Chapter Two – Capture and Escape

It wasn't their most glorious moment, Sam thought, tricked and trapped by another bounty hunter, this one not willing to let them go. The only good thing about all of this was that Teal'c and Daniel had managed to get away, though help was too late for Jack and herself.

The others knew the bounty hunter would turn them over to Anubis, so maybe rescue would come, but that seemed unlikely. Anubis' fleet was formidable, and Earth wouldn't be able to fight it alone. Infiltration might work, possibly the Tok'ra could help, though again, there was a good chance they wouldn't, not if it meant being uncovered.

Escape was the better option, and they had escaped from bad situations before. It was just a case of waiting for the right opportunity, one that so far hadn't shown itself, but there was hope, always hope.

They were marched into a chamber, to face Anubis, but she found herself distracted. At the foot of his throne there was a human, hands chained together and chained to the throne.

A very familiar human, she realised with a start.

Oh hell, they had never considered that McKay's disappearance could have been linked to the Goa'uld who had attempted to infiltrate the SGC. It was just over a week since his disappearance, and even allowing for the time it would take an Al'kesh to reach here… McKay had been here for about seven days.

Jack had spotted him as well, and they exchanged a shocked look. What the hell had Anubis done to him; he was pale, shaking and… cowed. Broken. He didn't look up at them, his eyes firmly fixed on the floor. He was chained in such a way that he had to kneel, or else lie with his arms held above him. Neither option looked in any way comfortable.

Anubis was making some gloating speech, she wasn't really paying that much attention to him, which she knew was bad. But she couldn't get over seeing McKay, here, like that. She felt ill, thinking of the horrors that might have been done to him, wondering which ones he had suffered. He wasn't trained to handle this sort of thing; not that anyone was ever really trained, but McKay was a lab guy, not someone who went off world. Not someone who might expect to get into trouble with an alien enemy.

Not someone who might end up in the hands of Anubis.

He felt someone staring at him, but couldn't be bothered to respond. Let whoever it was stare, what did it matter?

Anubis seemed happy with his new prisoners…oh, well that made sense. Carter and O'Neill. They should have been too good to end up here. He wondered if this meant Anubis would leave him alone now whilst he concentrated on them. Maybe he'd be killed now that Anubis had a better prize to play with.

Death….he still didn't want that, even now, after who knew how much time had passed or how much pain he'd endured.

Not like he would have any say in it, though.

He hoped they got away, or they got themselves killed; he wouldn't wish this on them, especially not Carter; even if it meant that Anubis left him alone for a while.

Humiliation, that was what this was about. Humiliation, and a show of power. He was an example of what happened when the Tauri stood against him. An example of what would happen to them too, so this was about fear as well. Instilling fear in them.

Did they feel fear? They were soldiers, though Sam was more than just that. Did they feel fear or just push it to one side? He bet they wouldn't beg or plead like he had at first, before he'd realised it was useless. Before he'd started to forget what it was like to live without pain.

Looking up, he met Carter's eyes for a moment, before returning his gaze to the floor. She seemed upset, appalled, but then she would be. This was her future, O'Neill's as well, unless they escaped.

He hoped they escaped. They didn't deserve this.

Maybe they'd take him with them.

Probably not. He'd only slow them down.

He hoped they escaped.

His eyes.

There was no hope, just despair.

No anger, no arrogance, no… no McKay.

He'd given up, and even when he'd looked at her, there was no spark, just… apathy.

She was sure he recognised her, them, but that was all.

Anubis had finished his gloat, and turned his attention to McKay.

"Look at your future."

Okay, still some gloating.

A Jaffa unchained McKay's hands from the throne, and dragged him over to where a chain was set into the ceiling, fastening him there so that his feet only just touched the ground. McKay didn't resist, didn't speak; he seemed resigned to his fate.

"No," she couldn't help the protest that slipped out when the Jaffa picked up a torture stick.

"Carter," O'Neill warned. She knew showing weakness to the enemy was a bad idea.

"Sorry, sir," she replied quietly.

Jack's face showed no emotions, but she could tell by his stance that he was tense. Jack had never felt inclined to forgive McKay for the 'Teal'c incident', as he called it, but even he was unhappy about this, she was sure. McKay was a civilian, and therefore should have been protected from something like this.

