Jack looked at her and realized she was miserable. Her shoulder was obviously killing her – he suspected there were probably some torn ligaments as well as the more obvious damage. Fortunately nothing seemed broken so hopefully everything would be fine. She wouldn't be able to do much with that arm for awhile though.

He walked a few steps over to the far wall and sat down. Leaning against it with his back he stretched his legs out in front of him. Scissoring them open he looked up at Sam.

"Come hear."

"What Sir?"

"Come here and sit down." He gestured in front of him. When she realized what he meant she shook her head.

"Oh no Colonel. I'll be fine. You need to be resting."

"And I am – that's why I'm sitting here. But you need to support that shoulder and it's not going to be very comfortable trying to lie down or lean against a solid wall. Come on, it's my turn. You lent me your lap, the least I can do is offer my – uh – myself as a backrest."

She looked uncertain but it was tempting – only because her shoulder really was throbbing.

"All right, for a little while, but tell me when you get tired."

"Fine Major. Now get your butt down here."

She walked over and carefully lowered herself down. Scooting back, between his legs, she leaned up against his chest very lightly.

"Relax Carter. I'm not gonna bite. You need to rest that shoulder."

With a sigh she let her body relax completely against him. It did make a difference. Her shoulder was acking fiercly and being able to get some support seemed to help.

Jack was in a bit of a quandary. He admitted to himself that he quite enjoyed having Carter leaning back against him – it was almost as good as having his head in her lap! The only problem was he didn't quite know what to do with his arms. It wasn't comfortable just sitting with them hanging by his side, but he somehow didn't feel right putting them around her.

Ah hell, he said to himself, just think of it like riding a motorcycle. I need to hang on! He carefully, tentatively put his arms around her, one under her right arm which was okay, and the other gently over top of her left, which was the one which was hurt. He then carefully rested his hands in her lap.

"Is this okay Major?" he asked. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, either physically or, ah, otherwise.

"Yeah, it's fine Sir. Thank you. This feels much better. Are you okay? How's your side?"

"Hunky Dorey, Carter. I barely notice it."

Snorting in disbelief she nevertheless dropped her head back so it was resting partially on his shoulder. She was beginning to feel incredibly sleepy. Knowing there was nothing they could do at the moment, she figured she might as well get some sleep. She let out a big yawn and closed her eyes.

"Try and get some sleep Carter", the Colonel repeated what she'd just been thinking. "We wanna be at our best."

"Yes Sir. You should try and sleep too Colonel", she yawned again.

"I will", he yawned back at her. He leaned against the wall with his head, soothed by the presence of a soft, warm body pressed against him. Damn, he could really get used to all this closeness with Sam. Too bad she was taken.

With that very depressing thought he too closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

"Aaagh, what happened?" Daniel tried to sit up but felt incredibly dizzy. He looked over at Teal'c, who was also having some trouble sitting up straight. He chuckled, thinking how funny it was to see a drunken Jaffa – he'd never seen Teal'c in that state before.

He started humming a song to himself – "what do you do with a drunken Jaffa, what do you do with a drunken Jaffa, what do you do with a drunken Jaffa, ear - lie in the morning?" For some reason he thought this was incredibly humorous and proceeded to collapse in giggles.

"I do not find that funny, Daniel Jackson", a very stern but woozy looking Teal'c said. "I am not drunk. In fact, Jaffa cannot get drunk. Our 'little juniors' will not allow us to become drunk!" he hiccupped loudly, which sent Daniel into another frenzy of laughter.

"Okay, okay, you're not drunk – just happy."

"I am not 'happy' Daniel Jackson. Jaffa do not get 'happy'."

"No? That's sad Teal'c. That's really sad. What can I do to make you happy?" Daniel was feeling very bad for his friend. There had to be something to help him.

"I do not know. I will have to think on this." Teal'c hiccupped again. He sat back and tried to concentrate, finding it very difficult with the room moving around him.

"Why is the room tilting?" he asked.

Daniel looked around him. He could see various villagers passed out around the room. Some were just starting to stir.

