Title:  Unwanted Attention
Author:  Joolz
Feedback: If you like J [email protected]

Status: Complete
Category:  GEN/HET, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Rating:  NC17

Pairing:  (While there is a little Sam/Daniel, this isn’t a ship story as in a romantic relationship.)

Spoilers:  Light references to Season 1 and 2
Season/Sequel info:  AU Season 2 / Third in the series:  ‘Loosely Bound’, after Surprise Encounters and The Things We Do but each can be read as stand-alone with no problems.

Summary:  Friend and foe alike take a little too much interest in the team. 

Content Warnings:  Violence, m/f and m/m non-con situations, graphic m/f sex
Disclaimer:  Not my lovely characters, just playing with them.

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

 

UNWANTED ATTENTION

 

P4Z-103 looked like your basic sort of planet.  Earthlike, meaning lots of trees and blue sky.  The MALP showed a standard clearing in front of the Stargate.  The UAV revealed the presence of the ubiquitous temple and domestic structures not too far away, with signs of habitation.  The same as a dozen other worlds.

 

The team stepped out of the shimmering event horizon into the warm sunlight of this alien morning.  The clearing around the Stargate was calm, with a thick border of trees circling the edge, and the four travelers walked down a few low steps to the gravelly plane.

 

Colonel Jack O'Neill drawled with his usual bored inflection, "All right, people, by the book.  Teal'c, Carter, you scout the perimeter, then we'll head toward the buildings.  Heads up in case you meet the natives."  The two nodded, and moved off to the right towards the border of trees.

 

Jack stood at the base of the steps looking around, weapon cradled in the crook of his arm.  It looked peaceful enough, but something felt wrong.  He couldn't quite place it, though.  Daniel Jackson took a few steps forward into the clearing, floppy hat shading his eyes from the sun.  Jack said to him, "Daniel, stick close for a minute."

 

The young archaeologist turned, and started to voice the question, "Why?  What's...?" when his eyes suddenly grew wide.   He shouted, "Jack!" and pointed behind his commanding officer.

 

Jack spun around, and through the circle of the Stargate saw several armed Jaffa warriors emerge from the undergrowth at the tree line.  Shifting instantly into combat mode, Jack dropped to the ground, sheltering behind the steps, as he shouted, "Take cover!" and glanced over to the other two team members, who had just reached the edge of the clearing.  Several more Jaffa armed with staff weapons moved forward, trying to surround the pair, who crouched together and began to fire on the approaching hostiles.  The Colonel looked over at Daniel in time to see him reach for the sidearm attached to his leg and take one step backward.  The ground beneath him disappeared, and he fell abruptly out of sight.  It was a trap.

 

O'Neill had no time to think, as Jaffa warriors began to emerge from several other parts of the tree line.  They obviously had a well planned ambush waiting for the travelers, and moved in confidently.  Jack ran crouching toward the gaping hole, firing around him in all directions, except toward where Teal'c and Carter were making their stand.  Jaffa armor is effective, and even at close range few shots were hitting home.  He threw himself flat onto the ground at the edge of the pit as a staff weapon blast passed inches over his head.  He rolled onto his back to maintain a better firing position, roared "Daniel!", and twisted his head around to peer briefly downward.  

 

The archaeologist was standing in a deep pit, one hand braced against the side wall, the other holding his Beretta ready.  He called out, "Jack, I can't get out."

 

Rolling onto his stomach to fire over the top of the trap, he called back, "Stay down!  Make yourself a small target."  Jack was losing confidence, however, that such strategies would make any difference.  The team was massively outnumbered, separated, and had no line of retreat.  The good thing was that the enemy didn't appear to be shooting to kill.  He saw that Teal'c and Carter had been surrounded by four warriors, but were engaged in hand to hand combat.  And he himself was certainly an exposed target. 

 

These bits of information barely had time to register when he rolled over again, only to find an enormous warrior standing over him.  An immense foot came down on the barrel of his P-90, pinning it to the ground.  At the same time, he saw on the edge of his field of vision another heavily armored man lean over the edge of the trap and fire a zat gun downward.  He heard a muffled cry, and looked up into the end of another zat.  The world exploded briefly with light and pain, then went dark.