Jack might hide his reactions from Anubis, but she knew him too well. The colonel wanted to fight back, to kick ass; to save McKay as well as themselves.

McKay's screams were hoarse and broken. They tore at her. Seeing anyone go through this would be hard to bear, let alone someone she knew, even if she didn't particularly like him.

He didn't deserve this.

It lasted maybe a few minutes, but seemed longer. McKay tensed, waiting for more, expecting more… and he wasn't disappointed. She wished he had been.

She knew Jack or herself were next, and almost wished it for herself right now. To stop McKay's pain. And, selfishly, so that she would hopefully be unconscious and not have to see Jack's pain too.

Ten minutes passed before Anubis signalled the Jaffa to unchain McKay, and re-chain him to his throne.

So, who was next?

A question that remained unanswered as an explosion shook the ship, followed by another, and suddenly they were no longer of such import. Anubis ordered three of his Jaffa to escort Jack and herself to a cell, and they were roughly hauled from the room. Further explosions vibrated throughout the ship as they were led away.

Rescue?

It seemed unlikely. Too soon.

Another explosion was too close for comfort, and two of the Jaffa were knocked to the ground. Seizing the opportunity presented, they moved into action, taking out the third Jaffa with his staff weapon, as well as the two on the floor before they could recover.

They turned around, quickly moving back to the throne room, hiding outside until an opportunity presented itself. It was a tense wait, but fortunately only lasted a few minutes before Anubis and his guards left, presumably for the command bridge.

As soon as the coast was clear, they warily entered the room. McKay was still chained to the throne, though he was lying rather than kneeling, his arms taking his weight. He appeared to be unconscious.

Jack took watch whilst she moved over to check on McKay, who was as unconscious as he looked. Searching, there was no sign of a key to release him. There was little choice but to use the staff weapon to sever the chain holding him to the throne, despite the noise it would make.

Hoping that the alarms and general confusion would cover the noise, she aimed carefully and took the shot.

McKay woke up at the noise, and turned confused eyes to her.

"Hey, it's okay," she reassured him. "Can you stand? We really need to get out of here."

"Out of here?"

"Yes, McKay, this is what is generally known as an escape attempt. You coming?"

Still clearly confused, he nevertheless staggered to his feet with her help. She was glad to see that only his hands were chained, not his feet as well.

"We need to go, now," Jack called, moving over to grab one of McKay's arms and towing him out of the chamber and along the corridor towards where they believed the hangar deck was located. She followed, taking their six.

The journey was tense, and they had to hide several times. McKay collapsed on them at one point, but recovered enough to continue, though they were taking most of his weight now. Fortunately the chaos caused by the explosions worked in their favour, and they managed to reach the hangar deck unnoticed.

"Okay," Jack said, lowering McKay down to the ground. "You stay here and stay quiet, Carter and I will take out the guards and come back for you."

"Why?" It was quiet, and full of confusion, his eyes closed.

"Because we don't leave people behind, McKay," Jack answered.

"Not even annoying astrophysicists," she added dryly.

He looked at her, confused, and then she saw it; a spark of the McKay she knew. Irritation flared for an instant, and then was gone.

"Take this, anyone who isn't us, shoot first," Jack said, placing a zat into McKay's hand, hoping he was coherent enough not to shoot them. "You understand?"

"Yes, shoot first. Unless it's you or Carter. I'm not stupid, just..." he trailed off.

"Just a little out of sorts," Carter finished for him, patting his arm gently. "We'll be quick."

"Good."

There were only a handful of guards, and they were distracted. It wasn't as hard as it could have been to take them out. Carter boarded the Al'kesh that was in the hangar, whilst Jack went to retrieve McKay.

A few minutes later, and they were all onboard, Jack muttering about the 'damn untrained civilian' nearly stunning him, and McKay collapsing into a chair, passing out shortly after and missing the rest of the escape.

A few shots to the hangar doors later, and they were out. They noticed that Anubis was under attack by another Goa'uld fleet, at least that's how it looked to them. They entered hyperspace, the confusion of the battle covering their escape.

McKay slept all the way home; they let him, figuring he deserved the rest.

He hurt. That wasn't new. It was dulled though, and that was new. He opened his eyes slowly, and also new; no manacles, no chains.