"I don't know Teal'c, maybe something to do with alien technology – except I would describe it more as spinning than tilting."

"No, it is definitely tilting."

"Okay, if you insist. So – lets get back to making you happy. We've gotta figure this out. I don't like it when my friends aren't happy. Jack wasn't happy when I met him – no he was very sad. He still gets sad sometimes but he's better. That's because of the barbeques I think. Jack likes barbeques. Do you like barbeques Teal'c?"

Teal'c pondered this very carefully. "Yes. I believe I do. I find meat very good – except when O'Neill burns it. Then I do not like barbeques."

"So, would you say that barbeques make you happy?"

Again Teal'c thought this over carefully.

"I may say they make me happy although I am not sure. I will have to think some more."

"Okay, but let me know when you've finished. Now I know what makes Sam…." he stopped. There was something bothering him, something about Sam.

"Teal'c!" He sat up suddenly. "I know what's keeping you from being happy. It's Sam. It's her fault you're not happy. I bet that's why Jack is still sad sometimes too. We're going to have to do something about that."

Teal'c also sat up and looked at his friend. "I believe you are correct Daniel Jackson. It is Major Carter. If it were not for her then I believe I would experience happiness. What do you suggest we do?"

"Well, I guess we'd better get back to the village. Jack will be there. We'll have to talk to him and explain what we've learned. He probably doesn't know so we'll want to tell him quietly so Carter doesn't hear. After that we'll figure out a way to get rid of her – then we can all be happy." Daniel smiled widely. He'd just figured it out and was feeling great.

The only thing that was keeping him from feeling one hundred percent was the thought of Sam, and, the more he thought of her the angrier he started to become. Pretty soon he could feel himself wanting to strike out. He just wished she were here, now, then he'd definitely do something.

"Let's go. We gotta get Jack and do something now!" He stood up, reached his hand down to Teal'c and helped his friend up. With a short glance at the villagers they turned and walked out of the temple and headed back to the village.

When they arrived everything seemed incredibly quiet. They thought they saw someone scurrying into one of the houses. Probably one of those damn women, Daniel thought. Why don't their men do something about them?

"Where is everyone?" Teal'c asked, looking around.

"I don't know Teal'c. Let's go to Amdahl's house. Maybe Jack is there." They turned and walked towards the small house in which they'd spent their first night. Walking in they immediately saw that no one was there, although a table was upturned and something had burned on the small stove.

"Left it a mess. Amdahl won't be happy. He'll have to correct his woman!"

"Yes indeed. It is not right for a woman to leave the house like this. But where is O'Neill?"

"Do you think the women hurt him? Oh God Teal'c, what if they've killed him. What if Sam shot him or something?"

"We had best see. Let us find one of the other women and ask." The two men left the house and started checking some of the other buildings.

They could not find anyone in any of the first houses they checked but most of them were a mess with furniture knocked over, dishes broken and food on the floor. Disgusted at what they saw they continued until they came upon a house in which two women sat cowering in the corner.

"Women!" Daniel called, disgust in his voice. "I am looking for my friend, the man who was with us. Do you know where he is? Do not lie to us or you will be punished."

Unfortunately, this was language the women understood well. One of them immediately answered,

"Strangers came and took him away, along with many of the women and children. They left only the old ones."

At any other time it would have hit Daniel that the 'old ones' were women who couldn't have been more than 30 or 35. In this village it was clear women didn't live very long.

"You are lying woman!" shouted Teal'c. He advanced on the two who scurried back in terror. This man was huge and they knew he could do some serious damage to them.

"No, no kind lord. We tell the truth. Strangers came – they had marks on their foreheads like you. They carried weapons also like yours. They took the women and children. They also captured the man who was with you. They injured him but carried him with them when they left."

"What about the woman who was with us?" Daniel asked.

"She was taken as well."

Daniel turned to his friend. "I bet Sam betrayed us. It sounds like Goa'uld have discovered this planet. It could only have been her."

"I believe you are right. What should we do?"

