Sorry if I didn't make it clear – this is definitely a Jack/Sam fic (aren't all mine?). Thanks for the continuing and lovely reviews.
She was going crazy! She'd been here for almost three weeks and still didn't know what they wanted with her. So far they hadn't hurt her, at least she didn't think they had. There had been a couple of times when she'd woken up with the feeling that she'd been asleep longer than normal. She'd also felt a strange tenderness in her abdomen. It worried her, but after a couple of days it went away and then she felt fine.
As she sat on the narrow cot in the small room she'd spent the last few weeks in, she thought back to the day she'd been captured. She had been just about to step through the gate, following Daniel and Teal'c, when she'd heard a gasp from the Colonel. She turned to see him falling forward, a surprised look on his face. She'd opened her mouth to shout for him when something had hit her in the chest. That was the last thing she knew until she woke up in this room. She prayed he was alright and was either in another room or had been rescued.
She had been sure that a rescue from the SGC would have been mounted immediately but as each day went by she began to lose hope that they'd find her – them. Since she was pretty sure she was still on the same planet – unless they'd taken her through the gate while unconscious – she couldn't figure out why she hadn't been rescued.
Sam stood up suddenly, too anxious to stay seated any longer. She wanted to know what the hell was happening, but she couldn't get the aliens to communicate with her. She'd tried – countless times – but they just ignored her. They could speak, because she often heard them talking to one another, but they didn't attempt to speak with her or even respond to any of her attempts to communicate.
The aliens were strange. They were humanoid, that was obvious, but other than that she had no idea who they could be. They were small – under five feet from what she could see. They also looked as if they never got any sunlight. Their faces were almost white and, with their long black hair, they gave the appearance of rather effeminate vampires.
At least they hadn't hurt her, she thought again. In fact, they seemed to try and take very good care of her. She was fed regularly – with what appeared to be reasonably healthy food. She was taken to a small enclosed area and allowed to stretch and walk around for an hour every day. However, she was never taken outside which made her wonder what kind of facility she was in.
Every once in a while she was taken to another room – something like an examination room she decided after her first visit. She would be placed on a table and one of the aliens would look at some kind of monitor. She figured they were checking out her vital signs – why she didn't know.
She thought about the people back home, and how they'd be worrying about her. She wondered if General Hammond had said anything to Pete or had simply told him that she was on an extended mission. She knew he'd be killing himself with worry if he'd been told she'd been captured. She suddenly missed him with an ache that surprised her. She cared for him – hell, she'd agreed to marry him – but sometimes worried that she found it awfully easy to put him out of her mind when she was working. Still, right now she would have given anything to see him and have him envelop her in his safe and comfortable arms.
Her father would also be worried and would probably join the rescue effort – if they were able to contact him. Sometimes he was on undercover missions and it could be months before they could communicate with him. Mark wouldn't worry because he wouldn't know. He'd simply think she was on another one of her Air Force extended missions. He didn't ever want to know details - even if she could have told him.
With a heavy sigh she finally sat down again, wishing someone would tell her what was happening to her, where Colonel O'Neill was, and why the hell she hadn't been rescued.
She was going crazy!
"We've been this way before Dr. Jackson", Reynolds said, "Just yesterday and there was nothing here then, nor the day before, nor last week."
"I know, I know", Daniel answered, still looking carefully at every tree and plant they passed. "But this is the way we came when we arrived on the planet. I'm sure there's got to be something here."
"What? Another tree? Maybe the tree people got them", Lieutenant Bosco said sarcastically. He too was tired of going over the same ground day after day.
Daniel ignored him and continued to investigate the surroundings. Reynolds sighed and signaled to his men to keep looking. He wanted to find Jack and Major Carter as much as they did, he just didn't think they were going to find them here.
"We're coming to the clearing", Peterson called out. They'd all seen the statue – a number of times - and normally there would have been a lot of ribald comments but right now people were too worried about the missing officers and it hadn't seemed appropriate.
"This has to be it", Daniel said, stopping and speaking to Teal'c. "There's something about this place – I don't know what – but I know it has something to do with their disappearance."
"I too believe there is something here", Teal'c said. "Unfortunately we have been unable to find anything."
"Could the statue be some kind of transportation device?" Reynolds asked, looking at it carefully. There was something almost – obscene – about it. He'd seen lots of classical naked statues before, but this one gave him the creeps.
"We didn't find any kind of EM signal", Daniel answered, "and it doesn't have any wiring or electronics in it. I think it's just a regular statue."