 

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

 

There was definitely someone sitting on his chest.  That's why he couldn't breathe.  Daniel's perception of circumstances was hazy at best as he moved back toward consciousness.  No, it wasn't someone sitting on his chest, he had been buried alive.  That was why there was dirt in his mouth.  As he opened his eyes, he realized that it wasn't either of those things.  He was lying face down on the ground, bound hands digging into his ribs under his own weight.  He groaned as he lifted his head, and spat out the soil that had worked its way into his mouth.  Sputtering several times, gulping deep breaths in between, he turned his head to see how bad the situation was. 

 

Bad enough.  Jack was lying beside him, face up (lucky bastard), with his hands similarly bound.  They were in a primitive room consisting of four plain stone walls, period.  Of course, neither of them had weapons, vests or packs anymore.  An armored man stood in the doorway, head covered by a large helmet topped with a sharply beaked bird head.  A Horus guard.

 

Keeping an eye on the guard, Daniel began to push himself up.  The man in the doorway responded by moving his feet apart, and bringing his staff weapon down to train it directly on the Earth man.  Daniel tensed, expecting the blast to hit, but the guard simply stood motionless in that alert position.  Daniel continued to ease himself to his knees, bringing his hands up in a submissive posture.  Slowly, he inched over toward his friend, and grabbed a handful of Jack's jacket.  Shaking him, he said,  "Hey, Jack.  Come on now, care to join me here?"

 

O'Neill's eyes flew open.  Daniel said, looking down into his face, "It's Heru'ur's people who have us.  I haven't seen Sam or Teal'c."

 

Jack winced, and growled back, "Thanks for the report.  And yes, I'm fine, nice of you to ask."

 

Jack rolled stiffly onto his side and struggled to his knees as well.  He gave the enclosure a professional survey and frowned.  "Well, there's only one guard.  Might be a chance there."

 

The guard straightened further, seeming to grow in stature even more, and barked one menacing word at the pair.   Jack didn't understand the language, and looked to the linguist for an explanation.

 

"He says shut up." 

 

Jack nodded, and they knelt in silence for a while.

 

Daniel thought he might as well try to do something constructive, so he cleared his throat and addressed their captor in the Goa’uld language.  "There may have been some misunderstanding.  We are peaceful explorers..."  The guard centered his weapon on Daniel Jackson once more, and repeated his previous command.  Daniel tried again,  "If we could just speak to someone in authority, I'm sure that we could..."

 

Lightning flared along the head of the staff weapon as it was adjusted to active mode.  Beside him, Jack interjected softly, "For crying out loud, do what the man says."

 

"So we'll just sit here and wait for...whatever?"

 

"Looks that way.  Just don't make him angry in the meantime."

 

The figure looming in the doorway growled, and they fell silent.

 

After a few minutes, Daniel said quietly, “Sorry.”

 

“For what?”

 

“For falling in a hole again.”

 

“Not your fault…this time.” 

 

It was a running joke, but this time Daniel didn’t feel like laughing.

 

As they knelt there, Daniel’s thoughts turned to Teal’c and Sam.  Where were they?  If they’d been captured, they would probably be here now.  That only left two options.  Either they had escaped, or the unthinkable.  Definitely not thinkable, so they must have escaped.  He looked at the focused expression on the face of the man next to him, and thought, --Jack will figure something out.  I know he will.  I hope he will.--

 

They waited several long minutes, then heard the sound of activity outside.  O’Neill, who had been working unobtrusively at the cords binding his hands, tensed, readying himself for action.  A voice called out, and the guard stepped into the room, to one side of the door.  Four more  men entered.  One of them, a grubby man in a Guard uniform, with a florid complexion, approached the pair, and barked at them in the Jaffa language, “On your feet, spies!”