"I guess we'd better return to the SGC and tell General Hammond. We'll have to see if we can find Jack and bring him back."

"And Major Carter?" Tealc asked.

"She's a traitor – she deserves to die."

She woke with a start. Her neck was stiff from sleeping in an awkward position and her shoulder continued to throb. She could feel Jack's even breathing behind her – he was still sleeping.

She tried to keep still, not wanting to wake him, but she was feeling very hot. It took her a second to realize that the heat was emanating from the Colonel. She reached down to his hand, which was resting on her lap and softly touched his wrist. Yes, he definitely had a fever.

Damn, she thought. She'd been afraid of this but wasn't surprised. She had expected this to happen. There was nothing she could do however, so figured she'd might as well let him sleep. The problem was that she was probably making the fever worse by lying against him.

She began to ease herself away but the movement caused him to instantly awake. Again she wasn't surprised. Jack always slept lightly on missions. Besides which, he probably wasn't terribly comfortable.

"What's wrong Carter?", he croaked. His throat was dry.

"You've got a fever Sir. I was moving away because I'm making you too hot."

Jack laughed to himself – truer words were never spoken! That'd been a problem for a lot of years.

"It's okay Major – I'll be fine."

"No you won't Sir, not if your fever gets too high. You have to cool off."

"All right, all right. What I really could use is a glass of water. I don't suppose the Minions have brought any have they?"

"The 'what' Sir?"

"Minions – that's what I call them – you know, kinda like Igor."

She laughed. Only the Colonel would thing of something like that. "No, no water and no Minions. Just us."

"Hey, that's okay Carter. We make a good team." He didn't look at her as he said this but she glanced up and smiled. It was a nice thing for him to say.

"Thank you Sir. I agree. If we had to be captured I can't think of anybody I'd rather be with than y – ur someone from my team."

"Not Pete?" he asked. "Thought you'd rather be with your boyfriend." This time his voice had lost its friendly tone and had become somewhat acidic. She picked up on that immediately and bristled. Why did he have to always spoil everything?

"Well of course Sir, that goes without saying. But I was talking about when we're on a mission. Although he'd be great to have here as well – he is a policeman after all."

"Yeah – and you'd be much happier using him as a pillow!" He didn't know if it was the fever, the fact that his side was hurting like hell, or that he was dying of thirst, but suddenly he felt the need to lash out at Sam.

She clenched her teeth, knowing that she was in danger of saying something she'd regret. Yes, this was why she was glad she had Pete. He'd never behave like a spoiled brat and start ridiculing her boyfriend. No – Pete was the right man for her.

She moved over, as far away from the Colonel as she could get in the little room, leaned against the wall and again closed her eyes. There was nothing she could do for him and she was damned if she was going to give him the satisfaction of trying to defend herself or Pete.

"Come on Major. Why don't you tell me a little bit about your boyfriend" (the way he said 'boyfriend' set her teeth on edge). "You haven't really told us anything. Something you're trying to hide?"

She began counting in time with her breathing. Keep cool Sam, don't respond.

"He been married before?" he was pushing her. "Come on, throw me a bone – tell me something about him."

"Yes, he's been married."

"What happened? He do something? You sure he was a good husband? Maybe there's something wrong with him. You check him out?"

"No Sir."

"Really – you can't be too careful, you know. A lot of marriages break up now days because the man was a real bastard – wife couldn't take it anymore."

"You'd know Sir", she answered softly.

The silence was deadly. Oh my God, she thought. What had she just done? He'd made her so mad she'd just lashed out – with probably one of the few things that could really hurt him. She opened her eyes and looked at him, ready to apologize. She saw that his eyes were closed and he was leaning back. He looked white and deep frown lines were furrowed between his brows.

"Sir, I'm ..'

"Leave it Major", he interrupted quietly. He knew he'd been a bastard and that he'd thoroughly deserved what she'd said. That still didn't stop it from hurting unbearably. To know that's what she thought of him – or knew of him – caused the pain to spike through his heart. Why had he ever allowed himself to love her? He was no good – she was right, he'd been a terrible husband, a terrible father. She was much better off with Pete.

