Title:  Surprise Encounters
Author: Joolz
Email: [email protected]
Status: Complete
Category: Mature, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Spoilers: A few light references, Seasons 1 and 2
Season/Sequel info: AU Season 2 / First of the Series  ‘Loosely Bound’   Sequels:  The Things We Do, Unwanted Attention
Rating:  NC17
Content Warnings:  graphic sex (m/f), non-con situations (m/f, m/m), violence
Summary:  When the Team is captured, Apophis shows them yet another ugly side of his character. 

(While there is some Sam/Daniel, it isn’t a ship story.)
Disclaimer:  Not my lovely characters, just playing with them.

Author’s Note:  This was my first fanfic ever, and it’s un-betaed.  All my fault…

 

************************************************

 

 

SURPRISE ENCOUNTERS

 

 

PART ONE

 

"I knew this was a bad idea.  Didn't I say so?  Didn't I say that we were handing ourselves over, right into the lion's lair?  Serpents mouth.  Whatever."

 

Colonel Jack O'Neill couldn't seem to stop talking, as he paced back and forth in front of the bars of the cage.  All their gear had been taken, even their jackets and shoes.

 

"Indeed you did.  I remember it distinctly." 

 

The Jaffa Teal'c stood passively at the back of the cage, hands locked behind his back, his expression still and hard as rock.

 

"This is bad.  This is very, very bad.  And where are the Tok'ra now?  Sitting at home thinking up other ways to get us into trouble.  I tell you the next Tok'ra I meet is toast.  Teal'c,  get us out of here."

 

"I have investigated our place of confinement thoroughly, O'Neill.  I know these enclosures well, and there is no possible escape from within. "

 

Jack turned to glare at the larger man. "You know them well from the outside, you mean.  From locking up other poor shmucks to cool their heals waiting for  the Great Lord Apophis to show.   Well this is just not going to happen.  Teal'c, we have to come up with something.  Now.  Sooner.  You can see what's out there.  You know what it means, don't you?"

 

Teal'c's gaze shifted over Jack's shoulder to the figure lying on the platform on the far side of the room.  His eyes hardened further, as the knot of tension in his stomach tightened.

 

"Yes.  I know well what is planned here, far better than you, and I agree that we must intervene.  However, at this time I am unable suggest any action."

 

Jack resumed his pacing.  "Damn, damn, damn, damn."

 

***************************

 

The Tok'ra had approached the SGC asking for help to contact an operative inside Apophis' mother ship, no less.  They had persuaded General Hammond that their stealth capability was sufficient, along with some timely interference from their operative, to allow a small ship to dock and a team to enter.  They would rendezvous with the Tok'ra, and help her transport some new Goa'uld technology, which she thought vital to their cause.  A quick in and out mission, nobody should even know they were there.  In return for their assistance, the Tok'ra infiltrator would share intelligence about Apophis'  movements, and the SGC would have access to the new equipment to be retrieved.

 

Colonel O'Neill had questioned why, if it was such an easy mission, did the Tok'ra want help from the SGC at all?  They claimed that most of their members who were adequately trained for such an undertaking were already engaged elsewhere.  Jack suspected, however, that in fact they were reluctant to risk their own people on a sortie that actually had little chance for success.  Despite his objections, the Pentagon had opted to support the Tok'ra request, and SG1 was chosen to carry out the mission.

 

In fact, after the Tok'ra craft had docked with the gigantic pyramid shaped vessel, and the team, plus two Tok'ra warriors, had entered the ship, everything went wrong.  The spy was not where she said she would be, but about twenty Jaffa guards were.  After an extended fire-fight, Jack found himself looking down the barrel of a "zat" gun.  His last thought was that at least it wasn't a staff weapon.  He might actually live to strangle someone.

 

***************************

 

Captain Samantha Carter's first impression when moving back toward consciousness was of the brightness of the light.  It dazzled her through her closed eyelids.  Then she noticed that she was cold.  She tried to move, to wrap her arms around herself  for warmth, and found that her hands were restrained above her head.  The sound of metal chains rubbing against each other brought her eyes wide open.

 

She was looking at the white ceiling of an obviously alien room.   --That's right--, she thought, --Apophis' ship.--

 

She looked up at her hands, bound in something very like manacles with chains, thick and heavy.  Then she looked down at the rest of her, and with a sinking feeling realised why she was so cold.  She was naked, covered only with a thin white sheet.  Her ankles were constrained by manacles as well. 

 

She thought, --Oh, shit.  I'm tied up naked, on Apophis' mother ship.  Stay calm.  Don't panic.  Breathe. I'll find a way out of this.--

 

"Carter!"

 

Oh, blessed voice.  Things were looking up.

 

She scanned around the room, and about twenty feet to her left found the man she was looking for, along with Teal'c.  Uh oh.  On the other side of a set of thick metal bars. 

 

"Carter, are you OK?"  Jack asked urgently.

 

"Yes, sir.  I'm just checking to see if I can get out of these chains.  Um, are you all right?  Where's Daniel?"

 

"Teal'c and me, we're fine and dandy.  Woke up about ten minutes ago, safely tucked away in a nice cage that our friend here assures me we can't get out of. "   Jack nodded toward the other man, who cocked his head, raised one eyebrow at Sam, and very slightly shrugged his shoulders. 

 

Jack grabbed the bars and shook them.  Or rather shook himself as the metal remained entirely unmoved.

 

"I saw the two Tok'ra take direct hits.  No sign of Daniel", he continued.  "I'm taking that as a good thing, for the time being.  We got separated when the shooting started.  He may even be free still.  So maybe we can just sit here and wait for him to rescue us.  Now there's a depressing thought."

 

He sighed sharply, and met the woman's eye's with his own dark gaze.  "This is not good, Sam.  I won't kid you.  But we will find a way out."

 

"Just what I was thinking, sir."  She returned to exploring her chains, very aware of each movement causing the sheet to slip slightly, exposing more of the soft flesh of her breasts.  In the cold, her nipples were hardened, and the friction of the soft sheet against the sensitive nerve endings sent shivers of pleasure/pain through her.  As she took a deep breath, she thought, -- We haven't done this.  All we've been through, and we've always kept our clothes on.  Now here I am with everything very nearly on display, and things will probably get worse before they get better.  OK, remember that whatever happens, these guys are my friends.  They'll still respect me....  Sam, don't think about it!  Concentrate on the task at hand.  Focus.--

 

Unfortunately, it took mere moments to discover that she couldn't see or reach to where the chains were connected to the underside of the table beyond her hands.  She pulled them, shook them, willed them to melt like butter, but nothing made the slightest difference. 

 

Sam relaxed her arms back and closed her eyes.   She turned her head again to her CO.  "It’s no good, sir.  I can't get out of this, either."

 

"Well.  Okay then.  We'll just wait here patiently and look for that chance to make a break.  Any minute now.  Yup-er."  He didn't sound convinced.

 

***************************

 

Half and hour later, Samantha was shivering with cold.  Jack was sitting on a bench in the back of the cell with his face in his hands, and Teal'c was still standing frozen as a statue.  The door slid open, and the figure they had all been expecting and dreading strode in.

 

The Goa'uld Apophis was resplendent in his golden chest plate and skirt worn over a shimmering tunic.  The painted eyes stood out in his smooth face, the beauty of which was marred only by a permanent scowl.  He stepped into the room flanked by two fully armoured Jaffa warriors, and stood proudly with his hands on his hips taking in the scene.  His right hand was covered with a ribbon device weapon, the silver tips sharpened to fine points.

 

O'Neill looked up, and quickly stood to face the newcomer.  "Hey, 'pophis.  Long time no see."

 

"O'Neill.  You should not have come here.  Now you will die.  Not quickly, but slowly and painfully as you deserve."

 

Jack cringed at the clichéd speech, as the Goa'uld moved forward to stand in front of Teal'c.

 

"And you, shol'va.  You who were once my faithful servant must know the fate that awaits you.  Do you not quake with fear in anticipation of your torment?  The punishment you deserve you shall receive at my own hands.  Great pleasure will I derive from seeing the betrayer suffer."

 

Teal'c's eyes narrowed as the alien leader spoke.  With barely controlled fury he spat his words through the bars of the cell.  "I am a free man, not the cowering servant of a false god.  I know no fear of you because you are not a god.  You can touch only my body.  My soul remains my own and I will fight to destroy you until my last breath."

 

Apophis smiled, sure of his power.  "Do fight, Jaffa.  I shall enjoy your annihilation that much more.  You were an excellent First Prime.  Cold-blooded.  Intelligent.  You were useful to me, but obviously too intelligent for your own good.  You’ve chosen the losing side in this battle."

 

He then turned back to the platform on which Carter lay.  "And here is the third blasphemer. "  He approached the table, and extended his hand to touch her face.  "You shall die too, of course, but your beauty will be savoured for a while first.  You are a lovely creature."

 

He let one finger gently trace a line from her cheek, down the neck, to just below her throat.

 

Sam remained rigidly controlled, in no way acknowledging his attention.

 

Back in the cell, Jack jumped to the bars, trying to think of some way to distract his enemy from that train of thought.  "Hey, snake head.  You know, we didn't just walk into your trap for the fun of it.  There's a plan here, and you shouldn't be so sure of how all this is gonna turn out.  We have some surprises for you, just you wait."

 

The Goa’uld condescended to answer.  "The other one of your people will join us shortly, as soon as my guards capture him.  Other than that, you have no surprises.  The Tok'ra ship which brought you here has been destroyed.  You are mine to do with as I please."

 

--Great,--  thought Jack.  --Just super.  Time for a new plan, and I'd better hurry.--

 

The alien wearing a human body turned his attention again to the woman beside him.

 

"Yes, shall we begin with the appetizer, then?"

 

With his back to the men in the cell, but angled slightly to allow them to see what he was doing, he placed his bare left hand on Sam's midriff, softly feeling her body through the sheet.  He moved his hand slowly down her belly, caressing her with small motions of his fingers, paused, then began to move back up, palm flat, fingers extended to touch as much of her as possible.

 

Sam remained frozen, eyes squeezed shut, trying not to react.

 

Slowly he moved the palm of his hand up between her breasts, fingers splayed.  His hand drifted first to the left breast, cupping, kneading it through the sheet, rubbing her nipple between thumb and forefinger, then to the right, relishing it as well.  He then allowed his hand to continue upward, touching the bare skin of her chest, and on to hold her neck tenderly.  As he bent forward, he turned her head to face him, and touched his lips to hers, nibbling them softly.

