Interesting – Chapter 4
PapayaK

oO0Oo

Previously…

"It works, Carter. Can't hide from it. No choice." The defeat in his voice was almost unbearable. Then, as if he remembered something, he shifted position and spoke, forcing his eyes to focus on her, "We'll just gate elsewhere. Start thinking of where you want to escape to…"

The words took her back to Antarctica where she had first learned of his abiding belief that they would always get home. She smiled softly. "How about something with a beach?"

"Mmm" He spoke as if in his sleep. "Beach… sounds good…"

She sat close beside him, reassuring him with her presence.

oO0Oo

In the morning, they started again. The Jaffa came and dragged him away. He did not have the strength to fight them. Carter found herself begging them to take her instead. Usually that was the Colonel's job.

They strapped him in and Dagon began again. Jack struggled and suffered.

Every other time he had been tortured, he had fought; even if only mentally or emotionally. He had fought in some small way and won. Something he could hold onto.

No matter what the situation, he was always able to hide what he was really thinking and feeling. And as with everything else he did there was a reason for it. If he were honest, he had to admit he prided himself on it. He could even fool Carter – sometimes.

Here, he felt he had nothing. He could not stop Dagon. The snake would take whichever of his thoughts he wanted. And he would use what he took to hurt, enslave and destroy those whom Jack lived to protect.

The idea was killing him faster than the machine.

After only a few hours of pointless pain and struggling, Dagon took the IDC codes. Then he took the Stargate addresses of several peaceful, Goa'uld-free worlds. He took all the classified information Jack tried to hide: the secrets of the Nox and the Asguard, the latest Tok'ra base, the Alpha site, everything. No training, no experience could help him. Dagon just took, and laughed while he took it.

This time when they dumped him back into the cell he just lied where he had fallen.

"Sir? Colonel?" Carter slid his head onto her lap and cradled him in her arms.

"Carter, - I think – I think I need some help."

The words chilled her.

"Sir? You just have to hold on, help is on the way."

"Aw, Carter, don't even – Hammond won't authorize it." He coughed, "I wouldn't."

He tried to catch his breath. "But, Sam, – we will get out."

"Sir?" She looked at him doubtfully, his pain reflected in her eyes.

"Major," He looked at her earnestly, his words so soft she had to lean down to hear him, "You have to believe me."

"Yes sir."

oO0Oo

The next time the Jaffa came, Carter was ready. She wouldn't give them a chance to zat her this time. She hid behind the door and attacked when they came in. Thanks to Teal'c's lessons on top of the toughest training the Air Force had to offer, she had two Jaffa on the floor before their sheer numbers overwhelmed her.

Jack grinned at her as they pulled him from the room. "Nice."

Dagon greeted him cheerfully once he was strapped into the chair. "What will you tell me today, Colonel? I spent a very pleasant night planning several campaigns based on what I learned from you. Where shall we go next?"

Jack spit at him.

Dagon laughed. "Ah, Khek, He has not yet experienced the higher levels. Let us begin there as a reward for his insolence."

Khek adjusted the machine and turned it on.

Every muscle in his abused body clenched. Blood ran once more from his wrists. He could barely draw breath between his gritted teeth. He growled at Dagon. "I. Will. Kill. You."

Dagon came nose to nose with him fast, losing his maniacal grin for a moment "No, Colonel, I will kill you."

oO0Oo

Carter sat bruised and breathless after her encounter. She couldn't stand feeling so helpless. The Colonel was dying and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't even give him hope.

Her heart was breaking for him. "Jack!" her soul cried out within her.

"Sam!"

For a split second, she thought...

"Sam, do you read?"

She grabbed for her hidden radio. "Daniel!"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but the Colonel is not going to make it if we don't get help soon. Dagon has been relentless with that machine." She paused; then spoke reluctantly, "He said to change the codes."

"Got it. Alberts?"

She was thankful he accepted the information without comment, although she knew it affected him to know how bad things were for Jack to say it. "He's in a coma. I don't think he has long either."

There was a pause.

"We're coming. We just have to wait until we have the manpower. Too many teams are off world." Daniel was talking a mile a minute, "but there's an elaborate plan to get to you. We'll take Dagon out, too. I explained to the powers that be what you told me, and he's been deemed an unacceptable threat with the information he now holds or will hold. We're coming Sam, and we're not messing around. You just have to hold on a little longer – tell Jack to hold on."

"Just hurry, Daniel." She begged. "Carter out."

oO0Oo

In the few hours of 'interrogation' that had passed, Dagon had become furious. Jack, full of pain and barely conscious, had found a way to keep a secret: the secret of the Janitors.

It was not something for which Dagon actively searched, and so Jack was able to hide it. He couldn't have explained how he did it. But the machine that had torn at his mind for so long had its limits, and Jack had found them. The only problem was that Dagon could tell he was hiding something.

"What do you hide from me?" Dagon screamed. "No one has ever resisted like this! I already know everything you know about the Stargate program, your missions, your world, your past, your friends, and your family!" He ticked off the list on his fingers, trying to think what it could be. "What is it?" he shouted.

He leaned in close and whispered, "Tell me."

When Jack managed a small smile, he turned to Khek, "Full power!"

"But, My Lord!"

"I don't care. He will tell me or he will die."

Khek moved her levers and an unearthly whine filled the room.

Jack sat there and let the pain wash over him. It rolled over him in waves, each one taking a piece of him with it. It would be over soon. He was unaware of the tears that streamed down his face. Blood trickled from his nose and ears, but he no longer cared. He had won. He would die, but he had won.

He had beaten Dagon.

"Stop!"

Suddenly the pain ended, leaving Jack dazed and not a little confused.

Dagon, now calm and thoughtful, stood and studied him for a full minute.

"I believe we will try something else." He addressed Khek, "Bring up the results from our first few sessions."

Dagon moved to Khek's side and began to study the readouts of Jack's reactions from the earlier torture sessions. He frowned to himself as he scrolled back and forth between screens. After what seemed an eternity, he began to laugh once again:

"Bring Major Carter!"

"No." Jack moaned, and then whispered, "No. No. No..."

He knew he had to make himself shut up, that he was playing right into Dagon's hands, so he bit his lip and resigned himself to the fact that his torture had just gotten a whole lot worse.

TBC