"Just go back to sleep Sam. There's nothing we can do right now."

"Yes Sir"

Neither of them spoke for a long time, but nor did they sleep. They both sat, totally still, eyes closed, and thought about what had just happened.

Jack decided, there and then, that it was time to let go of the fantasy of a life with Carter. It couldn't ever happen – shouldn't ever happen. He had to learn to be happy for her and allow her the chance to lead a real life, outside work, and not give her a hard time. Right from this moment, he said to himself, I am nothing more than her CO and her friend. Anything else is now officially over – even if it was only in my dreams anyway.

With a heavy heart, and a soul filled with regret, he sat - letting die the one dream that had brought any happiness.

Sam's thoughts were more confused. She couldn't understand why the Colonel had lashed out at her in the first place. He was the one constantly telling her to get a life. Why was he being such a jerk about Pete then? He didn't even know him, only having met him briefly after their recent adventure with the Goa'uld on earth.

Maybe it was because Pete wasn't in the Air Force. Maybe Jack was like her father – who thought that only AF officers could possibly be good enough for Sam. She was kind of surprised at that, though. She hadn't thought the Colonel was such a tight ass as that.

She opened her eyes and peaked at the man, sitting across from her. He looked like he was sleeping but she suspected he wasn't. Probably just avoiding talking to me, she thought. Yeah, that's a Jack O'Neill way to handle things! Why could he be so great one minute and such a jerk the next? What was it about her that caused him to act like that? She hadn't seen him behave the same way to Teal'c or to Daniel. Oh, he could tease both of them – and he often got impatient when Daniel was in full 'archaeologist' mode – but he usually didn't get angry at them for no reason.

The last few weeks had been difficult. For the first time in a long time – since she first joined the team in fact, she felt uncomfortable around her teammates. No, that's not quite true, she admitted, it was just the Colonel who made her feel uncomfortable. Thinking back, she realized it was since her return from the Prometheus that things had begun to change.

That gave her a bit of an 'ah ha' moment. It was on that mission that she'd finally decided to give up her fantasy of a life with the Colonel. Her friends and family – well actually it was her subconscious – had told her that she had to move on, get a life, reach for happiness and she'd done so.

Maybe she'd been the one to change, she thought. Maybe she'd been colder to the Colonel as a result and he was simply reacting to that. She knew she hadn't spent as much time with the team as before, being caught up in a new relationship and all. That could be it. Maybe he was hurt at her because he felt she was withdrawing her friendship.

The only other explanation that made any sense would be that he was jealous and that was just …. impossible! There was no way the Colonel had those kind of feelings for her. He'd made that very plain. It was just that she hadn't been a good friend. She'd have to do better. Maybe keeping Pete away from the Team had hurt him. It could have been that he thought she was somehow ashamed of them and didn't want to introduce them to her boyfriend (okay, she was really beginning to hate that word!)

That was it, she decided. When they got back (if they - no don't even think that). when they got back she invite her team over to meet Pete. She'd start bringing him to team nights and get him to spend more time with her friends. That would make Jack feel better, she was sure of it.

Having settled that in her own mind she relaxed, although she was still feeling incredibly guilty over hurting the Colonel. She'd have to apologize and explain that she hadn't really meant it. Surely he knew she didn't think he'd been a bad husband. In fact, she knew from lots of people that he'd been a great husband.

She didn't know how many hours it had been since they'd been thrown in this room. She'd lost track of time. She did know, however, that she was incredibly thirsty and starving. She'd lost her meager meal when she'd had her shoulder wrenched out of its soccer. She'd give anything for a glass of water.

On top of that, she was again needing the facilities. Probably a good thing they hadn't had much to drink or it would have been worse. As it was she didn't think she could last too much longer. Now this was going to be difficult if the 'Minions' (she laughed to herself again at that) didn't provide something.

"How are you feeling Sir", she asked. One of them needed to break the silence. Who knew how long they'd be stuck here.

"Fine."