 

Daniel responded, “We’re  not spies.  We’re peaceful….”  The man’s hand swung out and crashed into the side of his head, knocking him to the ground.  A gash had opened up along the archaeologist’s jaw line where the gloved hand struck, causing a trickle of blood to run into his neckline.

 

Jack bit back an expletive.

 

Daniel told him from the floor, “He wants us to get up.  Thinks we’re spies.”

 

The older man climbed stiffly to his feet and faced the newcomer.  Daniel followed, silently this time.

 

The man moved from one to the other, looking them over.  In the same guttural tongue,  he asked the air between them, “Why do you aid these rebels?  You will all be destroyed by the might of the Great God Heru’ur for your insolence.  What god do you serve?”

 

Jack spoke to Daniel, “Just translate for me.”

 

The younger man did, then Jack responded, “We’re not involved with any rebels.  We didn’t know there was any conflict on this planet, we don’t serve any god and aren’t on anyone’s side.  We defended ourselves because your people attacked us.”

 

When Daniel’s soft voice translated this for their interrogator, the man’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at each of them again.  He demanded, “Tell me where the rebel slaves are hiding, and I may spare your lives.”

 

To this Jack replied calmly, “We just walked through the Stargate.  You’re the first person we’ve spoken to, and a pleasure it’s been, too.  We’ll be glad to walk right back out and leave you to your little squabble.”

 

Daniel looked a question at him, and got the answer, “You know what to say.”

 

After Daniel had spoken, the man turned to the others and announced,  “This one,” pointing to O’Neill, “is the leader.  I don’t think they know anything of interest.  They’re not important, just more human slaves.”

 

When Daniel started to translate again, he was silenced with a threatening gesture.  The Guard continued, “So we might as well have a little fun.”

 

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

 

Jack, who hadn’t understood the exchange, watched as the man stepped up to Daniel, staring him in the face.  Reaching a dirt smudged hand out, he lifted the hat from where it had fallen at the back of Daniel’s neck and pulled it over his head, freeing the string from his throat.  He looked it over, sniffed it, crumpled it up, and dropped it on the floor.  The man then took hold of Daniel’s glasses, and slid them off his nose.  Without much interest, eyes locked on Daniel’s face, he dropped the glasses on the floor as well.

 

Observing the greedy cast to the guy’s features, Jack was becoming nervous about where this all was heading.  He tried to interject, “Hey, now.  We could…”

 

Without warning, the Guard’s left hand extended straight out, and landed a powerful blow right between Jack’s eyes.  O’Neill was spun around before he hit the ground with a loud thud, and lay still.  Seeing stars, he could just follow what was going on, while he waited for his motor functions to return. 

 

The Guard motioned two others forward to restrain Daniel, as he attempted to move to Jack’s aid.  The  hostile group’s apparent leader then drew a knife from his belt, and held it up before the archaeologist’s face.  Daniel’s frown deepened.  The man lowered the knife, and in one smooth motion cut the cords tying Daniel’s hands.  He then grabbed the shoulders of the SGC jacket, and pushed it back and off his arms.  Daniel’s face blanched as the other man ran his hand over the smooth curves of his pectorals. 

 

From his position on the floor, Jack thought, --Oh, no, not this again.  Been here.  Done this.  No way is that goon getting his hands on my Daniel!--

 

He struggled to his feet, though the ground was still doing a roller coaster impression.  Jack was just about to make a move when the other beat him to it by shouting a command to the guards.  All the Jaffa quickly surrounded the Earth men, and shoved them through the door into an open courtyard.  

 

The group passed through several similar enclosures, moving deeper into the temple complex, before entering a large two storey chamber where dozens more warriors and guards waited, standing in informal groups.  The men broke off their conversations, and turned to look at the new arrivals.

 

The Guard who had been in charge so far said something, and several others moved forward.   From their costume, though they weren’t wearing headpieces, Jack took them to also be Horus Guards, higher rank than the regular Jaffa warriors watching from behind them.  They crowded around the pair, rudely looking them over and fingering their clothes, carrying on a discussion at the same time.  Jack tried to edge as close to his teammate as possible.  Judging by the look on Daniel’s face, Jack concluded that what they were saying wasn’t good.  Daniel kept trying to interrupt, but got back only light punches or slaps.  Jack called to him, “Daniel, what is it?”