"But why is it here? I mean, what does it do?" Bosco asked, looking at it with a frown. "Why would they have a statue of a naked man in the middle of the forest?"
"Some kind of fertility symbol, probably", Daniel explained.
"Or maybe it's just art", Peterson quipped. "Maybe the aliens here are all women."
Reynolds and Bosco both laughed. Daniel however frowned and stepped closer. "Maybe you're right, although that doesn't help us find Jack or Sam." He walked up to the statue and examined it closely. There had to be something but as far as he could see it was just a statue, even if it was made of naquada.
"Have you picked it up?" The Colonel asked him. "Maybe there's something underneath."
"It's attached to the pedestal. I don't think it comes off."
Teal'c walked up to it at that point and without pause, reached over and tried to lift it. The other men all watched anxiously but it didn't budge. He finally stepped back, a fierce scowl on his face. "It will not move."
"Maybe you're supposed to grab its dick", Bosco said jokingly. "It could be a handle or something."
The other men grinned but Teal'c, without a blink, reached out and grabbed the large 'appendage'. Immediately – to everyone's shock but his, there was a rumble of sound and the ground at their feet began to open.
"What the hell!" Reynolds stepped back quickly, almost falling into the hole that had appeared at his feet. "You've got to be kidding!"
Daniel's brow rose – he too was surprised as he'd never seen anything quite like it either. "Uh – way to go Teal'c."
Teal'c bowed his head and then stepped forward. He leaned over and peered into the hole, to see a set of narrow, steep stairs which led into the ground. "I believe we may have found where Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were taken."
Jack's mind was no longer in the present, but instead he'd retreated into thoughts of the past. After days – weeks – he'd known it was the only thing he could do if he didn't want to go truly mad. So now he spent all his time reliving his life. He concentrated only on the good – on happy days with Sara when they were first married, on thoughts of the birth of his son and he spent time reliving those wonderful moments watching Charlie grow up. From there he'd forced himself to skip the terrible tragedy of Charlie's death and instead spent time thinking of the early days travelling with his team. He thought back to every mission he could, remembering all the events – both good and bad. He replayed them, and also team nights – playing poker and watching TV, eating pizza and talking with his friends. He spent time remembering being at his grandfather's cabin as a child, thinking of those magical summers swimming and fishing and spending time with his family. He walked the trails around the cabin – looking at the trees and plants, watching birds and the wildlife.
Every moment was a new trip back into his memories and it allowed him to remain sane. A part of him knew, however, that doing this would eventually cause him to fall into madness anyway. He would lose touch with reality for ever and spend all his life trapped in the past. Still, it was better than spending his days silently screaming, unable to make sounds past the gag in his mouth, frantically trying to pull at the restraints, knowing he would never be free.
He still had odd moments of awareness when he'd be brought back to the present. It was during those times that he knew he was growing weaker and sicker. He was in pain now, although the aliens had done nothing more than keep him restrained. Still, the inability to move had caused terrible sores to erupt all over his back and hips and legs. His mouth was a mess – the lack of moisture and the hard gag had caused lesions which were now infected. He could feel them seeping and the blood and pus slowly dribbled down his throat, making him cough and choke.
The aliens had continued to inject him with the stimulant but the last few times his body had barely responded. He knew he was too weak, too exhausted – and whatever drug they were giving him was no longer effective.
He heard them talking after the failure of the last injection – in fact they had started to argue. He could feel when they'd given him more of the drug and within moments he felt like he wanted to crawl out of his skin. It had given caused an erection, but he'd been unable to orgasm – which left him hurting and again wanting to scream. Eventually his body had relaxed, but he hadn't climaxed – which upset the aliens immensely. As miserable and helpless as he felt, he'd almost wanted to laugh. Instead he'd retreated again into his memories. He figured that he couldn't last much longer, so he thought back to the last summer he'd spent at the cabin with Sara and Charlie. If he was going to go, at least he'd leave while reliving one of his most joyful memories.
After sending Peterson back to the gate to let Hammond know what they'd found, Reynolds, Daniel and Teal'c made their way down the stairs. They left Bosco at the surface to wait for back-up and to watch their six.
"See anything?" Daniel whispered. Teal'c was in front, with Reynolds bringing up the rear.
"Not as of yet", the big man answered softly. The stairs wound around, deep into the ground. There were no obvious lights, but there was a soft pink glow coming from somewhere down below.
At that moment they reached the end of the stairs. In front of them was a door – it looked as if it was made of metal.
"It doesn't look like these guys are primitives", Reynolds commented softly. "That door looks pretty high-tech."