 

Inside her head, Sam was repeating several phrases like a mantra, focusing her attention on retaining control.  --Stay calm.  Keep breathing.  This doesn't matter.  There's nobody watching.  Do not cry.--

 

On the other side of the room, Jack O'Neill couldn't stand any more of seeing the alien monster caress this woman who was so important to him.  He called out, "That's it.  Get your putrid, slimy,.. disgusting hands off her right now.  What, won't the females of your own species have anything to do with you?  Have to get your kicks by force?  What a man.  Oh, I forgot, you're not a man at all.  You're a snake with delusions of godhood."

 

Without taking his eyes off Sam's blond fringed face, Apophis answered calmly, "Snakes are potent sexual symbols, didn't you know?  Over the years I have come to appreciate the assorted pleasures available through the human body.  I can indulge in them all, because I am all powerful, and you are nothing to me."

 

Jack turned to his silent friend, who had sat down on the bench, and hunched over, was staring at the floor.  "Teal'c?"

 

The other man shook his head.  "By showing him your pain, it only increases his pleasure.  We can not assist Captain Carter in that way."

 

Jack looked back into the room in time to see the Goa'uld grasp the top of the sheet, and gradually peel it away, revealing Sam's breasts, belly, hips, thighs.  Apophis dropped the sheet on her far side, and simply stood looking at her naked body.

 

Sam swallowed hard, feeling a strange sense of calm flow through her.  --This is it,-- she thought.  --I've been stripped bare before the colonel and Teal'c.  I can never make it so that this didn't happen.  Now he's going to rape me, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.  But I will not let him have any satisfaction from me.  I will be strong.--

 

Apophis reached out his right hand, and let the metal tips of the ribbon device rest on Samantha's cheek.  His fingers stretched up and combed through her short hair, tilting her head back.  As he bent his lips to her bared throat, his other hand stroked upward along her inner thigh, came to rest cupping her sex, then pushed down between her parted legs.  The cold rim of his chest plate dug into her ribs as he pressed himself against her.

 

Sam was having difficulty maintaining her intended composure.  As her breathing became more ragged, her nose crinkled in an effort to fight back tears.

 

Just then the doorway slid open again and two more Jaffa entered, pulling a young man between them.  Daniel Jackson was also dressed in a black T shirt and combat trousers, barefoot and with no glasses.

 

Coming in to the room, Daniel saw directly in front of him his most hated enemy.  Their eyes met as the Goa'uld lifted his face from a naked woman's throat.  Sam's throat.  Daniel's entire body stiffened as Apophis rose to face him with a bemused smile, one hand resting on Samantha's abdomen.

 

"Ah, the last to arrive.  Report, Jaffa.  Why has it taken so long for you to bring him to me?"

 

"My Lord, this one hid from us skilfully.  But we succeeded in capturing him as you ordered."

 

O'Neill chose this moment to interject, "Way to go getting caught, Danny.  You're supposed to be the cavalry here."

 

Daniel spared a glance to his right, taking in the sight of Jack and Teal'c behind bars.  "Sorry,"  he answered tersely before facing the gold-clothed man.

 

"Daniel Jackson.  I have so been looking forward to meeting you again.  My mate has spoken to me of you.  She has rather intimate knowledge of someone  quite close to you.  Your mate, I believe.  Your mate has become a most pleasing vessel for Amaunet, and most pleasing to me as well."

 

Hearing this, O'Neill regretted his comment about 'won't your own kind have you'.  God, this gets complicated.

 

Daniel concentrated on breathing deeply and slowly, and clenched his teeth over the response he wished to make.  His hate would have to wait for a time when he could conceivably do something about it.  They were all in too bad of a position to indulge in posturing.  But his eyes spoke volumes.

 

The Goa'uld lord approached the young man.  Standing in front of him, he cocked his head to one side, and looked Daniel over from head to toe.  Apophis laughed quietly, "I hadn't remembered that you were so pretty.  Amaunet has kept that to herself."

 

Apophis moved even closer, and reached his hands around to Daniel's back.  He let his finger tips drop down along the other man's spine, and over his buttocks.  His hands closed on Daniel's firm rear, and pulled his pelvis into contact with his own.

 

Daniel's eyes widened, and eyebrows shot up in surprise.  He swallowed visibly, and then said, attempting to keep his tone very light, "Why, Apophis.  And I thought you didn't like me."

 

The dark man pulled back from Daniel with a smile of loathing and triumph.  "I don't like you.  And I don't expect you to like what I will do to you.  But I will enjoy it immensely."   He ran his bare hand down Daniel's chest, then brushed the light brown hair away from his cheeks.  "You have a beautiful body, and a fair face.  The lips, the jaw line, but especially the eyes.  Charming eyes."  

 

Daniel's mouth fell open as he struggled to make sense of what was happening.  "You've got to be kidding, right?"

 

"Ah, lovely boy.  You will be mine this day."  As the guards held Daniel's arms, Apophis drew a dagger from a scabbard beneath his kilt, and slowly slit his T shirt first from the neck over one shoulder and down the arm, down the other arm, and then down the front.  He pulled the cloth away, and dropped it to the floor.  Daniel's bare chest rose and fell faster as Apophis lustfully looked him over again.

 

Still helpless in the cell, Jack watched this scene with incredulity.  He turned a questioning look toward Teal'c, but his friend did not raise his eyes.  It was as though Teal'c had withdrawn into himself, leaving a blank facade.  Jack knew him well enough, however, to see the deep desperation hidden beneath the mask.  Jack could identify with the feeling.  "This is not happening," he muttered under his breath.

 

Apophis addressed the Jaffa guards standing at attention around him.  "Leave us.  I will attend to these prisoners myself for now."

 

He reached the hand covered with the ribbon device out toward Daniel, and placed it on the back of his neck.  As Apophis' eyes lit up with that inhuman glow, Daniel sucked in a breath and closed his own eyes in pain.  The Jaffa bowed to their master, and silently left the room.

 

"I can make you do anything I wish, you have no choice," Apophis gloated.  He pulled Daniel forward, and the pair approached the table from which Sam had been watching this interaction. 

 

--Not Daniel too,-- she prayed silently.  --Please not Daniel.--

 

Apophis brought his captive to the edge of the table where they both looked down on the naked woman.  Though his hand remained on Daniel's neck, his eyes ceased to glow.  The younger man's shoulders sagged in release, and he let out the breath he had been holding. 

 

Daniel found Sam's eyes, and said breathlessly, "Hey."

 

She managed a wan smile for him.  "Hey yourself."

 

Apophis placed his head near to Daniel's and whispered, "Touch her." 

 

Daniel didn't move.

 

The other said again, more persuasively, "I told you to touch her."

 

As Daniel reached his hand out toward Sam, he said, "No, actually I'm not going to do anything you tell me to."  He continued reaching beyond his friend and took hold of the sheet lying discarded by her side.  He quickly straightened it and pulled it over her, up to her neck.  He asked her in a casual manner, "So do you know how to release the chains?"

 

As his hands moved to explore her bonds, she answered, "No, I think the mechanism must be under the table".

 

A look of fury passed over Apophis' face at being ignored.  The eyes glowed again, and Daniel gasped and froze, his arms dropping to the table edge to support himself.  His face contorted, and he let out a brief moan.

 

Apophis positioned himself directly behind Daniel, maintaining the coercive hold on his neck.  He hissed, "You will obey me!  You will please me in every way or your pain will be great."

 

Jack asked Teal'c in a low voice, "What's that he's doing with that ribbon device?  Does it do more than blast you and burn the life out of you?"

 

"Yes.  It seeks to fulfil the user's intent.  As in this case, it can be used to paralyse the victim, and cause various levels of pain.  Repeated exposure will cause permanent damage."

 

Apophis pushed Daniel's head down, so that it came to rest on Samantha's belly.   With one hand on Daniel's neck, the Goa'uld ran the other hand from his captive's thigh up to his hip, and pushed him harder against the table with his pelvis.  Apophis held him a moment in this suggestive and vulnerable position, and then let the hand fall from his neck.  "Now you will touch her." 

 

Daniel grimaced and pushed himself up to a standing position, accidentally using one of Sam's hip bones as leverage.  "Sorry."

 

"S’all right."

 

He wobbled on his feet for a moment, then suddenly flung himself backward, knocking the other man off balance.

 

Daniel, not a great fighter but desperate, spun around and swung a punch at his enemy.  The impact surprised the Goa'uld, but he recovered quickly, using his alien strength to land a backhanded blow that knocked Daniel to the floor.

 

The young man lay still for a moment, then struggled to his knees.  Apophis towered over him, and grabbed the back of his neck again in the paralysing grip.  Daniel cried out in pain as the intensity of the device increased.  Apophis watched him suffer for a few long moments, then released him and stood back.

 

Gasping, Daniel fell to hands and knees, breathing heavily.  Slowly, he forced himself to climb to his feet to face his tormentor, panting and glaring in anger.  He could do no more than stand there as Apophis reached out and took his head in both hands.  Daniel was drawn forward as Apophis brought their lips together, forcing his mouth open and invading it with his tongue.  Daniel tried to push the other man away, with no effect.  Abruptly, Apophis released him, and Daniel stepped back.  The scientist bent over placing his hands on his knees, trying to get his breath back,  but kept his eyes on his adversary all the time.

 

Amused, Apophis spoke.  "Daniel Jackson, why do you resist so?  You could relax and enjoy yourself, as your mate does.  In fact, you could think of this as an opportunity to be closer to her, by sharing an experience which she has had many times.  Your woman responds with great pleasure when I touch her, take her body.  She is a very passionate creature, and beautiful.  Perhaps you should pretend that you are her, and make love to me as she does."

 

Daniel's face hardened, and he stood up straight.  Apophis didn’t know that Daniel knew about the child, and he certainly wasn’t going to bring it up.  "Sha're does not make love to you.  You and Amaunet simply use her body.  Inside she is as disgusted by you as I am.  No doubt she longs for me to touch her in love, something you will never know."

 

"Perhaps, but it is I who will have her for years to come.  Every day.  Every night.  Think of that."

 

His anger and hatred focused intently on the figure in front of him, Daniel said very softly, "I will kill you."

 

Apophis laughed.  "I think not, child."

 

He moved toward Daniel, who took a step back, and then lunged forward hitting the alien in the stomach with his shoulder.  Apophis simply knocked him to one side.    As Daniel moved to attack again, Apophis raised the ribbon device and released a blast of energy which hit him in the chest, sending him flying across the room.  He hit the bars of the cell with a force that caused them to quiver, then bounced off, tumbling to the floor where he lay still.