 

His friend looked back at him with an alarmed expression.  “Um, they’re arguing about who gets to… um…”

 

One of the crowd spoke to the assembled warriors, two of whom stepped forward and moved to flank Colonel O’Neill.  Each one grabbed an arm, and roughly pulled Jack out of the circle of Guards and nearer to the wall.  They pushed him to his knees, wrists still tied in front, and locked their hands around his shoulders, pulling his upper arms back, effectively immobilizing him.  He could see the unruly men move in closer to his friend.  He shouted, “Daniel!”  but thought,   --And then what?  What can I say to him now?--

 

He heard the familiar voice respond, “Jack!”

 

The men were becoming more aggressive, shoving each other and shouting, with Daniel caught in the middle.  Jack saw one of them punch Daniel in the face, sending him reeling back to be caught by the Guard standing behind him.  The others laughed or bellowed louder.  Daniel was shoved forward again, to be caught by another, who swung a blow into his stomach, causing him to gasp and stumble.  Hands reached out, grasped his T-shirt, and ripped it off in one violent motion.  Another cry went up, and as one the men began to crowd around their captive.  Jack caught a glimpse of his friend’s horrified expression, just before he disappeared under the onslaught.  A couple of the men dragged Daniel to the floor, and fell on top of him. 

 

Jack began to fight against his captors, trying to knock one of them off balance by throwing his weight first to one side, then the other.  The solid figures didn’t even budge.  One of them took out a knife, held it to Jack’s throat, and yelled something into his face.  Jack took it to mean, ‘Stop it or else.’  He stopped it, but held himself ready to act.

 

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

 

Daniel found himself unceremoniously dumped onto his back on the floor.  Bulky figures grabbed his arms and legs, stretched them out spread eagle, and pinned him down with their weight.  They, and others who gathered around, began to run their hands over Daniel’s body, pinching, squeezing, and occasionally punching whatever parts they were near to, laughing and talking all the while.  One man’s head bent down to his abdomen, and he felt a bite into his skin like the guy was trying to get his teeth around Daniel’s last rib.  Another leaned in and bit into the flesh just above his collar bone. 

 

Daniel struggled to free his arms or legs, but couldn’t move for the weight of the men on top of him.  Several of them jostled for access, hands grabbing, and he thrashed as much as he could, head rocking and torso heaving.  Scared, he cried out desperately in English, “NO!  STOP IT!” to no effect.  One of the attackers grabbed his hair and forced his head to one side to expose more of his throat. 

 

As his head was slammed over, his wide blue eyes locked with the angry gaze of his friend, held restrained not far away.   Even as the thug began to lick the vulnerable skin of Daniel’s neck, a shock like an electric current passed between him and Jack, and held.  The moment seemed to freeze in time, and the rest of the room dropped away, as Daniel seized the lifeline that Jack’s brown eyes offered him.  In reality it was only seconds later that contact was broken, when Daniel suddenly arched his spine, threw his head back and cried out in pain as a fist dug into his groin.

 

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

 

The bodies had parted for just a moment, allowing Jack to see his colleague’s face.  His heart dropped into his stomach,  --My God, the look in his eyes!  He’s so scared!--  Jack would have gladly died right then to spare Daniel from this attack.  He willed his thoughts to reach across the room, --Daniel!  Hold on!--  An instant later, he saw his friend react to excruciating pain, and then the bodies closed the space again.  Jack could once more only catch glimpses of what was taking place.  It was all happening so fast, he almost couldn’t take it in, his sense of unreality growing.  He felt nauseous and desperate having to watch this and not be able to stop it.

 

Suddenly, a shout sounded from the main doorway, and the men in the room froze in place for a moment.  The warriors, who had been avidly following the proceedings from the sidelines, quickly moved back and stood at attention.  All the Guards except those actively holding Daniel down stood, straightened their uniforms, and hurriedly moved into formation in front of the door.