"Goa'uld", Teal'c said. The one word said it all.
"Crap! You mean to tell me we've stumbled onto some kind of Goa'uld outpost?" Reynolds lifted his weapon and looked carefully around, but there was little to see except for the stairs leading back up to the surface.
"It appears so", Teal'c answered, "although I have never heard of one like this."
"Uh guys – don't you think we should figure out how to get in? Jack and Sam are probably wondering what's taken us so long."
"If they are alive."
Reynolds looked at Teal'c in surprise, not only at his words, but at the calm manner in which he'd uttered them. "You think they're not?"
"I do not know", the big man answered, "It is a possibility, however Daniel Jackson is correct. We must get in and see."
"Yeah – okay. So, you got any ideas?" The Colonel was still a bit shocked at how calm both Teal'c and Daniel appeared. If he'd had more experience with them however, he would have realized that both men were hanging on to their emotions carefully. Teal'c was far from as calm as he appeared. In fact, he wanted to break down the door in front of him and start shooting any and all Goa'uld, Jaffa or any other aliens he could find.
Although Daniel was not quite so bloodthirsty, he too was feeling anxious. "Uh Teal'c? You know how to open this?"
Teal'c stepped forward and looked carefully at the door. After a few more seconds he reached out and placed his hand at the side of the door. There was a soft 'woosh' and a panel opened. Without saying anything he tapped in a code. Nothing happened.
"Damn!" Reynolds muttered. He was almost ready to shoot the damn door to get it open that way. Before he had a chance Teal'c tapped in another code. This time the door slid open.
"Careful everyone", Colonel Reynolds stuck his head around the door to see nothing but an empty corridor. Like the stairwell, it too was lit by the glow of soft pink lights. If it had been anywhere else it would have looked rather pleasant. For the rescuers it meant nothing other than that they could see.
"Which way?" Daniel looked again at Teal'c, who did nothing but raise his brow.
"I have not been here before", he explained.
Daniel grimaced and looked towards the Colonel. "Any ideas?"
"Nope. I suggest we pick a direction and go for it. Watch your backs folks. We don't know what's down here." With that he took a step down the right hand corridor and Daniel and Teal'c fell in behind.
So far they hadn't seen or heard anyone, which gave the place an eerie, dead feeling. Because of the silence they remained as quiet as they could, speaking only with hand signals.
After walking for a couple of minutes they came across another closed door. Reynolds signaled to Teal'c, who repeated his actions of before. The door slid open but the room was dark and unused. They continued on.
They checked out another couple of doors but found nothing but more unused rooms. It wasn't until they'd reached the very end of the hallway that they found a room that was brightly lit. Fortunately it was also empty, so they stepped inside.
"What is this place?" Reynolds looked around, a puzzled look on his face.
"Some kind of lab, I think", Daniel replied. Lined up against the wall were large metal containers. He approached one cautiously and looked down at it. He slowly reached out –
"Careful!" the Colonel said.
"I think it's a cooling unit or freezer", Daniel replied. "I can feel the cold."
"Storing something?" Reynolds suggested
"Yeah, I think so. I have no idea what though and I don't really feel like opening it."
"No, best not. It could be something deadly." The Colonel took a step closer and looked at the containers. "Baby Goa'uld maybe?"
"Possibly, although I've never heard that they froze them. Teal'c?"
"I do not believe that is what this is. I too have never heard of anyone freezing the larvae. It must be something else."
"I wonder if we should destroy whatever it is?" Daniel asked.
"Since we don't know what it is Dr. Jackson, I suggest we leave it alone. We could either blow ourselves up or release something toxic, neither of which appeals to me."
"Yeah, probably not a good idea."
"Come on, let's get moving. We still have a couple of officers to locate." Reynolds took one last look at the metal cylinders and then headed towards the door. He stepped into the corridor and practically ran right into a man who was hurrying by.
With a cry the alien backed up against the wall and stared at the intruders. Reynolds quickly lifted his weapon and pointed at the man, who continued to stand frozen.
"Dr. Jackson, do your stuff!"
Daniel stepped forward and attempted to speak with the man, with no success. Although his eyes continued to flicker between them, the alien man n didn't seem able – or willing – to speak. It was only when his eyes glanced to the side that they realized someone else was coming.
The second alien opened his mouth, obviously to shout, when Teal'c took him out with a zat. The first man then tried to turn and run, but this time it was Daniel would brought him down.
"Daniel, check them out. We're going to have to tie these guys up and hide them before they give us away."