 

Watching from behind the bars, Jack grimaced, and said to no one in particular, "Ow."  He then shouted out, "Hey, tough guy.  Why don't you pick on someone your own size.  If you want a fight, I'll give you one!"

 

"Ah, but I have plans for each of you.  These two I will humiliate and dominate sexually, while you watch.  You, O'Neill, and Teal'c, I will humiliate and dominate in other ways, while they watch.  Be patient, your turn will arrive."

 

Apophis approached the motionless form, lying face down in front of the cage.

 

Jack's frustration was too great for him to keep quiet.  "Damn you, leave him alone!"

 

The other ignored him, and knelt down by Daniel's side.  Holding his shoulder, he rolled Daniel over on to his back and smiled into the unconscious face.  "Ah, this is much better.  Now I can take my pleasure in peace."  After gently caressing the face below him, Apophis stood and lifted the heavy chest plate over his head and set it on the floor.  He removed the golden helmet which covered his short-cropped dark hair and set that down as well. 

 

The effect was startling.  Without the armour he looked more human, more vulnerable.  Yet a brief glow in his eyes as he stood looking down at his captive destroyed the effect.  He was just as dangerous, and now able to move more freely.

 

Apophis approached Daniel again, lowered himself to sit astride his thighs.    He placed both hands on the young man's chest, and began stroking the smooth skin.   With his bare hand, he briefly touched the nipples, moved down the torso to the navel, then proceeded to touch and hold Daniel's crotch through the thick material of his trousers.  Apophis released a sigh of pleasure, and moved once again to the face.  He bent and kissed the still man, cupping one hand behind the head to raise the other's mouth to his own for a lingering moment, before moving his mouth over the cheek and down to the throat, savouring the textures with tongue and lips. 

 

Apophis's hands caressed the bare shoulders beneath him, slid down the arms to the hands, then back up to the chest.   He continued his inspection by feeling his way down the abdomen, past the hips to the thighs.  Once there,  he moved Daniel's legs apart and shifted to kneel between them. 

 

The young man lay sprawled before him, vulnerable and still.  The Goa'uld lowered himself to recline on his left side facing the cell, leaning one elbow on the floor beside Daniel's chest, with his hips and legs on the floor between Daniel's legs.  An ugly half smile played over his face as he reached his right hand up to touch the metallic fingertips of the ribbon device against the fragile face before him.  He brushed the sharp implements lightly over the closed eyelids, down the nose and cheeks, over the lips, jaw and throat.  When they reached the base of Daniel's throat, Apophis paused a moment, then sank the sharpened points lightly into the yielding flesh, causing bright red spots of  blood to appear around their tips.  Ever so slowly, Apophis began to draw the four fingers of his right hand down Daniel's chest, the sharp points cutting in slightly; enough to cause beads of blood to form, sending streams of red sliding down the sides of Daniel's chest or to pool on the flat planes of his belly, but not enough to do real damage.  Drawing out the process as long as possible, a look of sensual ecstasy transformed the Goa’uld’s face.  Centimetre by centimetre, the alien drew lines of blood down Daniel's chest and stomach, over his navel and abdomen.  When he reached the barrier of the waist of Daniel's trousers, Apophis curled the claws, and let them slip into the darkness beneath.  Unable to reach further, a low growl rumbled in his throat.  He then shifted himself to kneel once again between the legs of the motionless figure, and began to undo the fly.

 

***************************

 

Jack O'Neill had been crouching barely three feet away on the other side of the bars, transfixed with morbid fascination as the drops of blood formed along his friend's body.  Suddenly, he felt a hand clamp onto his shoulder, and nearly jumped out of his skin.  He turned to find the Jaffa's face inches from his own, eyes burning with intensity.  Teal'c said quietly but urgently, "O'Neill, I have seen Apophis perform this act many times.  We can not allow this to happen to Daniel Jackson!"

 

Jack's face paled as the message hit home.  He thought, --I've got to create a diversion, at least buy some time.-- 

 

He turned and drew as near to the other two men as he possibly could.

 

"Apophis," he began seriously, "you said that you wanted to humiliate him.  Well, if you do whatever it is you're planning now, he'll sleep through the whole thing, and not be very humiliated, eh?  Don't you want to do your thing with someone who knows what's happening?  Won't that be much more fun?  I promise you I would show you a very good time.  Why don't you do it to me instead?"

 

The Goa'uld turned to face O'Neill, his eyes already clouded with desire.  He spoke softly, "You would like that, wouldn't you?"

 

Jack's gaze willed the alien to take him up on the offer.  "Yes, I would."

 

Apophis turned his lurid stare back to the man beneath him and sighed, "I've told you that I have other plans for you.  I will not be fooled by your tricks." 

 

Jack held his breath as the other paused, and seemed to be considering the case. 

 

"You are right, though, that ultimately it is more satisfying to see the fear in the eyes of my victim.  And it is nearly impossible to arouse a male who is thus affected by the ribbon device, which I would enjoy very much.  So yes, I believe I will continue with this one when he has regained consciousness.  The anticipation will heighten the sweetness."

 

He bent down and touched his tongue to the drops of blood lying just below Daniel's navel, rubbing his lips through the line of brown hair.

 

As the Goa'uld lord stood up, Jack thought, --Yes!  I can't believe it worked!--  But when Apophis turned not to him, but toward the woman on the other side of the room, his mind screamed, --No! That's not what I meant!--

 

"I have not forgotten you, lovely woman."  Apophis purred.  "Shall we proceed with what we were doing?"

 

Jack saw Samantha's eyes widen as she steeled herself for what was coming.  "Yes, let’s,"  she said levelly.  She was offering herself to spare Daniel.

 

Jack tried to intervene, "Now wait a minute!  I'm the one you should come after.  Me!  I'm telling you!...  Dammit!" he finished, as he was disregarded.

 

***************************

 

Apophis moved directly toward the table where Sam lay, his stride fluid and confidant.  He reached out and tore the sheet away in one motion and dropped it onto the floor.  He appeared uninterested in further verbal taunting, and said only, "Hmm.  I remember where we were." 

 

He didn't pause, but grabbed the back of Sam's head, locked the metal tipped fingers in her hair, and tilted her head back.  The other hand slid between her legs again to rub briefly, then moved at once to her breasts.  For minutes he handled them roughly, squeezing and pinching them, while Samantha's brow creased with agitation. 

 

The Goa'uld lowered his mouth to her breasts to continue their mistreatment with his teeth, sucking and nipping the soft flesh.  His hand moved down her belly to rest between her legs.  With his mouth on one of her nipples, he slid a finger inside her.  She barely stifled a cry as he invaded her most private place, and began to force himself further in.  A rumbling moan escaped his throat, as he moved the digit into the slick, wet space.

 

***************************

 

As Apophis moved away from him, Jack grabbed the bars of the cell and banged his head against them in despair.  Once again he found himself suddenly looking into Teal'c's face, as the larger man clutched his arm and spun him around.  "We can not give up now.  We must find a way to help Captain Carter."

 

"Christ, haven't I 'helped' enough for one day?  What can we do?" he asked desperately.

 

"We can not leave this cage, but there is still one outside who can assist her."

 

"Daniel?  He's out cold."

 

"Perhaps we can change that."

 

Jack turned to look at the man sprawled unmoving on the floor.  --Right,-- he thought.  --First we wake the kid up.--

 

He knelt down beside Daniel and spoke softly to him through the bars.  "Daniel.  Wake up.  Come on Daniel, wake up now.  Wake up!"   No response.

 

The Jaffa moved to stand over O'Neill, hoping to distract Apophis' attention if he alien should turn towards them, though so far his concentration was totally focused on the woman.

 

Jack reached through the bars, trying to touch the supine figure.  With his arm fully extended, about two inches still separated them.  He lay down on the floor, and angled his shoulder into the space between the rods as far as it would go.  In this position, he was able to touch Daniel's shoulder with the tips of two fingers.  He began poking and shaking him as hard as possible given the small leverage, calling a bit more loudly, "Daniel!  Wake up.  You have to wake up now.  Carter needs you.  Daniel!"

 

Daniel's eyelids flickered, and his nose crinkled briefly, but he continued to lie still.

 

Jack noticed the slim man on the other side of the room lift his head and begin to turn, and quickly pulled his arm back into the cell and sat up slightly, trying to look innocent.  Apophis passed his eyes over them fleetingly, then turned again to the woman.

 

***************************

 

Apophis said to her, "This platform is wrong for what I want.  I want you on the floor like your friend."  He reached one hand under the table, flicked an unseen switch, and the bands around Sam's ankles snapped open.  After straining against her confinement for so long, she instinctively brought her legs together and knees up into a more protected position. 

 

Apophis ignored the movement, and shifted around to her head.  Operating another hidden catch,  the latch connecting her chains to the table released.  Her hands were still restrained with manacles, with a short length of chain between them.  The longer length which had bound her to the table was attached to the midpoint between her wrists.  Apophis grabbed that longer segment and in one motion pulled her off the table, causing Sam to fall painfully onto the hard floor.

 

Grabbing her around the waist, Apophis pulled her roughly to her feet and held her tightly against his body.  She hung there loosely,  the strength not yet returned to her legs.  He walked them both a few steps away from the table, into an open space in front of the door, and flung her down to the ground again. 

 

This time he lifted her up only onto her knees, and dropped to kneel behind her facing the door, his audience forgotten.  His right arm wrapped around her neck, straightening her body by lifting her up by the head.  His other hand reached around to the front, and began caressing her whole torso in increasingly ardent strokes.  He sunk his teeth into her shoulder, and pulled her even closer so that she could feel his excited member pushing into her buttocks even through the thick material of the kilt. 

 

His bare hand reached into her crotch, and found the warm opening between her legs.  Once again he began plunging his fingers, this time two, in and out of her, while at the same time rubbing his pelvis against her butt. 

 

Samantha couldn't help whimpering as he used her more roughly.  The violence of his touch increased, and she felt his knees push her legs farther apart.  He was positioning her for his next act.  His hand withdrew, and began to fumble beneath the confining tunic and kilt of his uniform.  The arm around her neck had tightened so that she was almost choking.  As she gasped for breath, a movement caught the corner of her eye.

