulds eyes and he hunkered down to his level. Ominously he said softly, "I've seen this a thousand times," he waved dismissively, "In fact, I used to use this as a very effective form of torture eons before you were ever born. You wouldn't believe what you'll be willing to do for some small relief before long." That said, he stood and said with an evil smirk, "Personally, I look forward to finding out."
Watching him go, ice walked up Jack spine swiftly followed by wracking shudders that finally forced him to give in and curl up in a fetal position. He only hoped Carter was holding up okay. He'd tried and failed to get a mental lock on her. Wrapping both arms around his quaking body, he mumbled her name, "Sam!"
You know, you really will like me when you get to know me.
Oh, I adore you already, Captain.
The smile wobbled and the laugh was accompanied by a rattle in her too tight chest. Dazed and drenched through with sweat, Sam tried to hold onto the spurt of warmth that had burst into life with the memory. God! He'd been such a smartass, still was really, but the sting was gone. Heck, a day at the SGC just wasn't complete without some O'Neill wisecracks; usually uttered at precisely the wrong time.
She remembered that day like yesterday. His hackles had been up at having her foisted on him and a lot of guys would have held a grudge until kingdom come, but not Colonel O'Neill. After she'd proved her mettle she'd been one of the team in his eyes- without reservation. She'd appreciated that more than he could have known.
That was one of the reasons why she loved doing what she did and with whom.
In some ways; very, very small ways, he reminded her of her dad. At times when the two of them got together it was like watching a pair of hounds circle a bone and the prize was the last word. God! She hoped they were both, okay. A hollow pit yawned inside at the thought that she may not see either them, or Daniel and Teal'c again.
She'd been left completely alone after being shoved in here and more than once Sam had felt like she was drowning; being sucked under by an internal force that was relentless and uncaring that she couldn't do anything about it. At first she'd tried to keep herself loose by doing exercises and Tai Chi, but gave up when her muscles began to lock and seize.
Falling flat on her face a few times had convinced her doing herself an injury was bad from a strategic point of view. Of course the fact that shortly she'd been flailing around like a stranded fish didn't exactly give out much hope either.
Tears stung and she blinked them away. Hieroglyphs unlike any she'd seen before swam in a blur of distorted, golden shapes. Sniffing back more tears, and huddling into herself, Sam curled into a tighter ball as the door barring her cell lifted and a tall figure swathed in long blue robes strode inside.
All right. Wait a minute. Let…Let me get something straight here. Engaged?
It is theoretically possible.
It's against regulations!
God! Back then he'd been so glad she'd missed that slip. Not 'I don't feel like that about you', or 'look you're cute an' all, but not my type'. Oh no, he'd said 'it's against regulations.'
Doh!
Not that he'd given a lot of thought afterwards himself. Hey! You can't beat sticking your head in the sand for being able to ignore something. He was good at that. Well, he had been before some dumb alien gizmo had come along and zapped him and Carter. Barely able to move and wracked with increasingly powerful shudders that hurt every bone in his body, he tried to imagine being engaged and living with Sam and kept coming up with a lab instead of a kitchen or something else domestic-ee for a background.
Fuzzily, he wondered did it really matter so long as she was in it?
He was so far gone, it took a few moments to realise that someone else had lifted and turned his head. Jacob Carter's battered and blistered face hovered with deep grooves of concern bracketing his mouth and digging into his forehead.
"Oy!" Jack croaked, "You look worse than I feel."
Jacob's voice was rusty and sounded like it came from a great distance. "Is this a result of that thing you two were telling me about?"
"Yup." Jack replied bluntly. "Have you seen Sam?"
"No, I haven't." Visibly unhappy about that fact, Jacob lowered his head again and sat down next to him. There was a pause before the man vented a little, "Jesus, Jack when are you and the rest of the SGC gonna realise you can't go playing around with alien technology you don't have a chance of understanding?"
"I think we're getting a handle on this one." Jack retorted weakly.
Tipping back his head, Jacob gusted out a sigh. "It's been what…three hours since we got here?"
"I guess. I've lost track."
"And you're a mess already," Jacob lost it again. "What was Hammond thinking letting you two go on a mission?"
"We didn't think we had a choice."
"If you'd have got me a message I would have brought it to you."
"Hindsight's a bitch."