"Uh – I don't think we need to", Daniel said, slowly standing up. "They're dead."
"What? But they were only hit once with the zat." Reynolds quickly knelt down and tried to find a pulse on one of the aliens. "Damn – what could have happened?"
"They look weak", Teal'c commented. "I suspect they were not able to withstand the effects of the zat'nikatel."
"Okay folks, let's get these guys out of here and find O'Neill and Carter", Reynolds instructed. He felt badly about killing the aliens, but couldn't take the time to worry about it now.
Daniel took the legs of one of the aliens and Teal'c took the other and they dragged them back to one of the empty rooms. After depositing them inside they quickly shut the door and walked back to the end of the corridor.
"Okay, which way now?" They looked to the left and right but there didn't seem to be much difference. The Colonel shrugged and turned right again.
They didn't see another person – or alien – but found many more empty rooms. It almost looked as if at one time many more people inhabited, or at least used, the underground facility. Now it appeared almost deserted.
"Just one more door. I wish we knew what this place was for." Daniel looked around curiously, but then turned to watch Teal'c.
Teal'c reached out and opened the last door in the hall. It swished opened and Reynolds lifted his weapon.
"Oh thank God!" Sam was standing in the doorway, staring at her teammates and Colonel Reynolds. "What took you guys so long?"
She wanted to burst into tears, so relieved was she to finally be rescued. She didn't though, knowing that she wasn't about to let herself break down like that in front of the guys – especially Colonel Reynolds. Instead she stood calmly, as if she'd only been waiting a few minutes.
"Sam! Thank God. Are you okay?" Daniel rushed forward and grabbed her and hugged her. "Are you alright?" he repeated, leaning back and looking at her.
She laughed softly, tears perilously close to the surface. "I'm fine, although I was about to go crazy with boredom. What took you guys so long?" she repeated.
"Uh – we had a bit of trouble finding you. Do you know where Jack is?"
"No", she frowned. "Haven't you found him? I haven't seen him since I was captured."
"Major Carter – it's good to see you. Are you alright?"
"Colonel Reynolds – hello. Yes, I'm fine. They haven't hurt me – just kept me in this room for weeks with only a few trips to other rooms."
"Good. We'll soon get you home but now we've got to find O'Neill and get out of here. Let's go people."
As Sam followed Reynolds she looked over at Teal'c and smiled. "You don't know how good it is to see you Teal'c."
"Indeed Major Carter, I do. It is how I feel about seeing you. We were worried."
"Any idea why they were keeping you Sam?" Daniel asked as they walked. They were heading back down the corridor they'd just traversed. They would now explore the corridor to the left of the original one they'd come down.
"No. I tried to communicate with them but they refused to speak with me. I kind of got the feeling this was some kind of science or maybe even medical facility. I think they may have examined me a couple of times while I was asleep or unconscious, but they never hurt me. They did monitor me every couple of days though. I just wish I knew what it was about."
"And no word from Jack?"
"No – nothing. I was just about to step through the gate, following you and Teal'c, when I heard him gasp. He'd been shot by one of their weapons. I barely had time to react when I was shot as well. The next thing I knew I woke up in that room."
"God, I hope he's okay", Daniel bit his lip. "You said he was shot?"
"Yeah, but I think it was by the same weapon as me. It didn't do any lasting damage. I think it was some kind of stun gun."
"I hope so." Daniel and Sam stopped after Reynolds put up his hand. They stood quietly, waiting to see if anyone was coming. After a few minutes he gave the all clear and they continued on.
After opening three more doors to empty rooms they wondered if they were ever going to find the Colonel. They'd been down below for over an hour and had only seen the two aliens. Things were quiet – too quiet – and they began to worry.
Teal'c had gone ahead and was checking out every room. Reynolds stayed a few feet behind, carefully watching to make sure no one snuck up on them. It was when they heard an exclamation from Teal'c that they knew he'd found something. They all watched as he disappeared into a room and swiftly ran forward to the door.
"No", Teal'c had returned and was standing blocking the doorway. "Colonel Reynolds, can you assist me. Daniel Jackson, Major Carter, please remain here."
"What?" Daniel frowned. "What's going on Teal'c? What is it?"
"I have found O'Neill. Wait here and watch to make sure no one comes. I shall retrieve him."
"Is he okay?" Sam asked with a frown. "What's wrong? Why can't we go in?"
"He is unconscious. Please remain here Major Carter. I do not believe O'Neill would wish you to see him as he is. Colonel Reynolds?" Teal'c looked at him, a clear message in his eyes.