 

Jack saw a figure nearly seven feet tall step fully into the room, flanked by four other Guards.  The large, broad shouldered man also bore a tattoo on his forehead outlining a hawk head.  It was a dark tattoo, not that of First Prime, but he was obviously of high caste, nevertheless.  He shouted a question at the assembled Guards, one of whom, the first hostile they had met, answered emphatically.  Even though Jack didn’t speak the language, he understood the gist of it.  The officer wanted to know what they thought they were doing, and the other was explaining, no doubt to his own advantage.

 

After the account had gone on for some minutes, the Guard was silenced by a shouted command.  The large man moved into the room, stopping to look down at the prisoner on the floor.  Jack could tell that Daniel, whom he could see more clearly now, was consciously trying to pull himself together.  He was still breathing heavily, and his smooth bare chest showed signs of abuse: red marks, trickles of blood and new bruises.

 

The head Guard looked briefly at Jack, then turned to the others and began to shout.  Among his words, Jack could make out  “Tau’ri”.  This one had finally recognized them, but Jack didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  He did harbor a hope, though, that the officer might favor some more civilized form of torture than what his underlings had been engaged in.  As the man approached him, however, and Jack saw the hate and derision on his face, that hope died.  He bent and spat several words into Jack’s face.  Jack couldn’t tell if it was a question, or an offensive statement, so he just generally glared back in return.

 

Daniel, still pinned down on the floor, began to speak rapidly, his voice an octave higher than usual.  Despite his situation, he was still trying to be persuasive, Jack had to give him credit.  The Guard straightened up, and walked back to the prone man’s feet.  He shouted the ‘shut up’ command, which Daniel of course ignored.  He motioned to the man holding Daniel’s left arm, who responded by leaning on the bend of his elbow with one knee.  Daniel yelped, and went quiet.  Jack could see that he was getting ready to try one more time, when the Guard shouted down at him again. 

 

The whole room was silent, and the high Guard began to pace up and down, glaring at his underlings as much as at the captives.  After a minute, he came to a stop below Daniel’s feet.  He turned to look hard at Jack a moment, then swung back to look down at Daniel.  Gradually his demeanor changed, a decision made.  His body relaxed and the scowl on his face was replaced by a malevolent grin.  He squatted down and spoke softly, tauntingly, to Daniel, whose face fell and began to look hopeless. 

 

Things were not going well.  Jack shouted, knowing the other probably couldn’t understand him,  “Hey, big shot!  Why don’t you come over here, and we’ll have a little talk?  I’m sure there are lots of things you want to ask me that I won’t tell you.  We could start up a nice friendship.  Have a cup of tea. What do you say?”

 

The Guard swiveled without standing up, and gave Jack a biting look.  He spoke a word, and one of the Jaffa holding Jack bent and delivered a powerful uppercut to Jack’s chin, smashing his teeth together, and slamming his head back.  Jack must have blacked out for a minute, because when he could see again, the scene in front of him had changed, and not for the better.

 

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

 

Daniel heard Jack call out trying to distract the high Guard, saying anything that came to him.  He peered around someone’s back in time to see one of the guards hit Jack, way too hard.  Jack’s head rebounded forward, and his whole frame sagged limply.  Jack was unconscious; Daniel was alone now.

 

His new tormentor obviously wanted things arranged his own way.  He shouted an order, and a warrior trotted out of the room and returned with a wooden stake and a length of leather rope.  He ordered the men restraining Daniel away, and grabbed his wrists himself, wrapping the cord firmly around and between them.  He then attached it to the stake, which he pounded into the dirt floor with his heavy booted foot.  He then moved around Daniel, grabbed his feet and pulled his body away from the stake, stretching his arms out above his head.  He knelt over the prisoner’s legs, his own massive thighs holding them immobile, and rested there taking satisfaction in the arrangement.

