A/N: Here's chapter 2 for your reading pleasure. Please increase my pleasure and review! They let me know that the people reading the story like it! I long to hear your thoughts!!!

Chapter 2

Jack had started out their wait sitting against a wall, playing it cool. They'd been told that Daniel would be brought back to their cell, to subdue any escape attempts was left between the lines. That was several hours ago and Jack was now pacing with boredom, impatience and worry. He still couldn't think of a new escape plan. All he could think was that this was really getting old, all these screwed up missions.

Occasionally he would stop and scuffed his shoe against some poor section of the floor or poke his head against the window in the door even though there was nothing to see. Hours passed in silence, each member deep in their own thoughts. They all jolted from the heavy silence when the door opened. Two guards threw Daniel into the room harshly. He was able to stumble two steps before crashing hard to the ground and curling weakly into a ball with a whimper. Sam and Teal'c lunged simultaneously at the retreating guards but were a second too late the door slammed shut the lock grating shut.

"Come back here! You're making a mistake! Daniel would never kill anyone! Get back here!" Sam yelled through the bars. Silence was her only response. Teal'c slammed into the door powerfully again and again trying to break it down. No luck.

Jack was beside Daniel instantly. His wrists were tied by ropes behind his back raw and having bled at some point. He turned the archaeologist over gently, once his hands were untied, hating the tremble the shook his friend. His body was slack with unconsciousness, a thick sheen of sweat covering his body. The numerous, large bruises were a garish contrast against Daniel's stark white skin, cold and clammy to the touch. He moaned hoarsely, his body stiffening for a moment then falling slack again as the wave of pain passed.

From the blood Jack figured that his nose was broken, a shiner already in full swing. He found one shoulder to be dislocated, much to Daniel's discomfort. He pulled the hem of his shirt up to check the damage to his torso and winced in sympathy. The bruises were mottled so close together they nearly blended into one massive bruise, the swelling rapid. Jack checked for broken ribs slowly, trying to keep his touch ginger and gentle. It was still agony for Daniel, moaning and unconsciously trying to shift away from the touch, breaking into a heavier cold sweat. Jack knew immediately when his fingers swept across two broken ribs because Daniel cried out, bolting upright, a vice grip on his wrist trying to push it away.

"Woah easy Daniel I have to check for broken ribs." Jack scolded.

"They're….broken…don't…touch them…" Daniel ground out, rolling away from Jack to settle on his side, arms wrapped around his ribs protectively. He had to admit this wasn't a comfortable position but he didn't seem to have the energy to move again. The room was spinning terribly around him, a wave of nausea threatening to appear.

"Sorry Daniel, but have to know what the damage is." Jack insisted. Daniel suddenly found the energy to move again, crawling away from Jack, whom was following, to a wall. If he was going to have to endure being poked and prodded he was going to at least get to lean against a wall and be more comfortable. He'd much rather be asleep, the nagging pull towards unconsciousness a tempting offer.

He sagged against the wall now, gripping his ribs tightly, trying to ease the pain. He knew Jack had tried to be gentle, but with three broken ribs, according to Jack, there just wasn't much way to be gentle. He shifted uncomfortably yet again trying to find a position that would ease the pain but none could be found. His ribs were better left unspoken of, best forgotten. What worried him now was how badly his right leg was hurting. He hadn't told Jack that it was hurting, at all, let alone as badly as it was. He would do something to it Daniel was sure and the mere thought made his stomach turn.

He shifted again, forgetting that he was hiding certain injuries and put some weight on his right leg, hissed, and put it back down. Blast, Jack noticed.

"Daniel." he stared him down.

"Jack." Daniel tried to play it cool, smooth over his face to hide the pain.

"You're leg too eh?" it wasn't a question as Jack already moved to inspect it keeping an outwardly appearance of calm and carefree; a harsh lie.

"Don't touch it." Daniel snapped going a shade paler and pulling his leg away from Jack like he were a predator.

