Note: Takes place during Ch. 14 of Language of Love.

"For crying out loud Danny," Jack grumbles as the guards none-too-kindly drag them through stone corridors. "Couldn't you guys have finished that translating just ten minutes earlier?"

"Oh come on, Jack. How was I to know a patrol of Jaffa was waiting to ambush us before we got to the Gate?"

"Silence!" Their escorts shove the five of them into a basic cell complete with stone walls and floor, a narrow window with metal bars the only other way out. The guards waste no time forcing them onto crude chairs, binding Teal'c in particular with heavy ropes around his arms.

A Jaffa priest strides into the room, sporting the same triskele tattoo on his forehead as the others. "Excellent. Mistress Mórrígan will reward us handsomely for capturing the notorious shol'va Teal'c. And doubtless she will be pleased by the information we extract from his Tau'ri allies as well."

"Hey, we'd love to help ya out, really. But we've got a prior engagement and-" A guard strikes Jack in the face. "Ouch. Easy, big fella. No need to be so rough on the first date, ya know."

Becky winces but wisely says nothing. Ever since becoming Daniel's official assistant the whole team's been giving her informal lessons in preparation for her first offworld mission, from staff fighting and self-defense to weapons training (with a zat in deference to her refusal to carry a gun, Mac's influence there), hand signals and nonverbal communication (both general and team-specific), and a few other tricks of the trade.

Fortunately she's a quick study, if a touch unconventional. Jack recalls telling her during a hand-to-hand session, "Look, you know how to do this already so why aren't you putting any force behind it?"

"Can we try this at five in the morning? Only when I'm fully awake I pull my punches so as not to hurt anyone."

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure, but you're not a morning person."

"I know. That's why it might just work."

All of which meant her waking up at an unreasonably early hour for a couple months. But by the end she was confident enough to do awake what she'd been trained for half asleep. After that the four of them jointly agreed they'd taught her all they could and it was time to let her tag along when needed and hope for the best.

And then this happens. Just peachy.

The priest casts a speculative eye over them before his gaze lands on Becky, who squirms under his scrutiny. "You, with the sunset hair." He grabs hold of her chin, forcing it up to meet his eyes. "Tell me what I need to know and you will not suffer the same excruciating fate as your companions."

She glares at him. "No way. Over my rotting corpse." The defiance in her voice fills Jack with pride.

"Enough! You will pay for your impudence!" His backhand's hard enough to leave a lurid red mark on her pale cheek. She clenches her jaw yet doesn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.

Jack inwardly winces at the impact. Daniel and Sam look on with sympathy in their eyes.

Teal'c glares at the priest, straining against his bonds. "Harm her again and once I am free you will be the first to feel my wrath."

"You will be silent, shol'va!" the nearest guard roars, his staff weapon sparking to life though he doesn't fire. Teal'c doesn't even flinch, only glowers all the more.

Jack trades glances with the rest of his team, silently debating options and discarding them just as quickly.

Five of them versus ten Jaffas and a priest. Not great odds to tell the truth. For once he's at his wit's end.

"Okay, okay!" Becky finally blurts out. "I'll tell you everything."

A cold smile from the interrogator. "Very well, little Tau'ri. I eagerly await what you have to say."

She takes a deep breath. "Okay, you asked for it. 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe. All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe."

Teal'c and Sam both raise puzzled eyebrows at her words. Jack frowns slightly, the words vaguely familiar but damned if he can't remember from where.

Daniel's the only one who catches on, no surprise as those two have always been on the same wavelength. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!"

The priest splutters a bit, completely bewildered. "What nonsense is this? Explain yourselves this instant!"

Becky's turn again. "He took his vorpal sword in hand. Long time the manxome foe he sought. So rested he by the Tumtum tree and stood awhile in thought." Her eyes flick over to Jack, then down to his right ankle.

And just like that he gets it. Good girl.

He gives Carter and Teal'c each a subtle wink before casually leaning forward in his chair, pretending to scratch while surreptitiously releasing the catch on the knife sheath underneath. Thanking his lucky stars the guards were careless enough not to do a thorough check for concealed weapons.

Carter nods in return and Teal'c shifts ever so slightly, testing the rope binding him to the chair until satisfied. Everyone else is too mesmerized by the ongoing Becky-and-Danny show to notice.

Daniel delays a shade too long and Becky gives his ankle a none-too-subtle nudge with her foot. "Oh, right. And as in uffish thought he stood, the Jabberwock with eyes of flame came whiffling through the tulgey wood, and burbled as it came."

The interrogator glowers. "Enough! Cease your impertinence immediately or I shall kill you myself."

Becky lifts her chin defiantly. "One, two! One, two! And through and through the vorpal blade went snicker-snack!"

Right on cue the team springs into action. Jack throws his knife right into the middle of the priest's triskele tattoo. As he topples over Carter and Daniel draw their concealed pistols while Becky snatches the zat out of a stunned guard's hand. Teal'c displays his mighty Jaffa strength, pushing against the ropes until they break then wrenching the staff weapon away from another guard. They make short work of their captors, including the ones in the hall who ventured inside to assist their fellows.

When it's all over Becky tucks the zat in her holster, grinning like an idiot despite the bruise darkening the side of her face. "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

Jack chuckles, patting her on the shoulder. "Nice one, kiddo. Haven't heard that poem in years."

Carter hurries back into the room with their discarded P90s. "Those were the only guards on this level, sir. We'd better leave before others raise the alarm."

"Good idea. C'mon campers, let's blow this joint. Hopefully we won't run into any Jabberwocks or Bandersnatches in the woods after dark."

It's nearly sunset when the Gate looms into sight. Being captured proved to be a hell of a detour, but fortunately they haven't encountered any other guards along the way.

"O'Neill," Teal'c says unexpectedly. "If I may make a suggestion before we dial for New Earth?"

"Sure, T. Fire away."

"Perhaps Major Carter should perform a diagnostic on the chappa'ai first. There appears to be an error with the translation program."

She frowns. "What makes you say that?"

"Because while an effective tactic against interrogation I did not understand much of what Becky Grahme was saying. I have studied the animals of Old Earth, and as I recall they did not include a Jabberwock, a Jubjub bird nor a Bandersnatch among their vast number. Also I would like to know when or what is brillig, and why a tove is slithy."

Becky shares an amused glance with Daniel. "Actually they're from a poem. Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll."

"Many of the words have no rational meaning," he confirms, "though some have acquired definitions of their own over time."

"I still do not understand. Nevertheless it seems a worthy tale, the triumph of a warrior over a fearsome beast. It is similar in nature to the poetry of Chulak."

Daniel and Becky both perk up at this cultural tidbit. "Poetry? What kind?"

"Tales of brave warriors in battle, and descriptions of their most worthy deeds to inspire our youth. Depending on the warrior in question the shortest takes hours to recite, the longest many days. Shall I share one at the next team dinner?"

Jack grimaces. "Maybe just hit the highlights, okay? Alright Danny, dial us outta here. Time to split through the ol' looking glass."

When the event horizon settles he silently counts as they head through the Gate, reassuring himself they're all alive if not entirely unscathed.

Two, three, four.

And five. Who'll do just fine.