 

***************************

 

When Apophis had turned back to Sam after briefly checking on the other prisoners, Jack returned to prodding the unresponsive Daniel.  After moments that seemed like hours, the young man's eyelids flickered again.  His head began to rock slightly, and a small groan sounded through his nose.

 

Jack continued to talk, "Daniel.  Wake up now.  You've got to wake up.  That's an order.  Come on now.  Daniel, wake up.  You have to help Carter.  She needs you.  Please, Daniel.  Wake up."  While Jack was focusing on his task, he hadn't been following in detail what was happening to Sam, but had a good enough idea to know that time was running out.

 

Finally Daniel's eyes opened, and he turned his head to face the voice calling his name.  His eyes began to focus as he heard the other man continue,  "That's right.  You're doing great.  You have to get up now, faster, and go help Carter.  She's in bad trouble and she needs you."

 

Daniel swung his head to the other side and focused his eyes on the pair kneeling on the floor by the door.  Was that Sam?  Shit.  He suddenly began to feel better, as adrenaline surged through his system.  He rolled onto his side and began to push himself to his feet.  Halfway up, he collapsed onto the floor again, as dizziness struck.  He breathed deeply, and whispered to himself, "Up. There's no time for this.  Get up."  He heard Jack saying pretty much the same thing beside him.

 

He pulled himself successfully to his feet on the next attempt, but couldn't immediately do any more than hold himself up, as dizziness threatened to knock him down again.  As his head cleared he stumbled forward, almost colliding with an obstacle on the ground.  It was Apophis' chest plate and helmet.

 

Daniel scooped up the heavy collar and lurched forward again.  As he drew close, he raised his weapon and swung it with all his strength into the back of Apophis' head.  The surprise blow knocked the distracted alien off balance, and he fell forward, toppling Carter to the ground underneath him.  As he rose to his knees with a roar, Daniel steeled himself and swung the chest plate again, this time straight into Apophis' face.  The alien was visibly stunned by the heavy impact, and rocked backward on his heels.  He wasn't slowed down for long, though, and lurched to his feet, raising his right hand into firing position.

 

When her attacker had moved, Sam had scrambled to her feet, and now contemplated using the only weapon she possessed, the length of chain hanging between her bound hands.  As Apophis rose to face Daniel she swung the chain toward his head, where it hit and wrapped around, slamming into his face.  Blood began to pour out of his broken nose, and he roared again with fury that they should dare harm him.

 

Meanwhile, Daniel took advantage of his adversary's distraction to grab the outstretched hand, and point it away from himself.  He locked the wrist between his upper arm and side, back to his attacker, and began to pry the metal tips of the ribbon device away from the outstretched fingers.

 

Of course, Apophis would not allow that, and hooked his other arm around Daniel's neck and began to squeeze.  Fortunately, the attack and awkward positioning had reduced his physical advantage, and Daniel was able to maintain some margin of movement, concentrating on keeping his grip on the weapon. 

 

Sam joined the struggle from behind, swinging her bound hands over Apophis' head, bringing the short chain between her wrists down to his throat.  She tugged backwards, trying to dislodge Apophis' hold on Daniel.  Her attempt had little effect on the solid alien physique, so she increased the pressure by raising one knee into the small of his back, and pushing herself backwards.  This caused Apophis to stagger slightly, but he sustained and tightened his hold on the man in front of him.

 

Daniel had managed to remove the five finger tips of the weapon, and was grappling with the part that stretched across the palm of the hand, but as the arm around his neck squeezed tighter, he began to lose his grip on the extended hand.

 

***************************

 

The other two members of the team watched the fight avidly from their confinement.  Teal'c clutched the bars of the cell and peered outward with an intense animated expression, willing his friends to greater efforts.  Jack, for his part bounced up and down, and kept up a running commentary, as though watching a football match.  "That's it!  Watch out!  Harder, Carter!   Pull harder!"  He swung imaginary blows into the air in support of his team, slightly nonplussed by the sight of Captain Carter wrestling with the alien while completely naked.  Her skin looked too soft and fragile to be exposed to that kind of violence, and he admired the way she gave her all to the battle with no thought for her own vulnerability.  Daniel too was doing incredibly well for being so far out of his element, but looked a mess with long tangled hair hanging in his reddening face, and a sheen of blood down his torso.  "Come on, kids!  You can do it."

 

***************************

 

As Daniel began to weaken, Sam increased her pressure, by raising the other knee to Apophis' back as well, supporting herself entirely on his frame.  She flung her upper body back, and pushed with her knees, so that her full weight and force focused on crushing his throat.

 

This, at last, began to affect the enraged Goa'uld, and his hold on Daniel's neck started to loosen.  Daniel succeeded in scraping the ribbon device off his enemy's hand, and flung it to the floor.  He wriggled around to face the staggering man, and lifted his knee sharply into the unprotected groin. 

 

Apophis lurched sideways, releasing Daniel, and bent over quickly to fling the woman over his head onto the floor.  As he straightened up he roared "Jaffa, kree!" in his loudest voice.  Before he could completely regain his feet, Daniel grabbed his head and pulled it down, while slamming his knee upward again, this time into the Goa'uld's face.

 

Apophis fell forward, carrying Daniel with him to the floor.  There, both Samantha and Daniel scrambled to climb on top of their fallen foe, holding him down and landing what blows they could manage on his struggling form.

 

This was the sight that greeted the Jaffa who rushed in through the doorway:  their Great Lord and God on the floor, bleeding from the nose, being pummelled by a naked woman and half naked man.  The sight shocked them momentarily, and they froze where they stood.

 

Sam practically shouted in her friend's ear, "Daniel!  Fall back!  Look for cover."

 

They staggered to their feet and reeled together back into the room.  Sam grabbed the edge of the table, and shifted it so it crossed in front of them.  "Help me!"  she cried, and together she and Daniel tipped the heavy object onto its side, providing a barrier they could shelter behind.

 

Apophis shouted from where he lay on the floor, "Fools, kill them!"

 

The guards raised their weapons and began to fire toward the crouching pair, but the table blocked their shots.  Daniel peeked around the corner of the barricade, and saw the dagger that Apophis had used on him earlier lying a few feet away.  It must have fallen out of its scabbard at some point, and now lay there temptingly.  Daniel flung himself out to grasp the knife, and pulled himself back while staff weapon blasts landed around him.

 

"Daniel, what are you doing?" shouted Sam, as he collapsed on his back beside her.  He looked up into her face and asked, "Are you any good with a knife?", and held up his prize.  She grasped the blade eagerly, and replied, "Yes, siree, I sure am!"

 

She looked quickly over the top edge of the table and saw a bedraggled looking Apophis standing to one side of the guards, urging them to move forward and finish the kill.

 

She ducked back down, and said to Daniel, "Hold this chain still, and make sure it doesn't throw off my aim."

 

Daniel crouched beside her and steadied the chain hanging from between her hands.  Sam clasped the knife in a two handed throwing position, and popped up over the table edge.  She sent the blade flying straight into the chest of the bellowing Goa'uld, and dropped back down to the floor.

 

Apophis staggered, and then collapsed to his knees, clutching the knife hilt in disbelief.  As he sank to the floor, he shouted, "Take me to the sarcophagus!  Kill them all!  Kill them!"

 

Two of the guards lifted their leader's fallen body, and rushed out of the room, leaving three others to finish the battle.  The Jaffa guards looked at each other in confusion, then one said to the others in Goa'uld language, "Be quick.  Our lord must be avenged."

 

Teal'c spoke up then, addressing the warriors in their own tongue.  "Yes, Jaffa.  You kill us, and then it will be your turn.  You know that when the false god revives, he will have you all executed.  You have seen that he is not all powerful.  You have seen him bested in battle by mere humans.  You will not be allowed to live to tell this tale.  By all means waste your time killing us and cleaning up the mess, if that is how you wish to spend your last hours.  Or you can seek to save yourselves.  Flee the ship, and join your brothers who also know the truth.  Join the fight to liberate your people from their slavery, and live to tell your children of the glorious battle."

 

Teal'c's powerful voice resonated with command and confidence, and the men knew that the words were true as well.  They would not live long once Apophis regained his strength.  The three stood still and looked at each other, waiting for someone to speak.  Finally one said, "The death gliders on level three are ready for launch."  The others nodded, and one said, "Let us go."  They simply turned and left the room, leaving the captives alone.

 

Sam and Daniel slowly stood up and looked around with surprise.

 

Jack asked, "What happened?"

 

Daniel explained to Sam and him, "Teal'c told them to go away, and they went."

 

"Sweet!  Good going, Teal'c!"

 

"O'Neill, we must hurry if we are to effect our own escape."

 

"Right.  How do we get out of here?"

 

Teal'c spoke to Sam and Daniel, "Behind the partition to the left of the cell you should find a control panel."

 

The two approached a screen covered with symbols and lights.  Daniel reached up and touched a button, and they heard the cell door clank open.

 

Sam asked, "How did you know which one to press?"

 

"That one said, 'Open Cell Door'".

 

"You're a handy guy to have around, you know?"

 

He grinned shyly at her, "You're not so bad yourself."

 

They turned to see Jack and Teal'c step into the room.  Teal'c lifted his T shirt off over his head, and offered it to Sam.  "'You should put this on."

 

Suddenly, she became conscious of standing there naked, and her face flushed red.  "I'd love to, but I can't get these things off."  She held out her bound hands.

 

"Allow me."  The large man stepped up to her and pressed indentations on the wrists of each manacle.  They sprang open, and fell to the floor with a satisfying clang.  

 

"Why didn't you tell her that before?" Jack snapped.

 

"The restraints are designed so that they cannot be opened by the person wearing them."

 

Sam took the shirt and pulled it on.  It was large for her, and fell to mid thigh, making her feel a whole lot better.  Teal'c picked up the discarded sheet and handed her that as well.  She wrapped it around her waist and tucked it in like a sarong. 

 

At this point Daniel looked down at his own body, and for the first time noticed the streaks of blood and that his fly was partially open, combat trousers hanging loosely around his hips.  As he zipped himself up, he looked at the others questioningly.

 

"Later", said Jack.  Turning to Teal'c he continued, "Lead on.  How do we 'effect our escape'?"

 

"The Jaffa guards will try to leave the ship on level three.  This may cause a diversion, along with the confusion which can occur when a Goa'uld leader is injured and in sarcophagus.  We should try to reach the transport vessels on level five."

 

Daniel chimed in, "What about the Tok'ra spy?  Do you think she's being held somewhere on the ship?"