 

Daniel thought about trying to talk to the man looming over him again, but knew it wouldn’t do any good.  This man wasn’t going to hear him.  He thought,  --I’ll just have to see this through.  I can do this.--  He didn’t quite manage to convince himself, but there wasn’t any other option.

 

The Guard leaning over him began to stroke the contours of his neck, shoulders and chest.  He leaned down, putrid breath pouring over Daniel’s face, and sunk his teeth into the base of his throat.  Daniel winced as he felt the skin break again.  These guys really went for it.  Didn’t bode well.

 

Hands splayed out across his chest, the large man shifted farther back down Daniel’s legs.  He took a knife from his belt, and smiling lasciviously, lowered it to Daniel’s left hip.  Grabbing the waist band of his fatigues, the large man slid the knife underneath, and began to cut the cloth of his trousers and shorts in a line down the side of his leg.  Daniel couldn’t bear to watch this, so he closed his eyes and turned his face away.  When he opened them again, he could see Jack.  His friend’s head was still hanging loosely, but his eyes were open, looking at him.  Damn.  Everybody in the room was looking at him, actually.

 

As the Guard worked his way down the leg, he had to shift to kneel on Daniel’s ankle in order to finish the cutting, exposing part of the firm flesh at the hip and thigh.  He replaced the blade at his belt, straddled Daniel’s legs again, and smiling broadly, slid his hand under the torn fabric and into Daniel’s groin.  He fondled, squeezed, pulled and pinched the delicate genitals, watching the reaction on his victim’s face.  Even though he was trying not to show his feelings, Daniel felt himself pale, and his face contort with humiliation and pain.  He thought he might throw up, but by now was past caring.

 

Anyhow, it was evidently working for his attacker, as he had begun to show clear signs of arousal.  Abruptly, he slid off the restrained legs, reached out, and flipped Daniel over onto his stomach.  Leaning over the prone body, he reached up, ran his fingers under the long hair, and pushed Daniel’s face into the floor, exposing the back of his neck.  He began to kiss and bite down the spinal column, sometimes drawing blood, until he reached the indentation at the top of Daniel’s buttocks.  He finished pulling the fabric away towards the side that wasn’t cut, and began massaging the cheeks with both hands.

 

Lying face down, arms stretched above his head, Daniel couldn’t see anything past his own biceps.  Just as well, since there wasn’t anything he wanted to look at anyway.  He could feel what was happening plainly enough.  The tears he had been holding back began to seep out of his eyes.  --Oh, god, just let it be over.--

 

The hands left his rear, and there was a rustling of metallic fabric, part of the Guard’s uniform.  Daniel could imagine only too clearly.  There was a low moan behind him, and the hands returned to his butt.  His whole body was tense; bound hands knotted into fists, forehead pressing into the floor.  --Oh, god.--  His usually complex and elegant mind had withdrawn into a small, cold box of fear.

 

So he didn’t hear the blast when it happened.  All he noticed was that the full weight of his attacker suddenly landed on top of him, squeezing the air violently out of his lungs.  When he was able to draw a small breath, there was a sickly sweet smell of burning human flesh in his nostrils.  --What the..?--   There was the sound of gunfire, too.

 

He didn’t have much chance to figure things out, because now there really was someone sitting on his chest.  Worse, the dead weight of a very large man was stretched out along the full length of his body.  His diaphragm couldn’t shift all that mass in order to pull air into his lungs.  He was suffocating.  --Have to do something!--  He tried to roll, and couldn’t budge.  He angled his elbows toward each other, and pushed up with his arms using all his strength.  That worked a little.  His chest rose up enough so that he could gulp in several quick breaths before his arms gave out.  But a dull pain in his hip that he had only been dimly aware of suddenly became much worse.  A cutting pain.  He realized that it must be the knife at the Guard’s belt, slicing into him.  --Great, if  I move so I can breathe, I drive a knife further in.  What a choice.--  Actually, oxygen deprivation won out quickly, and he heaved himself up again gulping air and grimacing with pain and effort.  Then, slam, back down he went.