"The easy way or I have Teal'c sit on you and it gets looked at anyways." Jack threatened. Daniel submitted sliding the leg flat on the floor, partly because he knew Jack would do it and because it hurt to much any other way of holding the leg.

He gulped anxiously as Jack slipped the pant leg up to his knee to get a look at it. About halfway up his shin was a long thick bruise running diagonally across his leg, almost encircling it completely. He started at the knee, inching downwards feeling the bone for faults. When he got to an inch or two from the bruise Daniel couldn't stop the groan that escaped. Then he got to the bruise and the world lurched around him, his head went lighter than air. He curled forward and slid sideways down the wall. He would have fallen to the floor if Jack hadn't caught him and leaned him back into the corner.

Fire shot up Daniel's leg with Jack's prodding. The world was wavering around him, gritting his teeth to keep from crying out. The ministrations continued when he crossed an extremely sensitive spot. Daniel growled low and dangerous abruptly as the pain crashed over him, his eyes rolled back and oblivion took him. Jack frowned. His leg wasn't broken, but it was definitely fractured and painful.

The cell remained silent as each sat in their thoughts. On occasion Daniel would groan, stir, and then drift back into unconsciousness. Carter and Teal'c often tried to break through the door, she with brains, he with brawns, but neither had success. Jack sat beside Jackson, often having to catch him as he shifted the wrong direction and lost his precarious perch in the corner. They all jumped when they heard a boy screaming and older voices shouting back. The cell door flung open smashing into the wall harshly. In charged Senten, Kale's little brother, only 7 or 8 years old, with a look of murder written upon his every feature as he speed straight towards Daniel.

"HOW COULD YOU? YOU TRAITOR! WE TRUSTED YOU AND YOU KILLED HIM!" Senten landed three hard kicks to Daniel before Jack was able to pull him away gripping the slender wrist firmly but found himself on the ground seconds later as a guard he hadn't seen enter beat the butt of his spear against him. In seconds they were pressed against the wall, spearheads pressed against their necks. Senten landed two more kicks before a guard had him and was dragging him back out of the cell.

"LET ME GO LET ME GO!!! HOW COULD YOU DO IT! YOU KILLED HIM AND STOLE KALE! TRAITOR! WHERE'D YOU TAKE KALE! WHERE'S MY BROTHER!!!!" tears streamed down Senten's face now as he heatedly awaited the now conscious Daniel.

"I-I don't know." Daniel whispered miserably. Kale was missing? Their father dead, murdered? What had they walked into now? The guard smashed a foot into Daniel's face then the guards were all gone leaving them in stunned silence. Jack stayed out of the Jaffa's way going to his fallen friend instead with worry.

"You are wrong! Daniel Jackson has done nothing! He is innocent!" Teal'c bellowed. Again they were only ignored and left to attack the door furiously. Sam's gaze darted about the room looking for some other tool to be used but the room was bare.

"Daniel are you…" Jack started.

"Fine…" Daniel cut off sounding very contrary to the statement. Jack crouched next to him grabbing his chin so that the archaeologist was looking at him. Daniel tried to pull his chin free weakly but he couldn't compare to Jack's hand strength.

His eyes were glassy and glazed. O'Neill could easily see his reflection in them. He seemed to be looking straight at Jack, but his gaze was as if whatever he saw was far in the distance. New bruises began to form on his torso, a cracked rib added to his numerous injuries but Jack doubted anything serious like a punctured lung had been incurred. He mumbled an assurance to O'Neill that he was fine, though Jack highly doubted as he slipped back into unconsciousness. Jack sat next to him listening to him breathe, steady if not slightly labored. He was relieved that the slight labor of breathing could be explained away by broken ribs. He could attest to that from first hand experience. His mind reeled over every iota of information he knew trying to work it into their favor for escape.