Okay, that was great! The Colonel was obviously still angry.

"Fine, Carter. Just a little hot but I'll be okay." He'd promised himself he'd start to treat Sam like a friend so he'd better start. It wasn't her fault anyway – he'd deserved what she said.

Relieved by the tone of his last comment she wiggled over to his side. She reached out and put her hand on his forehead. At first he jerked away but then he relaxed and let her check him

"Your fever doesn't feel too bad Colonel. How does your side feel?"

"Hurts Carter but I've had worse. I can handle it. What's worse right now is the thirst. I keep dreaming of tall, cold glasses of beer."

"Ooooh Sir – that's mean. Now I've got that in my head too. A beer with a nice, big juicy steak, a baked potato with sour cream, and a big, crunchy salad."

"And garlic bread, can't forget the garlic bread Sam."

"And for dessert?"

"Cake of course. Thick, moist chocolate cake."

"With layers of mouse and whipping cream."

"Followed by a cappuccino and a nice brandy."

There was silence in the room as the two contemplated, not the meal they'd just dreamed up, but how relieved they were to be back talking as friends.

"Actually Sir, a tall glass of water would be equally as good right now."

"You said it. That and a latrine."

"You too?"

"Yeah."

"We'd better think about something else. Take our mind off it."

"Okay, what should we talk about?" Both of them were conscious of the pitfalls that could happen in a conversation at this point. Neither of them wanted to touch on anything too personal.

"What do you think Teal'c and Daniel are doing?" Good a nice, safe topic.

"Well, I suspect that when they returned to the village and found out what happened they hot-footed it back home to tell General Hammond. They'd want to start looking for us right away."

"Mmmm Hmm.", she agreed. She knew her teammates. They wouldn't rest until they rescued both the Colonel and her. She knew they could count on them.

"Sam?"

"Yes?"

The Colonel paused, hesitant about bringing it up after the last few minutes of camaraderie.

"Uh, about before …. I'm sorry. I was a jerk. I can only excuse it on the fact that I .. ah" he found it hard to continue. Fortunately Sam jumped in.

"No Sir – it's okay. I understand, truly I do." He looked at her in surprise. God – he hoped not!

"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean what I said, I was just angry."

"No, that's okay – nothing but the truth after all."

"What? Surely you don't think I believe you were a bad husband?" When he didn't say anything she got angry again. Why did this man always think the worst of himself!

"For heavens sake Colonel! We all know you were a great husband and we also know it was just a horrible tragedy that caused your marriage to end. It's common knowledge with everyone that knew you back then. I've heard lots of people say you were a great husband and a great father. I only said what I did because I was pissed and I really didn't mean it – you have to believe me Colonel!

He looked at her in surprise, not only at the fact that people had said that about him, but more about the fact that she'd obviously been interested.

"Well, I'm glad you don't really think that of me Colonel – and I'd like to say it wasn't true but …."

She would have continued to argue with him, upset that he carried this idea around with him when they suddenly heard the door open. Looking up she saw two Jaffa standing there. One held a weapon – pointed directly at them – the other held two bowls. He reached down and laid them on the floor just inside the door and stepped back. They were going to close it when the Colonel spoke.

"Hey – we could use something to – ah – you know, answer the call of nature?"

The Jaffa just looked confused at this. Okay, he thought, what is the Jaffa colloquial expression for going to the bathroom?

"We have to relieve ourselves." Sam said. God, she was smart!

The Jaffa looked at each other clearly confused. They had been told to bring the prisoners food and water – nothing else. But it was true they had been left for many hours and they didn't relish the thought of them fouling the cell.

Turning back, the Jaffa with the weapon pointed at Jack. "You will come with me."

"Why?" Jack didn't move.

The Jaffa grew impatient. "The woman said you needed to relieve yourselves. I will take you to the 'cha'tra'."

Looking at Carter he raised his eyebrows. "Well, here's hoping that's the Goa'uld word for potty." He walked out of the cell and turned the direction the Jaffa indicated. A short way down the hall they stopped. The Jaffa reached over and touched a panel and motioned for Jack to enter a small chamber. The door closed after him.