"Don't kid yourself," Jacob snapped. "I'm only talking about a little foresight here."
Was there an answer to that? "I'm worried about her, too, Jake."
Jack barely got the words about before he went into a spasm so strong he unfolded like a released spring into an inhuman arc and gave a hoarse yell of pain. When it released him, his back would have slammed to the floor if Jacob hadn't caught him with an arm under his lower spine.
White-faced and grim, Jacob eyeballed him. "Jack, you have to offer Zakar enough that he'll let Sam come in with us, understand?"
Sam was in a bed. It was a big bed with matching rosewood headboard and footer and what seemed like an ocean of crisp fresh sheets in-between. The drapes were closed, but the dove grey of pre-dawn filtered in enough that she could see as well as feel the strong arm that held her tight to the safe harbour of a hard body. There was a light dusting of dark hair on the arm and she ran her fingertips down the corded and firm flesh.
At her touch, he shifted against her back, still asleep, and mumbled a grousing semi-coherent complaint into her shoulder. There was a telling bulge where he was nestled into her butt and Sam smiled, delighted with him. Content and yet playful she ran her fingers over the hand securing her and compared hers to his. She'd always loved his hands and not for the first time marvelled that despite their size they were graceful. He had long fingers that could wield a knife or a rifle with deadly dexterity, or map her body with incredible tenderness.
Twisting around to see him properly, she settled a loving and expectant gaze on his face and used his waking up stretch as an opportunity to slip one of her legs between his and curl in closer. He was so warm it was delicious and she didn't intend to let go for a good long while. Just then eyes the colour of melted dark chocolate popped open and found hers.
His smile was lazy and she smiled back. "Morning, sir."
Sir?!
Like an icy splash of cold water that broke through the haze and splintered the vision into a thousands shards. Almost like a punishment those self-same shards stabbed into her and Sam yelped as she came too. She'd passed out and dug herself some comfort from the deep recesses of her subconscious. Now she was back again the agony was beginning a new cycle.
Thrashing from side to side, her booted feet kicked and slipped on the metal floor. Nothing helped and reality wavered anew as the blackness she'd been dragged from beckoned again. God! It hurt so damned much she almost welcomed it.
This was much worse than last time. Last time she hadn't even realised what was happening before it was too late to call for help. This time there was no help.
Being hauled upright and then a hard shoulder shoved under both arms was disorienting to say the least, but it did snap her out of it some. Dazed and helpless, Sam wondered if she was dreaming again as she was dragged; feet bumping over the floor, out of the cell and into a corridor.
The first face she saw was her dads as he lunged to catch her when the two Jaffa guards 'escorting her' stepped away. "Sam" he said in a worried rasp and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and lay his cheek on her hair. "God! I'm so glad to see you."
Tied up in knots that were mental and physical, she couldn't manage any reply and searched for O'Neill with a desperation that was almost embarrassing. She found him in a writhing heap in one corner with his jacket shoved under his damp head. His black tee-shirt had ridden half up due to his tormented movements. Despite feeling as bad herself, a lump formed in her throat at the sight. No wonder they'd freaked everybody out back when it first happened.
"He was doing okay, not good but okay, until about ten minutes ago," Jacob told her sombrely, adding with a grimace, "Although there was a few times I wondered if I'd have to sit on him."
"Help me over to him," Sam managed to force between clenched teeth. Having said that much, it got easier, "I'm in a sort of remission for now, but if we don't get close together I'll go into another seizure very soon."
Lowered to lie next to O'Neill brought a relief that was so instant she almost passed out again. Even with her dad watching them with a worried frown, Sam was past the point of embarrassment and turned to burrow into the colonel. He calmed instantly, too.
"Jesus, that's insane," Jacob muttered shakily and passed a hand over his face. The hand was trembling to with a relief he rarely let himself show.
"What did you two have to offer to get this?" she asked him. Sam had a vague recollection of a menacing presence trying to coerce information out of her. She was fairly sure that she didn't give any out.
At her question, some humour came back into his craggy face. "I'll let Jack explain that one to you, 'cause I'm damned if I'm even gonna try."
If there was one thing designed to make a man tense, any man and he didn't care how blasé; it was waking up to find himself half wrapped around a woman while her father sat only a few feet away. The fact that the father was a general, the daughter a captain and the man a colonel in the Air Force and her CO to boot; well then he figured he was allowed to feel a mite uncomfortable.