 

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

 

Jack was still foggy from the uppercut, so he didn’t believe it, even though he saw it.  A staff weapon blast tore across the room and opened a gaping hole in the back of the son of a bitch leaning over Daniel.  The bastard fell, and then there were more blasts, followed closely by rifle fire, raining down on the Jaffa.  They had been completely absorbed by the spectacle, and were slow in reacting, so several fell dead before the others started to move.  It was Teal’c.  Teal’c and Carter, had to be.  Yup, there they were on the upper veranda to Jack’s right.  Talk about your good,.. no, excellent,.. no, stupendous timing!  This was really happening!

 

A bullet tore through the throat of the startled warrior holding Jack’s right side, and he fell heavily in front of O’Neill in a spray of blood.  The other one dropped his hold, and sprinted off toward a doorway somewhere to their left.  Didn’t make it, though.  Good riddance.  Jack sheltered behind the fallen body of the guard, and searched him quickly for a weapon, found a zat gun strapped to his leg.  Now armed, Jack began to fire on the retreating figures in front of him.  Fish in a barrel.  Except some of them had gotten it together, and were now firing back.  Carter and Teal’c had good cover behind the veranda wall, but Jack was a bit exposed.  The Jaffa who had been holding him down didn’t seem nearly so big now that he was the only cover in sight.  And Daniel!  He was completely invisible under that giant of a Guard. 

 

He saw a struggle of motion coming from beneath the fallen enemy, and shouted, “Daniel, stay where you are!  Don’t move!”  The kid would be a sitting duck if he managed to free himself.   He didn’t know if the other had heard him, but the movement stopped abruptly.

 

With their leader dead, the Jaffa were slow to organize, but organize they did.  After exchanging fire with the SG team for several minutes, they withdrew through the main door, probably to regroup.

 

O’Neill eased himself out of his crouch, and checked out the room.  It looked clear.  He began to move carefully toward Daniel’s position.  “Carter!  Teal’c!”

 

“Here, sir.”  Carter was already beside him.  “Teal’c is covering us.  Are you all right?”

 

“Yeah,” they approached the body, “but this isn’t gonna be pretty.”

 

“So I gathered.”

 

Jack knelt to the left of the horizontal figures, and called Daniel’s name.

 

A wheezy, bare whisper of a voice sounded from below, “Jack!  Wait!  There’s a knife in my back.  Roll him off to my right.  But hurry, can’t breathe!”

 

Jack frowned.  He could see parts of Daniel under the massive form, but there was too much blood to pinpoint any one wound from there.  He said to Carter, who was kneeling on the other side, “Grab his shoulder.  I push, you pull, on three.  One, two, three.”  They strained to move the slack weight; he was even heavier than he looked.  But over he went, and Carter jumped out of the way.

 

No, not pretty at all.  Daniel was bloody, battered and near naked, with a fresh stream of red pouring from an inch wide wound at the top of his left buttock.  He was panting like he hadn’t breathed in days, and his face was bright red underneath the bruises.  Jack looked the dead Guard over disdainfully.  The limp little dick hanging out there was kind of pitiful.  But the knife stuck through the belt at his waist was kind of scary, especially as it was dripping with Daniel’s blood.  Nonetheless, he pulled the blade free for his own use.

 

As Jack knelt beside Daniel, Carter pulled the offensive body farther away from them, then returned to kneel on the side.  Jack had turned the knife inward toward his wrists, and was soon free of his bonds.  He reached up to cut the cords restraining Daniel’s hands, and asked the obvious question, “Are you all right?”

 

Daniel laughed, somewhat hysterically, while he caught his breath.  “All right!  He asks if I’m all right!  Of course I’m not all right.  God!”

 

As his hands came free, Daniel stiffly tried to pull himself over onto his right side, facing Jack, whose face probably didn’t look so good either.  Jack could tell that here was swelling at the bridge of his nose, with purple starting to spread under his eyes.  Daniel asked, “What happened?” 

 

“Hey, Carter and Teal’c to the rescue.”