"Major, you and Dr. Jackson stay here. I'll go with Teal'c." He stepped forward, swiftly following the Jaffa into the room. He was surprised when Teal'c reached out and closed the door behind them. "Teal'c?"
"O'Neill is in bad shape Colonel Reynolds. I did not wish for Major Carter or Daniel Jackson to see him like this."
Reynolds nodded and walked forward, suddenly noticing the man spread out on a metal table. "Holy Shit!" He rushed forward to see a pale and emaciated Jack O'Neill, strapped to the table. "What the hell have they done to him?"
"I do not know", Teal'c answered, his voice tight with anger. "Help me release him." As he spoke Teal'c was removing the restraints around his friend's wrists.
Reynolds began with the ankle restraints, cursing the entire time. It looked as if Jack had lost a huge amount of weight. Not only that, but he could see the bloody, pus-filled sores lining the unconscious man's skin. He looked up towards Jack's face and clenched his teeth in fury when he saw the blood seeping from his mouth which was held wide open by a horrible looking gag.
Teal'c had finally released all the straps holding the Colonel and was looking down in pity at the bruises, welts and lesions that covered his friend. He then gently reached around and undid the strap around his head and carefully removed the hard gag. He cursed in Goa'uld when the gag brought with it skin from the inside of O'Neill's mouth. His mouth was so dry that the material had adhered to the inside and had ripped away the tender flesh.
"You'll have to remove the tube", Reynolds pointed to the tube going into O'Neill's nostril. "I expect that's how they fed him, although it obviously wasn't enough."
While Teal'c carefully and gently removed the tube, Reynolds worked on the IV ran into his arm. He couldn't help but notice that Jack's – privates – were scraped and raw. He wondered briefly what had been done to him, but then put it out of his mind. That would be for the Doc to worry about. His job was to get Jack home safely.
"Okay?' he asked Teal'c.
The alien Jaffa nodded, his teeth clenched tightly. "I need something to cover him", he said. He was not about to let O'Neill suffer the indignity of being carried out naked. He would be humiliated by that, especially since Major Carter was with them.
"Uh – I don't – let me see." Reynolds checked around the room, finally finding a drawer filled with what looked like uniforms of some kind. He pulled out a loose white shirt and pair of pants – and immediately recognized them as the same ones the men they'd – killed were wearing. "Here. They'll be too small, but should cover him."
Teal'c nodded and took the pants. Fortunately they had an elastic waist and he was able to put them on O'Neill without much difficult. They were much too short, but at least they covered him enough to give him some dignity. The shirt was going to be much too small so Teal'c simply laid it on top of him to give him some warmth. With one look at Reynolds, who nodded, he leaned over and gently scooped O'Neill into his arms.
"Let us go home Colonel Reynolds. O'Neill needs immediate help."
Reynolds simply nodded again. "Yeah, although I'd like to kill me a few more of those bastards!"
"We shall return", Teal'c promised ominously.
Sam hissed in shock when she saw Colonel O'Neill. He looked half dead – for a minute she'd actually wondered if he was.
Daniel swore – not usual for him – but totally understandable. "What the hell did they do to him?" he asked, following Teal'c who was walking swiftly down the corridor.
"I don't know", Reynolds answered, watching carefully for more aliens. Except for the fact that they needed to get O'Neill back, he was half wishing that a bunch would suddenly show up. He wanted to blast the bastards into little pieces. "It looked like they were experimenting on him or something. They had him strapped to a table and it looked like he may have been there the whole time!"
If he'd been a little less angry, he probably would have been more careful what he said to O'Neill's team. He didn't see the shock or fear on the faces of Carter or Jackson. Instead he kept his eyes open for the short little sadistic aliens.
Jack was dreaming. He'd been at the cabin – having a wonderful time fishing with Charlie. They were laughing and joking around and had decided to head back to the cabin to get some freshly baked cookies that Sara had promised to make.
They were half-way back when suddenly Jack felt himself being pulled away from his son. He wanted to scream, to cry out, but nothing happened. He could see Charlie continue on the cabin as if nothing was wrong while he stood frozen. Time seemed to stand still and then he could feel himself moving away from the cabin and from his son.
For a moment he thought he heard Teal'c's voice – but that couldn't be right. He was at the cabin – he didn't know anyone by the name of Teal'c – not now, not yet. 'Yes you do', a faint voice whispered. 'He's your friend – trust him.'
He still didn't know what was happening, but suddenly the bright, warm day turned dark and he knew something awful was about to happen. He opened his mouth to once more try and scream – but still there was only silence.