 

"I doubt she still lives.  Even if so, we do not have the time to search for her and escape ourselves."

 

Jack added, "I wish her well, but I vote for saving our own butts for once.  Lets go."

 

Teal'c opened the door and checked that the corridor was clear.  He turned to lead them down the left-hand passageway.  As the others followed, Daniel stopped and faced right.

 

Jack walked back to him, "Come on, we don't have time for sightseeing."

 

"You go ahead.  I'm staying here."  Daniel gazed down the hallway with a distant expression.

 

Jack exploded, "What?"

 

Daniel said quietly, "There's a real chance to kill Apophis now.  One of the things I managed to do before they caught me was disable the sarcophagus.  They're going to have to hurry to find another one.  If I can find his body, I can make sure it's destroyed so that they can't revive him."  He turned a passionate look to his companion.  "I have to do it for Sha're.  If he lives, he'll go back to her.  I can't let him hurt her any more.  Jack, she's my wife!"

 

It broke Jack's heart to see his friend's pain, but he responded, "This is a mother ship, for god's sake.  You can't go wandering around hacking up Goa'uld.  They'll catch you and kill you, and that won't help Sha're, now will it?  We're all leaving here together, and we're going now."

 

"But we can kill him.  We can end this."  Daniel's eyes were fierce.

"No we can't.  I swear to God, if I have to, I'll knock you out and carry you.  Don't make me do that - you're putting us all in danger here.  Look, next chance we get, I'll help you track the son-of-a-bitch down and make him very dead.  But not now.  Come on, Daniel."  He grabbed the other man by the arms, twisted him around, and pushed him down the hall toward where the others waited.

 

Daniel's face clouded, and he offered minor resistance, but let himself be led along.  He said quietly to Jack, "I'm going to hold you to that.  You're going to help me get him."

 

"I'm going to help you get him.  Oh yes, with pleasure.  I owe him one."

 

 

 

 

PART TWO

 

 

Teal'c touched the controls which guided them out of the hanger into open space.  They were in a small troop transport vessel, designed to carry about twenty warriors.  The modest flight deck consisted of a view screen with control panels before two chairs, and a narrow bench recessed into the back wall beside the door.

 

Teal'c sat in the left hand chair piloting the vessel, while Jack sat beside him, watching avidly as the large hands moved over the  controls.  Sam and Daniel hovered briefly behind them, watching the Goa'uld mother ship disappear from view, then sank down onto the bench.

 

Jack asked the man beside him, "Have they noticed us?  Are they coming after us?"

 

"It appears not.  They are moving at increasing speed away from our position.  Perhaps it is as Daniel Jackson said, they go in search of a sarcophagus.  That would be their priority."

 

"All right!  This is getting better.  So where are we and how long will it take us to get home?"

 

"If we were to travel all the way to Earth in this ship, it would take many weeks.  My suggestion would be to proceed to the nearest Tok'ra base, and from there continue to Earth through the Stargate.  At top speed, we can reach the Tok'ra base within fifteen hours."

 

"How about communications?  Can we send  a message to the SGC or the Tok'ra?"

 

"The frequencies used by these vessels are monitored by other Goa'uld ships and bases.  I will attempt to modify the transmitter to send an identifying signal when we approach Tok'ra outposts."

 

"OK, and in the meantime, can you show me how to fly this baby?  I'll feel a lot better if I can do something useful."

 

***************************

 

Behind them, Samantha Carter still dressed in an extra-large T shirt and sheet, leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes.  Daniel sat next to her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.   Sam opened her eyes, and asked, "Are you all right?" 

 

Without looking up, Daniel answered, "Did you get the licence plate of the truck that just ran over me?  No, really, I'm okay.  I just have this massive headache."

 

Sam asked, "Would some massage help?"  She reached up to grip his shoulders, and pressed her thumbs into the flesh at the base of his neck.

 

He yelped, and pulled himself quickly out of her grasp. "Normally massage would be great, thanks, but that happens to be exactly where it hurts the most."

 

"Sorry, of course it does.  That was stupid.  I guess I'm not thinking very clearly right now."

 

"That's okay, I'm pretty much out of it myself.  I think I'll just rest for a minute."  He leaned back against the wall beside her.   "Cold in here, isn't it?"

 

"Yeah.  Do the Goa'uld have something against central heating?"

 

They rested there for a few minutes, then each dropped into a light sleep.

 

***************************

 

Minutes later, Jack O’Neill turned from his piloting lesson to check on the other team members.  He saw them asleep, Daniel's head fallen over on to Sam's shoulder.  They both had their arms wrapped around themselves.  They looked cold, uncomfortable and battered; Sam's hair tousled and her body hidden in swaths of crumpled fabric, Daniel with bruises starting to show on his face and a dark brown stain of dried blood coating his bare chest.  He was struck by their vulnerability in sleep, and chided himself yet again for not taking better care of them.  --I could absolutely tear Apophis to small, painful pieces for what he did to them.  But I should never have let it happen at all,-- he reproached himself.    --I should have refused to go into that ship in the first place.--

 

Jack saw Daniel shiver slightly in his sleep, and realised that he himself was the only one of them who was still properly dressed, except for the missing boots.  He thought, --They shouldn't sit like that for long, they'll just get colder, and they're probably both ripe for a little bit of shock to set in.--

 

He turned to Teal'c, "I'll be right back."

 

He moved back to where they sat and squatted down in front of them.  He put one hand on a knee each, and said, "Hey, guys.  Up and at 'em."  At his touch, they both jolted  awake as though a gun had gone off beside their heads.  "Whoa!  Easy now.  Just checking in.  Carter, how you doin'?"

 

"I'll be fine, sir."  She couldn't quite meet his eyes.  "Um, I just want it to be over.  Home, hot bath, that sort of thing."

 

O'Neill looked at her for a moment, then turned to Daniel.  "And you?  How are you?"

 

Daniel was still slumped with his shoulder pressing against Carter's.  The younger man looked at him with sad, deep eyes.  "I've been better.  I'm tired, sore and generally not very happy right now.  But it’s nothing fatal.  I'll get over it.  I always do." 

 

Jack stood up, and put on his brisk down to business persona, only slightly softened by his feelings for them.  "Right.  There's something I want you to do.  We're gonna be here a while, so we may as well get a bit more comfortable.  This is a troop transport, so there's bound to be supplies on board.  I want you two to go scout around the rest of the ship, see if you can find some food and water, clothes, weapons, anything interesting."

 

Sam stood up, clutching the sheet around her waist.  Daniel followed more slowly, flexing his stiff shoulders.  "Yes sir," she responded, "that's a good idea."  She touched Daniel's arm, "You up for a little recon?"

 

"I'm with you."

 

As they headed toward the door, Jack couldn't help calling after them, "And don't get into any trouble!"

 

Daniel actually smiled, as he answered, "Not to worry, Jack.  If there's trouble to be had, you can bet we'll walk right into it."  He playfully pushed Sam through the doorway in front of him, then disappeared himself.

 

Jack sighed, and returned to his seat.  Teal'c turned to him and said, "I could have told them exactly where on this vessel to find the items you mentioned."

 

"I know.  It's just good for them to move around a little bit, get them occupied with something."

 

Teal'c looked back at the lights passing by on the view screen.  "You are a wise leader, Jack O'Neill."

 

Jack snorted, "You keep saying that, maybe it'll become true."

 

***************************

 

Through the door, Sam and Daniel entered a large open space.  To their right was the big entry hatchway they had come in through earlier.  On the other side of the room they could see three closed doors.  Sam said, "Maybe this is a staging area.  Shall we see what's behind door number one, door number two or door number three?"

 

Daniel, not seeing numbers on the portals in front of them, gave her a puzzled look.

 

She smiled at him, "Sorry, an attempt at humour.  I forgot your TV culture references are minimal.  Lets start with door number one."

 

She led the way across the room to the doorway on the left.  She pressed the release catch beside it, and it opened into a darkened stairwell leading upward.  They looked up, felt a cold draft descend past them into the open room, and decided to continue checking this level first.

 

The second door led into something like a locker room, in that there were cabinets lining the walls, filled with armour and weapons, and with benches down the middle.  Leaving the door behind them open, they inspected the contents of the lockers.  Daniel said ironically, "Gee, look how many ways there are to blow other people up.  Jack will be in heaven here.  I thought the Jaffa only used staff weapons and 'zat' guns."

 

"I think that's usually the case,” Sam answered.  “Maybe this is a special forces kind of thing.  Anyway, we're going to learn a lot about Goa'uld weapons technology from this stuff."

 

"At least about what they're willing to let their servants handle."

 

"True."

 

A door on the far side of the locker room led into a short hallway with smaller openings on each side.  At the end of the hall a large room opened out; a bunk room lined with ten narrow beds, several cabinets and low tables.  They moved into the room, and began exploring the Jaffa sleeping quarters. 

 

Daniel stood beside a tall cabinet, rubbing his arms with his hands for warmth.  "A bit claustrophobic, with no windows.  Not a fun place to spend much time."

 

Sam opened the door of the cabinet next to him, and jumped back suddenly as something fell on top of her.  Daniel sprang around behind her and, gripping her arms, pulled her back another step.  He stood holding her against his chest, and asked anxiously, "What is it?"

 

Samantha let her body relax, and laughed at herself.  "Its nothing, just one of the hoods they sometimes wear under those big headpieces."

 

They stood looking a the bulky contents of the cupboard; hoods, gloves, various kinds of padding.  Sam realised that her back was still pressed against Daniel's chest, his hands still holding her arms.  She thought, --God, that feels good.  Feels like home.--

 

Sam closed her eyes, and rested her head back against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body flow into her.  His arms encircled her, and they remained like that for a few minutes.  Suddenly, she realised what they were doing, shrugged herself out of his arms and turned around to face him.  "Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

 

"It’s okay.  That was...nice."  With his head tilted down shyly, his blue eyes looked at her from beneath soft gold-brown eyelashes.  He paused for a moment, deciding whether or not to continue, then said blushing, "It's just that every time I touch you I'm really aware of how under that T shirt and sheet, you're not wearing anything.  Sorry, I, uh, probably shouldn't have said that."

 

Sam was blushing furiously by now as well.   She looked at him from beneath her eyelashes.  "No, I know what you mean.  I mean, when you touch me, I'm aware of how I'm almost naked.  And you've sort of been touching me a lot.  And, well, I've sort of touched you a few times, too."

 

They stood looking at the floor.  Daniel broke the silence, "This is a bit awkward."