Okay, he was…lying on a bed. There were noises; beeping, clicking…an IV in his arm…

Home. Earth. SGC's infirmary, at a guess.

Safe.

There were people talking in low tones close by. He was lying on his side, but he could see them, over in the corner.

Carter. O'Neill. That SGC doctor, hmm, he couldn't remember her name off hand.

So, they escaped. And rescued him.

Why?

Oh, right, they didn't leave people behind.

That was something else new; for him, anyway. People were usually happy to leave him behind; ecstatic if he was the one doing the leaving.

Had they rejoiced at the labs when he went missing?

He was sure there had been much rejoicing when he'd finally left Russia; not just from him either.

Safe. He was safe here, wasn't he?

His eyes closed against his wishes, and sleep stole over him.

His last thought; safe. He was safe.

The next time he awoke, he was still lying on his side, a pillow tucked into his chest, and one tucked behind him to stop him rolling over onto his damaged back.

Someone was sitting near to his bed, writing on a pad. He blinked a few times to focus his eyes.

Jackson.

Why was he sitting with him?

He moved, letting out a small groan. The pain was dulled, but still there.

"Hi," Jackson said, putting his pen and pad to one side. "You in pain? I could get Janet, uh, Dr Fraiser."

Oh, that was the doctor's name. Okay.

Hmm, maybe he should say something, Jackson was looking rather worried by his silence.

"Why," he started, then coughed, his throat dry.

"Oh." Jackson grabbed a glass of water with a straw, helping him to take careful sips. Not easy when lying on your side, but he felt too weak to sit up.

"Why," he started again, waving a hand vaguely at the man. "Here."

"Why am I here?"

He nodded.

"Well, Sam needed to get some rest, Jack too, and we thought someone should stay with you. Didn't want you to wake up alone, so we're taking it in turns. You just missed Teal'c."

"Oh."

He tried to assimilate the information. It took a few moments for it to sink in, which was not like him. It felt like his thinking was slowed, damaged. "Not pity."

"Huh? No, not pity, McKay. Compassion, which is different. And maybe a little guilt. We should have put the pieces together earlier and realised you'd been taken by that Goa'uld infiltrator. Should have been looking for you off world."

"Hmm." Slow, thinking was too slow. Compassion. Guilt. "Not your fault."

"Maybe, maybe not," Daniel said with a shrug. "It's certainly wasn't yours."

"Carter? O'Neill? Okay?"

"Yeah, Sam and Jack are fine."

"Good. Think I'm not," he said tiredly. "Think I'm broken. Slow."

"Well, some of that could be due to the drugs; you're on some pretty good painkillers there. As for the rest, well, everyone breaks in the end. And there are degrees of broken. Either way, we're going to help you."

"You. Not break. SG1. Never break."

"Oh, I've broken." Daniel thought of the time he became addicted to the sarcophagus; the way he had treated his friends; his need to return. "Teal'c broke once and Apophis was able to brainwash him. We were fortunate to break him free of that."

"How…do you recover?"

"With help from friends. Talking to a psychiatrist helps too."

"No friends. Don't trust shrinks."

And he didn't trust them. Too ready to talk about his childhood, to pry into his life, to label him as a loner or misfit or, even worse, someone who just 'needed to be loved'. He'd heard it all before.

"Yeah, maybe you need to open up a bit. Sam's decided she wants to help you, the rest of the team are happy to try as well."

"Should hate me… Teal'c especially."

"I guess," Daniel said with a sigh. "But no matter how arrogant or obnoxious you might be, you don't deserve what happened to you. Besides, I think there's a decent guy underneath."

"Don't do friends. Leave me be."

He didn't want any of them trying to befriend him; not even Sam.

On the ship, he'd wished things were different, but now…now he wanted things to go back to normal. He didn't want people to be worried about him, or upset if something bad happened to him, and he certainly didn't want anyone to be let down when he messed things up, as always happened, turning them away from him; disappointing them.

He wanted to be alone.

But they weren't going to let him be, he could tell, even before Jackson confirmed it with a gentle, "let us help".

Closing his eyes, he tuned out his surroundings, only vaguely aware of Jackson's sigh as he picked up his pen and pad and went back to his work.

Sleep approached him again, and he welcomed it.