Occasionally Daniel would wake up and chat with them, each time seeming a little more clear headed, though his eyes remained glassy, before drifting off to sleep again. Jack grew uneasy about how long they were left just sitting, waiting for Daniel's punishment. He thought it strange, but then they might be wanting Daniel to stew over his impending death as further punishment. What bothered him further was their plan for himself, Carter and Teal'c. No mention of what would be done with them had been made. Daniel woke again a short time later, just as the guards to arrived.

"It's time. On your feet." the guard ordered harshly. Daniel started to his feet sluggishly but Jack shoved him back down and stood in front of him.

"He's not going." Jack stated just as harshly as the guards had demanded the archaeologist.

"Daniel's innocent!"

"Daniel Jackson has committed no crime. You have falsely accused him" they all blurted at once standing between the guard and their friend protectively.

"That is not for you to decide. He IS coming with us and now." the guard snarled stepping forward menacingly.

Jack's smart remark was lost to them all in a sudden bursting flurry of fists and kicks. Moments later the fight ended, Teal'c with three spears at his neck, two beefy men hold Carter, hands behind her back, and three more had to pin down O'Neill. Daniel was forced painfully to his feet by the remaining guard and dragged from the cell. Slowly, cautiously the guards backed away, locking the remaining three captives away again.

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Daniel stumbled briefly then caught himself before the fall. So badly he just wanted to sit and rest. Exhaustion seeped through him making his legs tremble as he walked, stumble after stumble sapping his strength. He gasped for air, ribs screaming at him in pain. Daniel longed to reach up and rip the course potato sack like blindfold off his eyes but each time he tried his captor would strike him hard with a rod across the hands. He could feel the swelling pressure where the bruise grew uncomfortably. Pain lanced through his leg like a white hot fire erupting like a violent volcano. He limped involuntarily. The guards grew impatient as his pace slowed and would jerk the rope tied tight around his wrists only causing him to slip and stumble more severely.

Hours ticked by seeming more of an eternity. Daniel grew too exhausted to think coherent thoughts, barely aware of his each step. One foot in front of the other he kept telling himself. Sweat dripped down his brow copiously soaking the blindfold. After a time the blindfold no longer absorbing the sweat so that it stung his eyes. Abruptly there was a loud snap, pain like never before and Daniel hit the ground crying out. He was too pain ridden and exhausted to hold back the tears, bound hands clutching his agonized leg pitifully.

"Now what?!" someone growled hatred burning hot in their hearts believing him truly guilty. The sound was so very far away to Daniel.

"Stupid idiot. He completely snapped that leg." another snarled. Daniel was too fuzzy headed to respond, numbly reaching for his blindfold. He had to see it. He had to know the damage. The rod crashed down on him with a vengeance. Daniel cried out as it struck wickedly across his whole body again and again. He tried to curl protectively but his leg would not respond and the rod lashes came to quickly for him to move. The rage filled bellows were unheard to Daniel as everything around him melted away.

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Consciousness filtered into his being slowly, sounds, smells, the seeping ache to his bone. The fiery throb that coursed through his leg brought tears to his eyes with ease. The knowledge that he was on his back, cold stone chilling his spine harshly was quickly acquired. He arched away from it briefly the bleeding welts upon his back smarting against it. He heard voices floating around him.

"He's waking. Get a move on, this place is eerie and unpleasant." a voice barked. Daniel tried to blink and look around when he remembered the blindfold. The groan surprised him, barely aware that it was his own the lifting fog still heavy about his mind. The darkness was oppressive closing in on Daniel. Briefly he felt the ropes around his wrists cut and his arms were quickly pinned down at his sides. Daniel struggled to break free but his captors were too strong for him. He was outnumbered.

"Hold him still, we can't have him breaking loose when we do this!" Someone shouted. He didn't feel the cold point against his arm just before the pain hit the roof and straight to orbit, the clang reverberating through the room. By the second strike Daniel couldn't take the agony and plunged into what he knew as his death.