 

"Yeah, just the kind of thing women and men on a team together are supposed to avoid."

 

Neither of them moved to step away from the other, and their eyes finally met.  Sam wondered if he was seeing the same thing in her eyes that she saw in his.  She thought probably so, because she was certainly feeling desire, affection, trust, and other things that were becoming harder to define as her awareness became focused on his physical presence beside her.

 

She spoke to him softly, "It's funny.  It's like everything that just happened to us, it was all sexual assault, but it didn't feel sexy at all.  It just felt violent and hateful, and I was sick and scared.  But now, it's like I'm all sensitised or something.  Maybe it's from being in that sexualised atmosphere before, but now the danger's over, and there's just you guys, and you all saw me naked, and,.. I don't know.  Maybe it's shock."  She shivered and hugged herself, though she was no longer cold.

 

"I guess I feel the same way.  I  feel totally vulnerable, but with you, that feels okay.  Must be some kind of delayed stress reaction or something."

 

They stood silently for another moment, smiling gently at each other.  Samantha then reached her hand up and touched his cheek with the back of her fingers.  He closed his eyes, turned his head, and pressed his lips against her palm.  She could feel his warm breath against her skin, and noticed another layer of good sense melt away.

 

She threaded her fingers into his hair, pulled it back away from his face, leaned in, and kissed him.  Daniel stayed still for a moment, then began to return and deepen the kiss.  He reached up and moved his fingers through her hair as well.  After a minute, Daniel pulled back slightly and looked into Sam's eyes.  He said, "Sam, I don't want to hurt you.  After what...he...did to you,...."

 

She smiled broadly at him.  "Daniel, this is so,..SO different!"

 

They pulled into a closer embrace, arms around each other, and returned to the kiss.  Sam could feel Daniel's hardened member against her belly, and felt a wave of warmth swirl through her pelvis and radiate upward through her body.  She moved against him to signal her response.

 

Suddenly, he stopped and drew away again.  Looking at her searchingly, he asked, "Are you sure?"

 

In answer she stepped back, loosened the sheet from around her waist and let it fall.  She then pulled the large t-shirt off over her head and dropped that too.  She stood there naked, a sultry glow in her eyes.

 

Daniel struggled briefly with the zipper of his trousers, then pushed them down over his hips and stepped out of them.  They stood looking at each other for a long moment.  He saw her softly rounded, muscular body with an appreciation that hadn't registered when she had been naked before him on Apophis' ship.  Her skin was soft and smooth, but there was a red spot, obviously teeth marks, on the tender flesh where her shoulder met her neck.  He also saw light brownish bruises on her breasts, and raw stripes where the manacles had abraded her wrists.

 

For her part, Samantha looked Daniel up and down, taking in the broad shoulders, strong chest, narrow hips, and firm thighs that she had never seen quite this way before.  His erect penis stood invitingly between them.  She also noticed the angry red scratches and smears of dried blood on his torso, ending just at the top of his pubic hair.  The dark bruise forming on his right cheekbone marred his beautiful face, but didn't hide the smouldering look in his eyes.

 

Looking intently into his face, she said simply, "Daniel."

 

All hesitation wiped away, he reached for her.  He slid his hands around her lower back, then down over her buttocks.  Lifting her off the ground, he took a few steps forward to press her between himself and a bare wall beside the cabinet.  She brought her knees up and locked her ankles behind his back. 

 

He was inside her immediately.  The shock of the union made them both gasp and pause for an instant, then they began to move together desperately.  Sam bit her lip to stifle the cries straining to sound through, as her whole being was drawn into the building pleasure and need.  Soon, almost instantly, the pressure expanded to a climax of fire.  Her fingers dug into his back, and she heard him groan as he came explosively.  They shared the throbbing waves of release until they diminished, then he slumped against her, still inside her, drained and sated.  They rested their heads against each other, cheek to cheek, as their breathing gradually slowed.

 

Just as Daniel began to stir, they heard a sound that made them freeze in place.  Jack's voice called from a distance, probably from the doorway of the flight deck, "Hey, how're you kids doing?  How's it going?"

 

Daniel leaned back slightly and with a mischievous grin for Sam, called out, "Coming just fine!  No problems."

 

"Good.  We're starting to get a little hungry up here."

 

"We'll be with you in a minute."

 

They smiled happily at each other, then the mischievous look returned to Daniel's face.  Still carrying her, he stepped away from the wall and approached one of the bunks.  He bent and laid her down on the foot of the bed, legs hanging over the edge.  He knelt between her thighs and ran his hands up her ribs to find her breasts.  A pleasurable warmth flowed through her as he massaged her breasts gently, stimulating her nipples with his thumbs.  It felt even better when he leaned over, and took one erect nipple into his mouth, sucking and teasing it.  She moaned softly, arched her back and stretched her legs open wider in arousal.

 

Daniel gave the same attention to the other breast, while running one hand over her body, caressing every inch of skin he could reach.  Her breath was already coming in gasps when he lifted his head and leaned back on his heels between her legs.  He moved his hands to her inner thighs, and gently spread the lips of her sex, exposing the opening of her vagina.  He lowered his head, and touched the tip of his tongue to the bud of her clitoris.  The explosion of sensation that tore through her caused Samantha to arch her back in ecstasy, then tilt her pelvis upward, seeking more.

 

Daniel did not disappoint her.  Sam clutched the thin mattress and bed frame for support, as his tongue began to explore the moist slit, reaching into the tender opening.  Her pelvis began to twitch uncontrollably as her arousal mounted.  Abruptly, a powerful orgasm rocked through her, bringing with it a flow of hot juices.

 

Her parner sat back on his heels, and placed his hand over her sex, rubbing the clitoris with his thumb to coax every bit of pleasure from the sensitive spot.  While he watched her face, fiery aftershocks obliterated awareness of anything but her body's response. 

 

As the orgasm died away, she lay weak and spent, her limbs limp and useless.  Gasping, Sam thought that she could possibly die from this.  Rarely had she had a sexual experience so intense.  She thought about saying something, but it seemed that her brain was no longer connected to her tongue.

 

Daniel stood, bent over her and gathered her into his arms.  He lifted her up, and shifted her higher so that she lay completely on the mattress, a bit to one side.  He then lay down beside her on his side, snuggled in close.  Leaning on one elbow, he looked down into her face, and with one finger traced a line across her sweating forehead, and down her nose to her lips.

 

Sam was surprised to find that with only the touch of his finger, her nipples began to rise and harden again.  He leaned over to kiss her, his chest crushing one breast, while his hand strayed to the other.  As the kiss deepened, she pressed her chest upward, insisting on heightened contact.

 

Daniel levered himself up over her, shifting her so that she lay underneath him in the center of the bunk.  He lowered himself on top of her, and resumed the kiss.  She tasted her own salty flavour on his tongue.

 

He moved his face to nuzzle her neck, and whispered into her ear, "You are such a beautiful woman."  Her breath caught, and she tightened her arms around him.  Sam thought, --It's so good to hear that.  With all my focus on work, I sometimes forget about this part of being a woman.  And just hours ago I was thinking only about the serious disadvantages of it.  Of course, being a man didn't protect Daniel from Apophis' assault.--  She felt her heart expand with the sensation of Daniel's male weight resting on her, and his hardening organ pressing into her thigh.

 

All conscious thought was once again cut short when she felt Daniel push her knees apart with his legs, and position the very tip of his penis just touching her labia.  She already felt wide open, and needing him to enter her.  She tried to hold her body still when he began to move slightly, stroking her sex with his own, but the provocation was too great.  She began to wiggle back and forth, gripping his back, then his buttocks trying to draw him into her. 

 

Her desire became almost intolerable, and she was about to start begging, when he finally moved forward and let his penis slide into her vagina.  This time he entered her slowly, a little at a time, allowing the intensity to mount.  She stiffened under him, immobile, to feel every sensation of his progress within her.  When he had reached as deep into her has he could go, she moaned softly, and held him tighter.  He moved in and out in unhurried, luxurious strokes, as they savoured this basic joining of male and female.  He kissed her mouth, her jaw, her throat and kept up the slow, pounding, sensual rhythm.  She tenderly touched his hair, his face, his shoulders and arms, and wished that this could go on forever.

 

He may have had the same thought, then realised that they didn't have forever or even very long to enjoy each other, because he suddenly stopped, then began again with a faster, more intense motion.  While he moved roughly within her, seeking his own release, she felt herself building toward another climax.  As they rocked energetically together, she called out, "Oh god, Daniel!"  He let out a long, low groan, and she felt his hot seed shoot into her.  Moments later Sam came as well.  Their fingers dug into each other as the passion crested and passed.

 

In the afterglow they lay together, hot and sweating, motionless except for a soft nuzzling of their heads.  After a minute, a cool draught passed over them, bringing them back to awareness of where they were.  Daniel shifted himself off of Sam, to kneel on the floor beside the bunk.  He looked at her flushed face with a smile.  "Hey."

 

"Hey, yourself!  Daniel, that was amazing.  More than that.  There are no words."

 

"We aim to please, ma'am."

 

She leaned over and kissed him quickly on the lips.

 

Daniel held out his hand, and pulled her off the bunk.  They dropped hands and stood together while the blood flow stabilised through their bodies.  Finally Sam said, "Well I suppose we should get back to work."

 

"And we'd better make ourselves a little more presentable.  I've, um, got blood on you."  Some of the deeper cuts on his chest had torn open during their love making, and new rivulets were snaking over his skin.  Her belly also now bore several smears of red.

 

They continued their examination of the bunk room, and found stacks of leggings and tunics in one cabinet, and various emergency-type ration bars in another.  One of the small rooms off the entry hall was a cubicle with nozzles protruding from the three walls at knee height, waist height, and just over their heads.  Daniel said, "You know, I bet this is a shower.  Everyone in the universe needs to shower, right?"

 

"Some more than others," she replied significantly.

 

"But where's the on switch?"  Daniel stepped into the cubicle to look for a knob, and water began to spray instantly from all of the shower heads.  He stood there in the high pressure mist and said to Sam, "Oh thank goodness, it's hot.  I was just sure that these Jaffa were cold shower kinds of guys."

 

"Apparently not.  And have you noticed that this cubicle is pretty big for one, but not so big for two.  Maybe they have very friendly showers."

 

Steam began to thicken around the dripping man.  "Are you going to join me for a friendly shower, then?"