Not that comfort was an option given his whole body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of elephants. Oh yeah! He ached. In fact, he ached in places he'd forgotten he had muscles for crying out loud. None of which changed the fact that he had to remove himself from Captain Carter.
Gingerly, Jack removed his leg from where it had draped itself over both of hers. Next, he unplastered his hand from her spine and rolled over. Covering his face with the same hand, he swore he was going to cover his ears and hum a ditty if Jacob said even one word.
"What deal did you make with Zakar?" she asked him out-of-the-blue and his head snapped back to lock gazes with a pair of bright blue eyes.
"You're awake?" he stated dumbly. Yikes, there were dumb questions and then there was that one. It must be fate that he was always destined to look like an idiot in front of this woman.
"I didn't go asleep," she responded matter-of-factly and with her head pillowed one arm- his arm!
Nonplussed, Jack tugged his arm free and came up on his elbows to stare down at her. "Not even for a minute?"
Rolling to lie flat, she shook her head and a soft gleam entered her eyes that almost distracted him from what she'd just revealed; then it hit him.
She'd been awake the whole time and fully aware of every move he'd made; something he couldn't even say himself.
O-kay, that was so not good. He couldn't even take comfort in the fact that she'd been too out of it to realise he'd been practically trying to climb into her skin. A wave of embarrassment had a rare blush rushing to stain his cheeks.
A quick glance toward Jacob revealed he was paying rapt attention. Abruptly, Jack felt as transparent as glass. It was definitely time to move. Disentangling the rest of his limbs from hers, he sat up and tried to pull the ragged tatters of his pride together. Clearing his throat, he answered her initial question, "I relayed a message to General Homer telling him he had to send the ancient's device over within 24 hours or else we're bye-bye," shrugging, he finished, "or words to that effect."
Her frown was so cute when she was looking askance at him like that. He quashed the thought. "General Homer?" she queried incredulously and sat up, too.
"Yup," Recovering some of his composure now she'd lost some of hers, Jack's grin was helpless and just a teeny bit proud, "And 24 hours should be plenty of time."
"For what exactly?" chimed in Jacob.
Looking over, Jack's blank expression suggested it should have been obvious. "Plan B to work and Daniel and Teal'c to not give up and come riding to the rescue. What did you think?"
Next to him, Sam pulled a 'hoo boy' face and rested an arm on one drawn up knee. Somehow, I don't think General Hammond is going to like being called Homer, sir.
A little concerned on that score himself, Jack was glad Carter Snr couldn't hear his defensive whine. Hey! It was just so he'd y'know…realise that the things had gone a little haywire and be on-guard.
Yeah, I got that, sir, but…Homer
Lifting his hands to link them behind his head, Jacob's reaction was a little different. "Personally, I just wish I could have been there to see George's face when the message came through."
It was dusk again, marking their first complete 24-hour cycle on the planet and just like when they'd arrived, Daniel found himself hunkering behind bushes. Only this time he was flanked by Jaffa. On his right crouched Teal'c; alert and watchful with his gaze fixed on the trail they were hoping the Al-kesh relief crew would use. While on his left was Ka'al who seemed equally watchful and still.
It was a little like sitting between two organic monoliths, he thought and made a mental note to visit the gym more often. In fact he could with some tension busting exercise right now. After a half of hour of keeping utterly still and hoping they were right in that Allyn hadn't overheard the details of their plans, Daniel was feeling antsy to put it mildly. He was also worried about Sam and Jack. The problem, as he figured it, of having an active imagination was the ability to picture in 3-D surround-sound exactly the kind of things a pissed-off goa'uld could do to them. Being separated or hideous torture of both the mental and physical kind was the least of it.
What if a few of Zakar's Jaffa had larva all done with being cooked and ready for a host?
"Do not worry, Daniel Jackson," intoned Teal'c without taking his eyes off the trail. "We will find O'Neill and Captain Carter and free them. Of this I am certain."
Shifting to relieve the pins and needles afflicting his feet after being still for so long, Daniel's smile was wan but sincere. "Thanks, Teal'c. I know you mean that."
"I am less certain," grunted Ka'al and his sliding glance at Teal'c was tinged with derision. "And I do not understand this insistence with courting death to rescue comrades who have been captured by the enemy. Such things happen when locked in combat."
