In hindsight, a long trip and leaving Sam alone for an extended period of time was probably the worst choice Lewen possibly could have made – for himself. Sitting in the chamber she'd been given – merely tapestries and a bed – the false sense of courage that had propped her up through the whole ordeal faded quickly. She could do anything, she'd told herself, when her teammates' lives were on the line, but that was hardly the case any longer.

They had left the outpost behind in what Sam could only call mechanized transport – a wagon, almost, with an engine. All that mattered was that it carried her far faster than they could have traveled by foot, and as a result, she was far further from the Gate than anyone would have thought.

Including Colonel O'Neill.

And between the lack of necessity and the diminishing chances of rescue, the odds of Lewen putting his hands on her again were somewhere between slim and none. She would do what had to be done to save her team, but she was no one's toy.

So when he entered, closing the door behind him, she knocked the smirk off his face with a fist to the throat. As he reared back, she followed the movement, working with his own velocity to slam his head hard into the wall. A right cross finished the series, and Lewen slumped to floor, unconscious.

Sam shot off like a rocket – a cautious rocket – moving stealthily down corridor after corridor.

The place was like a damned maze. Of course. But she was used to that – no windows, few doors, just like a mothership – and she refused to let it bother her. It just meant she'd have to sneak around a little longer.

A little too long. The air around her erupted in a loud, grating noise, and she knew that, yet again, her overly merciful conscience had gotten her in trouble. She should have killed the bastard when she'd had the chance. She could almost hear Colonel O'Neill – and Teal'c, and her father, and just about every other man she'd ever known – scolding her for being such a softie. When would she learn?

Sure enough, two more turns landed her straight in front of a guard contingent – an armed guard contingent. Not quite prepared for a bullet in the head – not yet, anyway – Sam skidded to a halt, her hands in the air. "All right, all right," she grumbled. But they didn't try to apprehend her, and she knew what was coming before she even turned around.

Lewen's hand wrapped firmly around her throat as he drove her to the wall, the silver ring digging painfully into the base of her neck. "We had an agreement," he hissed, his vile breath hot on her face.

"I said continued," she rasped through the pain. "I didn't say for how long. Besides, you lied first."

The stare-off lasted an interminable time, his body pressed against hers, before the anger on his face twisted into amusement and he started to laugh.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"What you fail to understand is that it is your spirit that so draws me to you. I find your continued struggle incredibly… arousing."

His mouth smashed down onto hers, but she twisted her face away. "Sorry. Playtime's over."

"You will not defy me!" Grabbing the ring around her neck, he swung her abruptly to slam face-first into the wall on the other side of the corridor.

"Well, that makes no sense," she grunted. "No such thing as spirited subordination."

"Insubordination will only hasten your death!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she choked. "Cooperate or die. Got it. Shoot me now."

Since she'd asked for it, she wasn't particularly surprised when cold metal pressed against the base of her neck. In a way, she was grateful – a head shot would be quick and relatively painless. Her team would be disappointed, she knew, but maybe – just maybe – if word got back to them that she was already dead, Colonel O'Neill might actually get to use that Maverick missile he'd promised, and her captor would end up scattered in a million pieces.

Sadly, instead of a bullet, Lewen's voice hissed in her ear. "I have never met someone who does not fear death."

"I hear it's peaceful."

"Yes. And therefore much to good for a deceitful whore like you." He wrenched her painfully around and shoved up against her again. "I believe I've changed my mind," he murmured, sinking his teeth into her neck so hard she couldn't hold back a cry. "You're right. Spirit it is. And I think I shall enjoy this fight."

For the first time since their confrontation on the path, Sam was goodly and truly terrified. She'd driven him past the breaking point, and life was about to get very, very bad.

Lewen tore her from the wall and shoved her back to the guards. "Take her back to her room. Tie her down."