 

Sam slipped into the blessedly hot water next to her team mate.  He found a soap dispenser built into the wall, and began to lather his body.  As she watched him soap himself, Sam reflected that in this recent encounter, basically he had taken her.  She hadn't had the opportunity to explore his body or make love to him as she would have liked to, and wished for more time.

 

This train of thought surprised her, as she remembered how her relationship with Daniel had always been more like a big sister than anything else.  Well, this sudden desire to throw him down on the floor and straddle him right there wasn't very sisterly.

 

She continued to watch him as she washed her own hair and body.  He had to scrub at the dried blood on his chest, causing more sections of the cuts to break open.  Soon a stream of red was flowing into the drain.  When he turned to rinse in the spray, she saw a light red mark like a mild sunburn at the base of his neck, and three lines of bruises forming on his back that she hadn't noticed before.  She realized that they must be from when Apophis blasted him into the bars of the cage. 

 

A warm concern flowed through her, and then she smiled.  --That's it,-- she thought, --that bit where I worry about him and just want to protect him from anyone who would hurt him;  that's the look-out-for-little-brother part.  It's still there.--

 

As they stepped out of the shower and dried off with some rough towelling from a nook in the wall, she looked at Daniel's face.  He had evidently been doing some thinking of his own, because he had the crinkled forehead look she recognised from when his mind was working with something unpleasant.  Sam thought, --Daniel won't be worried about violating protocol, like I am, but maybe it's more complicated for him.  He's still a married man, and he's been thinking a lot about Sha're today.  I wonder if that's a problem for him?--

 

Sam pulled on a Jaffa tunic over Teal'c's T shirt - the smallest they could find was still large for her - and a pair of leggings.  They were so big at the waist that she had to roll them in several times to get them to stay up, but at least they were warm.  Daniel retrieved his own trousers, and chose a tunic for himself. 

 

Feeling much better clean and clothed, Sam put her hand on Daniel's arm, and said to him, "The reason they have regs against what we just did, is mostly because afterwards there can be weirdness that makes things difficult between people, or in a team.  We're not going to have any weirdness, are we?  I mean, this doesn't change anything between us, does it?  We'll be all right?"

 

She saw relief in his eyes as he answered, tapping one finger gently on the tip of her nose, "We'll always be all right, you and me.  We're friends."  He looked down at the floor, then back to her face, "But thank you for today, Sam.  It was great, and I really needed it."

 

She hugged him one last time, then helped him position a towel inside his shirt to catch the blood that was still seeping out.  They gathered up their accumulated goods, and headed back toward the flight deck.

 

***************************

 

As they came through the door, Jack barked,  "It's about time!  I was about to send out a search party.  What took you so long?"

 

They both began to speak excitedly, cutting into each others sentences.

 

"Sir, we found all kinds of interesting things,..."

 

"Like there's this weapons locker that you're going to love,..."

 

"And some of what all well dressed Jaffa are wearing this year,..."  She turned in a circle to model the lumpy, too large clothes.

 

"And hot showers!"

 

"Here, we brought a shirt for you, Teal'c, I hope it's big enough," Sam said as Daniel handed him a tunic.

 

"We found these ration bars, too,..."

 

"If they're horrible, we can look for a proper kitchen with real food."

 

"And did I mention the shower?"

 

"And bottled water,.."

 

Jack listened to them bable, and congratulated himself on sending them out exploring.  It obviously did them a world of good.  He hardly recognised them as the same people who left the room not long before.

 

Teal'c observed the pair's animation, and also their flushed faces and dilated pupils, which a hot shower couldn't fully explain.  He noticed how close they stood to each other, frequently bumping shoulders, and how often their glances met.  Teal'c drew the correct conclusion about their activities.  He raised his eyebrows and nodded his head in approval as the younger pair began to wind down.  Among his people, they didn't have rules against sexual intercourse between warriors, even though Jaffa warriors were all men.  They found that it could be a very therapeutic way to relieve tension before or after battles, which had obviously been the case here.

 

Sam continued,  "We found a bunk room as well as the armoury, but haven't gotten onto the other levels of the ship.  We could keep looking if you want, sir."  But a barely stifled yawn gave away the fact that the burst of energy was running out.

 

"Naw, that's enough for now.  We'll have plenty of time to tear this place apart after we get back.  That is, as long as there are no technical thingies that need doing?" he inquired of Teal'c.

 

"For short flights, the automated systems can be controlled from here.  There is nothing urgent to attend to."

 

"So why don't you guys get some rest.  How are the beds in there?  A good place to take a nap?"

 

Without looking at Sam, Daniel responded with a perfectly straight face, "Actually, I'd like to stay up here with you guys.  I've had enough of alien spaceships for one day."

 

"Me too, sir."

 

"Suit yourselves.  Teal'c says I'm almost trained up enough to fly this baby myself.   How about a dinner break, oh wise master?"

 

Daniel and Sam sat back down on the rear bench, and they all attacked the ration bars, which while not delicious, weren't horrible either. 

 

Jack returned to his lesson.  After a half an hour he pivoted to check on the others, and found them asleep again.  This time Daniel had his arm around Sam, and her head lying on his shoulder.  They looked relaxed and at ease, and a wave of satisfaction rose up in his chest.  --These kids are doing all right!--

 

 

 

PART THREE

 

Many hours later, SG1 stepped through the ring back into their home base.  General Hammond was standing at the bottom of the ramp flanked by a pair of armed guards.

 

"Colonel O'Neill!  It was a Tok'ra signal that came through, not SG1.  What happened?"

 

"It’s a long story, sir.  In fact, could I see you in your office?"

 

"Certainly.  The rest of you head up to the infirmary, and we'll debrief in one hour."

 

"Yes, sir."  As the other three ambled out the door, Jack follow the General into his office.

 

"What is it, Colonel?"

 

"Well, sir, to make a long story short, as soon as we got into Apophis' ship, all hell broke loose.  The Tok'ra who went with us were killed, and we got captured.  I wanted to talk to you because what happened next isn't your usual off world mission."  He stopped, unsure of how to continue.

 

"Go on, Jack.  I'm all ears."

 

"The thing is, Apophis was in a real nasty mood, as we generally expect him to be, and he was going on about how he was gonna torture and kill us.  But what he wanted to do to Carter and Daniel was, well, sexual.  It was ugly, sir, not like anything we've faced before.  They're both all right, thank god.  Obviously, we managed to escape.  But what I'm thinking about is the report we're gonna have to make on this.  Like about the details of what actually happened.  I'm thinking about how it might effect the two of them to have this floating around for everyone to read.  Do you think, General, that this could be handled on a need-to-know basis?  And maybe hardly anyone needs to know?"

 

"Are you sure your people are all right?"

 

"Yes, sir.  Of course Doc Fraiser would be in the loop on this, just in case."

 

"Colonel, how did you escape from Apophis?"

 

"It was Carter and Daniel.  I swear to god, I would nominate them both for commendations if it didn't mean explaining the whole thing.  They were fantastic.  The two of them took on Apophis, and beat him against overwhelming odds.  Killed him even.  Bare handed!  In fact, generally bare.  I'm extremely proud of them, sir."

 

"Well, I understand your preference for not having the details of this bandied about.  I want to be briefed fully on the matter by each of you, but that can be done verbally and in private.  You can leave the details out of your report."

 

Jack pumped his elbow, "Yes!  Thank you, sir!  I'd better go let them know.  Thanks, again, General!" and he was out the door.

 

General Hammond addressed the empty door frame, "Dismissed.  And it’s good to have you back."

 

***************************

 

Jack entered the examining room just after Doctor Fraiser had asked Daniel to take his shirt off.  He heard her say, "Daniel!  What happened to you?" and his reply, "Apophis."

 

O'Neill intervened, "Doc, could I talk to SG1 and you in private for a minute?"

 

"Certainly, Colonel."  She asked her assistants to wait outside, while Teal'c and Sam joined them in the examination bay.

 

Jack spoke to his team, "I've just talked to General Hammond, and he agrees that it isn't necessary for everyone to know the details about what happened on Apophis' ship.  He wants to talk to each of us, but it doesn't have to go into a report.  Not that I'm ordering you not to talk about it, I just thought you might like some privacy on this one.  Present company excepted,"  with a nod to the doctor.

 

Daniel spoke first, "Well, it’s a great relief to me, for one.  I mean, there are still some people who have trouble taking me seriously around here.  The last thing I need is for it to get around that I'm like Apophis' toy-boy or something."  The others stared at him.  "What?  Did you think I didn't know that term?" 

 

Jack shook his head and turned to the woman.  "Carter?"

 

She looked at the floor.  "Of course I'd prefer, um, not to have to go into this.  The less said the better."

 

Teal'c nodded in agreement.

 

Doctor Fraiser had been following the conversation with great interest and raised eyebrows.  "I take it that your encounter with Apophis was quite personal."

 

Sam and Daniel nodded.

 

She asked slowly, "Are you injured?  Is there any internal damage?"

 

Sam answered, "No.  Actually we're both fine.  It's Daniel who got knocked around the most.  What you can see there."

 

"That's good to hear.  OK, I understand the situation.  I'll see each of you myself, one at a time."

 

Jack spoke up, "Teal'c and me, we just had ring-side seats.  No one laid a glove on us.  We can just go through the normal routine."

 

"Fine, I'll get the staff.  I'll see Daniel first, in my office."  She looked Sam in the eyes, "Then we'll talk."  Sam nodded.

 

***************************

 

Jack had called a team meeting in his small office for 08:00.  At 07:45, Daniel stuck his head in.  "Can I come in?"

 

"Sure.  You're early."

 

Daniel stepped into the room and shut the door.  "I know.  I wanted to ask you something.  I'm meeting with General Hammond later this morning; he's going to want to hear about what happened.  But I was thinking that there's only so much I can tell him, because I don't actually know some of what happened.  I was unconscious."  Daniel raised his eyebrows, blushed, and took a step further into the room.  "Would you tell me?  I think I should know.  I mean, there are these,..."  He ran his fingers down his chest.

 

"Apophis did that with the tips of the ribbon device."   Jack answered without embellishment.

 

"OK, and what else.  Did he, um,..."

 

"No, no.  It wasn't all that much."  Jack shifted uncomfortably in his chair.  "He kissed you a bit.  I guess he felt you up a bit.  But he stopped before it got, like, really bad.  Don't worry."

 

Daniel looked relieved.  Then he asked, "Why?"

 

"Why what?"

 

"Why did he stop?"