Sat between them, Daniel had a sinking feeling that things were going to get nasty. He was never more pleased to be wrong. Teal'c eyebrow did its stark rise and he spared only a brief look at Ka'al. "That is because you still think like a slave and I do not."
Staring, Daniel was sure a self satisfied smirk briefly flirted with Teal'c large mouth. "How so?" demanded Ka'al.
There was no time for a reply as a trio of Jaffa strode into view. Glad to see them for more than one reason, Daniel activated his zat and heard Teal'c and Ka'al do the same. Heart beating a tattoo in his chest, an immediate onrush of adrenaline zinged through his system and dimly he noted that finally after almost two years that charge didn't make him want to throw up.
It was show-time!
Sending up yet a prayer that they weren't too late to save their friends, Daniel sighted the middle Jaffa just as he stepped inside the stone circle that marked the depositor for the transport rings.
Three blasts later and they cautiously approached the stunned enemy. A second shot at each killed them and then two were stripped of their armour and helmets. With that done, a third shot was discharged to remove all trace of the bodies.
"Well, I guess this means they really didn't know what we were planning," said Daniel. His nonchalant tone was designed to hide his distaste for killing the Jaffa when they had already been stunned. Although he understood the necessity, the humanitarian in him was still repulsed. Funnily enough that was getting easier to dismiss, too. Brushing aside a spear of regret, he snagged the third staff weapon to take back with him.
Dressed once again in the raiment's of a Jaffa guard, Teal'c stepped inside the circle and got ready to depress the crystal on his wrist that would bring down the rings from the Al-kesh that could be arrive at any moment.
"Go now, Daniel Jackson, before you are seen." His eyes briefly took in Ka'al who joined him in the circle before returning to his Tauri comrade-in-arms. "We will not fail," he vowed solemnly.
"I'll see you at the Mother Ship," confirmed Daniel backing away with a wary glance upwards. "Just make sure you don't get too close until we get the shields down."
Everything had to be timed perfectly to coincide with one another and so prevent Zakar's forces from recovering enough to form a cohesive defence. The evacuation of the naquadah mines and the explosion of a single package of C4 deep inside took place within minutes. Daniel and a group of four others were dressed in filthy rags spotted with blood as if they'd just escaped the 'attack' and were fleeing to the temple as a refuge.
Jaffa began to pour down the stone steps and Daniel flattened himself along with the others as if in obeisance until the coast was clear. Just as they were running up the steps towards the temple a whoosh of displaced air heralded the arrival of the Al'kesh that began to bombard the hapless Jaffa with deadly outburst from its twin cannons. Bodies and dirt exploded accompanied by the screams of the abruptly dying.
"C'mon." Grasping a shoulder to push one and so them all onwards, Daniel threw back his tattered hood and raced for the doors that would take them to the only means of getting inside the Mother Ship.
Alarms blaring, sonic booms, rushing feet and barked out orders could be heard even from inside the holding cell. Jack stopped lounging and jumped to his feet at the exact same time as Sam. Jacob cocked his head and waited for more to happen before he got to his feet. More to the point, Selmac wasn't quite through with healing him and she did her best work when he was stationary.
However, he did ask, "You're pals I presume?"
"I hope so," said Sam feelingly, "because if it's someone else we could be in big trouble."
"It's Daniel," assured, Jack and went to stand at the still closed doorway, "got to be."
"Oh wait! We didn't get a chance to fine tune the plan," realised Sam with an annoyed shake of her head for not thinking of it sooner. "Who's going after the shields and weapons and who goes after the device?"
"I dunno, toss for it."
Jacob's head dripped briefly. "If this is indeed Daniel and we are freed, I will go after the control crystals." The deep, throbbing voice was eerie coming from her father and dimly Sam wondered if she'd ever get used to it.
"Hi Selmac." Her tip-tilted smile was uncertain.
The Tok'ra nodded an acknowledgement and focused on Jack. "Colonel O'Neill, you will find the device you seek in Zakar's private chamber which is located on the same level as the Pel-tec. You can't miss it with his sarcophagus inside. You must hurry though as I do not believe Zakar would leave it unattended under threat." Jacob Carter's lips twisted into a wry smile, "He learned his lesson last time."
TB C