Okay, he thought, this must be the bathroom but where the hell was anything. He wished he had Teal'c here to explain the Goa'uld version of a WC. There were a few panels and he began hitting them randomly.

He got sprayed in the face – and in the crotch area (great – it's gonna look like I peed myself), got a quick 'blow dry' and had something, he hoped it was soap, ooze out and drip on the floor. Finally, he hit a panel that made something move out from the wall. It eventually opened and he assumed it was the toilet. Oh well, if it wasn't before it is now!

He sighed in relief – that was much better! He couldn't find any TP and had to assume that they used water to wash themselves off with. Oh well – easy for him but he felt sorry for Sam again. These toilets were definitely not created for women.

Carefully noticing which panel opened, and thankfully closed, the toilet he opened the door and headed out. The Jaffa gave him an exacerbated look – he'd been in there for a long time.

"Hey, whatya expect. You didn't let us pee all day – I had a lot on my mind."

The Jaffa looked even more confused, and a little scared. They probably thought he was crazy.

When he got back to the cell he could see that Sam was worried.

"Sorry about that", he told her. "Took awhile to figure out a Jaffa head." She glanced down and quickly whipped her eyes up again.

"Ah – that wasn't me Carter", he hastily explained. "They have some water works in there and I got splashed."

"Yes Sir", she deadpanned.

As the guards gestured for Sam to come with them he grabbed her good arm.

"The red panel to the right – that opens the 'toilet' Don't touch the green panel – not unless you want to get sprayed." She couldn't help but glance down again but when she caught his eye she blushed. Don't look at his crotch for God's sake, she said to herself. What are you thinking Sam!

She returned a short time later – she'd been much quicker than him. The guards probably figured he was an idiot.

He'd been waiting for her before dividing up the pitiful amount of food and water they'd been given. He remembered the Goa'uld's comments about keeping them on short rations

This was going to be hard.

The Jaffa returned about an hour later to retrieve the bowls – although what they thought they could do with them he couldn't guess. Oh well, it gave him an opening.

"So, tell me. What's the name of the Goa'uld who's ship we're on?"

"Our Lord's name is Matsya."

"Matzo – what kind of a name is that?'

"His name is Matsya – and he has already punished the woman because of your insolence. Do not make me hurt her some more."

"Okay, okay – didn't mean to insult you. I just want to learn something about your master. Is he a System Lord?"

"His concern is not building armies or conquering other worlds. He provides – he is the beginning of life."

"So, what does he provide?"

"That which the Lords need most."

"Okay – really complete answer there. Care to give me any more clues?"

"You are foolish. I do not know why my Lord has chosen you to serve. I expect it is only because of your looks, not your intelligence."

"Yeah – I'm afraid I get that a lot. Just eye candy, that's me. In my younger days I was nothing but a dumb blond."

"Colonel!" Sam was trying to keep them from getting whacked again.

"We have not heard of Matsya before", she added in a conciliatory tone of voice. "We are just wondering if you could tell us more – I mean, especially if we are going to be in his service and all."

The Jaffa looked at her and grinned. "You will not be so much in his service …." The two of them laughed. This was really creepy.

"So what can you tell us?"

"You will see soon enough", the taller of the two answered. "We are here for one more day, providing for my Lord Baal. He prefers my Lord Matsya's supplies over all others'. When he has completed the transaction we will go to V'ratesh where you will begin your service." He turned and walked to the hall. The door closed behind him and they were again left alone.

"Any ideas Sir?"

"No – but I can tell you one thing Carter – ain't no way in hell I'm serving a Goa'uld!"

"Me neither Sir, me neither.'

Jack sat down and motioned for Sam to again sit in front of him. She still needed the support and it was the sort of thing a friend would do. And that's all you are O'Neill – a friend. As Sam leaned back in his arms he took one deep breath, breathing in her smell. Just one last time, he thought, just one more brief moment of dreaming and then I'll put it away for ever.