 

"Oh, that was my brilliant intervention.  I was trying to distract him away from you, which I guess worked, but it so didn't work otherwise.  He didn't go for me, which was my plan.  He went back for Carter.  Brilliant.  Like a hole in the head."

 

Daniel sat down facing his friend.  "So he was going to...rape me.  And you tried to get him to rape you instead.  Why?  That's not progress."

 

"What?  Do you want me to let him get on with it next time?"

 

"No, I'm really glad you stopped him.  Really.  Thank you, and I mean that.  And I understand the impulse.  When I saw him touching Sam that way,... I would have done anything....  It's just that, if I had woken up to find he'd done something like that to you in my place, well, it would have been hard for me to take.  You don't deserve that any more than I do.  Any more than Sam does.  Jack, don't think you're less important."

 

Jack leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face with his hands.  "Thank you for saying that, Daniel.  But you should know that that's the way I'm built.  I'd do it again."

 

Daniel just looked at him in silence and nodded.  They sat together quietly for the next few minutes until Sam and Teal'c came into the room.

 

***************************

 

After Sam had settled into another chair beside Daniel, and Teal'c onto the edge of a table behind them, O'Neill began.  "I've called this meeting because we need to talk.  I don't want to make a big major issue out of it, but this last mission wasn't like any we've been on before.  Some serious things happened that we should face as a team, and make sure everything is cleared that needs to be.  So I want to know where each of you are.  I want everything said that needs to be said.  This is just between us; we just need to be ready to go out again the next time we're given an assignment.  So who wants to go first?"

 

As silence descended over the room, Sam was sure that he was talking about her.  She was afraid that having their female team member mauled and nearly raped was going to be a big discussion point.  She was about to open her mouth to try to play down the incident, when Teal'c stood and spoke.

 

"Colonel O'Neill," he began, not looking at anyone, but staring at a point on the wall behind them.  "I performed inadequately on this mission, and I wish to apologize.  I should have foreseen the possibility of discovery aboard Apophis' ship, and planned for such an eventuality.  I allowed you to walk into the trap of one of the most dangerous entities known to us, and was then unable to procure your freedom.  I will endeavour to fulfil my responsibilities with more skill in the future."  He finished speaking, and a surprised silence followed.

 

Finally, Daniel addressed the large man.  "Teal'c, I've noticed that you've been bothered by something since we got back.  I'm sorry, but what you just said doesn't really explain it for me.  Nobody can foresee the future, and even if you could, it doesn't mean you can control it.  You know that as well as anybody.  Is that really all that's on your mind?"

 

Teal'c remained mute, his forehead creasing into a scowl.  Still looking at that point on the wall, a struggle arose and was resolved within him.  After a moment, he took a deep breath and as he exhaled, his shoulders dropped.  Looking at Daniel, he said, "It is difficult to speak about."

 

Daniel nodded and maintained eye contact with him.  Teal'c continued, "Since I have been with the SGC, I have made every attempt to put the past behind me.  I tell myself that I have begun a new life, and I look forward to reaching our goal of defeating the Goa'uld.  This event,... it forces me to face the truth about myself."  He swallowed, and compelled himself to continue, looking once again at the wall.  "I served Apophis as a warrior and then First Prime for many years.  I watched,... no, I assisted Apophis to capture and torture many prisoners.  For most of that time, what he asked of me, I did, with little or no feeling.  I helped him to restrain or incapacitate his victims, and then often provided the audience for his subsequent torments.  I watched him use dozens of people for his own sexual gratification.  I saw how he abused the women, and how he was even more violent and perverse with the men.  I watched, and I did nothing.  Now I have been given the ultimate punishment for my quiescence.  I have been forced to watch as he inflicted this torture on my friends, people for whom my feelings are strong, and I was unable to do anything."  He stopped, and emotion played across his face.  "I can not make amends for what I have allowed to happen.  Most of those people are now dead, while Apophis is alive to continue his evil deeds.  And still I have done nothing."

 

He fell silent, and leaned again on the edge of the table, his eyes lowered.

 

After a moment, Jack stood and climbed up to sit on the back of his chair, feet on the seat.  Now eye level with Teal'c, he spoke to him mildly, "You know that there's nothing I can do or say to change what's happened to you in the past, but I think you had the right idea by looking forward.  I don't think you can say that you've done nothing.  Against all your training, you questioned what was going on, and eventually turned on Apophis and joined us.  Now all your skill and knowledge is being put to good use fighting against the Goa'uld.  That's definitely doing something.  And as for what just happened, I seem to remember you being a big part of the reason we're sitting here alive now.  It was you who talked the Jaffa out of killing us, and got us out of there and home.  This was a small defeat for Apophis, and my hope is that we'll all be there to see him go down for good.  When that happens, it'll be partly because of you.  Hold on to that thought."  Teal'c nodded his acceptance of O'Neill's words.

 

"Which reminds me of something I wanted to ask you, Daniel,"  Jack continued.  "First of all, how did you manage to avoid getting captured for so long?"

 

"Mostly luck, I guess.  Though I suppose when you're trying to hide, it helps to read the native language, so you can duck into a broom closet instead of a guard room.  Jaffa tend to run around in big groups that you can hear coming way ahead of time, but they caught me when a couple of them came through a door just as I was sneaking past it.  I was looking for you guys, but I didn't know where you were, and that was a big ship."

 

"And what you said about having sabotaged the sarcophagus?  What was that?"

 

"I came across the sarcophagus room by accident and hid in it for a while.  I've learned a thing or two watching you guys, you know, so I thought I'd try to do some damage.  I found a kind of access panel, and pulled out some things like circuit boards and broke them up.  I don't know how damaged it was, but the lid wouldn't open.  I thought later that it might have been a stupid idea, because one of us might have needed it, but it worked out okay."

 

"Very clever."  Jack then continued more seriously,  "Listen, there's something I have to say to you about what happened there at the end, in the hallway, when you just announced that you weren't coming with us.  Daniel, don't do that again.  We come in as a team, we go out as a team.  That's it.  No big discussions in the middle of an escape.  Got it?"

 

Daniel sat up straighter and fired back at Jack, "No.  You can't say that.  We all know that there are more important things at stake than an individual, and that any one of us may have to die for something we believe in.  For me that includes Sha're."

 

"I understand that, but we're a unit, and I'm commander of that unit, and I decide if that kind of sacrifice is necessary.  I do.  You already know that I can make that decision when I have to.  I don't want to have to worry about you, any of you," he glanced at Teal'c, "going off on a private revenge thing.  That's not how we work, is it?"

 

Daniel pouted, "No."

 

"So you understand me."

 

"I understand you."  There was a 'but...' hanging in the air.

 

"Good."

 

O'Neill kept looking at Daniel, waiting, but his expression softened.  Daniel returned his gaze for a minute, then looked away.

 

Eventually, he sighed and said, "Having to be there with Apophis, hearing him talk about Sha're, was one of the hardest things I've done.  I felt that she was so close, but I couldn't reach her.  I feel her close now, but I can't touch her."  He looked up at his friends, "Sometimes I feel like I'll go crazy if I think about what she's going through."

 

Sam reached over and squeezed his hand.  Their eyes held for a moment, then Daniel sighed again, "That's all.  I'm fine."

 

The room was quiet again, and Sam could feel Colonel O'Neill looking at her.  She felt confused.  The others were being so open.  Could she do the same?  She began, "I'm all right, you know.  It's nothing,... I don't,..."  --want to talk about it.--  She stopped, and her mind flicked to the conversation she'd had with Janet the day before.

 

***************************

 

In her office, the doctor had examined Sam, seen the marks on her body, and heard the details of what had happened.   Janet sat down across from her, and said gently, "That was a terrible experience.  Even knowing it could happen doesn't prepare you for it."

 

"No."

 

"And now you're worried, aren't you."

 

Sam looked surprised.

 

"You're worried about what the others, especially Colonel O'Neill, will think of you.  Am I right?"

 

Sam bit her top lip and nodded.

 

Janet continued, "Try to trust them, Samantha.  Don't hide from them.  Try to trust that they can really see you, not just a vulnerable woman, not just Apophis' victim.  Remember that they care about you.  If you don't, this will come between you."

 

***************************

 

Back in Jack's office, Sam wanted to take up that challenge.  But what to say?

 

She took a deep breath, and her nose crinkled in effort.  "OK, what Apophis did to me has shaken me up.  I've never had... anything like this... happen to me before.  Really, I'm all right about it.  I'm not going to have any scars, physical or emotional, from the actual... thing.  It's that I feel like I failed.  I'm a soldier; I should have been able to protect myself.  Apophis... used the fact that I'm a woman against me.  And I couldn't stop him.  And you all saw it....  And that's hard."  She fell silent again.

 

It was Teal'c who responded to her first.  "Captain Carter, as Daniel Jackson pointed out to me earlier, it is not possible to control everything that happens.  Even the mightiest warrior can be overpowered by a greater force, and there is no disgrace in that.  It is Apophis who should be ashamed of his actions, not you."

 

Daniel gave her a warm smile.   He didn't need to say anything for her to feel his support.

 

O'Neill stood up and moved around to stand behind his chair.  When Sam met his eyes, he spoke, "Its funny, you said about feeling powerless.  All of you did in a way, and I could tell you how useless I was.  But the overwhelming reaction I have to this episode is of being impressed with all of you.  Especially you, Carter."  He stopped and gathered his thoughts.  "What he did to you was unforgivable."   His face reddened with anger.  "I plan to make him pay for it, too.  But you...never gave an inch.  You held strong against him the whole time, and the second you got the opportunity, wham, you got right in there and let him have it.  I've never seen anyone perform better under such extreme conditions." 

 

He turned to the younger man, "You too, Daniel.  Do you two realise that you took out Apophis virtually barehanded, with everything against you?  You did it because you kept your heads, and worked together.  I told General Hammond, and I'll tell you, I think you both deserve medals.  Do you agree, Teal'c?"

 

"Indeed."  Teal'c smiled as he nodded.

 

"And the way you both recovered from it so quickly is well beyond anything I would have expected.  Maybe I'm going overboard with the praise thing, but I want you to know," he looked at Carter, "that I'm proud to have you on my team."

 

Sam grinned at him, "Thank you, sir."

 

Jack looked at the three people in front of him with satisfaction. 

 

--Yeah, we're back.  We’re bad.  And we’ll be kickin’ that snakehead bastard’s butt next time!--

 

 

THE END

 

 

Please send feedback!

 

 

 

Home      Stargate Gen       Stargate Adult      Sentinel Gen       Sentinel Adult