 

Daniel’s face brightened, “Carter?”

 

“Right here, Daniel.”

 

Daniel looked over his shoulder at her and smiled.  He didn’t have any idea what a disconcerting sight that presented, accented as his face was with blood and bruises.  Her mouth twitched as she attempted a smile in response.

 

Jack called his attention back, “I guess the better question is, can you walk?  We really need to get out of here.”

 

“Out of here.  Right.   So out of here,” Daniel responded, unconsciously using an O’Neillism. 

 

As Daniel started to push himself up, Sam commented, “You know, you’re pretty much indecently exposed, there.”

 

Daniel looked down at himself.  The frayed edges of his cut fatigues lay on the floor under him, leaving him naked front and back, and all down one leg.  “Oh.  Right.”  As he sat up, he grabbed the severed ends of the waist band, and tried to pull them together, to cover himself at least partially.  Very awkward.  He tried to hold them as he got up (Jack had to help him stand), and then stood there forlornly clutching the material around himself.

 

Jack looked at him, shook his head, and said, “Oh, for christ’s sake.  Carter, your pack.”

 

She turned her back to give him access to her rucksack, and he extracted a loop of string out of one of the side pockets.  He pulled out a section, cut it, and stuck the rest back into the pocket.  Then as Daniel stood passively, Jack threaded the string through the belt loops on either side of the cut edges, passing it through several times for strength, and tied it tight.  He said sympathetically, “It’s hard to run with your pants around your knees.”

 

Daniel fingered the knot and let it go.  The new arrangement did the trick, he was almost decent.  At least the pants would stay up.  Jack took his jacket off and handed it to the young man.  Daniel drew it over his arms, gratefully pulling the rough material close around his chest.

 

Jack asked, “Ready?”

 

Daniel looked back at him with a blank expression.  His face had gone pale.  Jack thought, --Oh, boy.  No, he’s not all right.--

 

A familiar deep voice boomed from the other side of the room, “O’Neill.  We must go.”

 

They turned to see Teal’c standing in a doorway.

 

Jack called to him “We’re gone!”, grabbed Daniel’s arm, and pulled him along, past several bodies lying on the floor.  When they met, Jack and Teal’c nodded to each other, and they moved silently out the door.  It was a back entrance, the opposite side of the building from where the Jaffa had escaped. 

 

Teal’c said simply, “This way,” and headed down a passage to another courtyard.  Jack and Daniel followed, with Carter bringing up the rear.  Teal’c led them through what seemed like a maze, but which soon opened onto a forest path. 

 

They paused, and Jack said, “We head back to the gate, just in case there’s a chance.  But careful.  They’ll be watching for us.”  They left the path and traveled cross-country.  It was slow going, and Jack held on to Daniel the whole time.  The fact that Daniel didn’t protest or try to shake him off was worrying.

 

When they neared the gate area, he found a secluded spot, and called them into a huddle.  “We need to scout this carefully.   We haven’t seen anyone at all, so we should expect a trap.  Carter, Teal’c, can you handle the recon, while I stay here and keep Daniel company?”

 

“Indeed,” intoned the Jaffa, while Sam nodded and sent a worried look toward the silent scientist.

 

They headed out, and Jack settled the other man on a fallen log.  After surveying the area carefully, he asked, “Danny, are you still with us?”

 

Daniel replied calmly, “I’m with you.  I’m fine.  Just a little spacey.”  He smiled weakly.  “More than usual.  I don’t want to be in the way.”

 

Jack said, “You’re doing good,” and continued scanning the surroundings.  He reflected that the kid had turned over control to his friends, trusting them to make the decisions and keep him safe.  In the current situation, with him pretty much in shock, that was probably a survival mechanism in action.  But Jack missed the pushy, opinionated, ‘I’ll do it my way’ attitude that Daniel usually plagued him with. 

 

Looking at the archeologist again, he saw that he was sitting with his hands hanging between his knees, head bent.  In spite of the makeshift repair, the ruined piece of clothing was still gaping open, revealing most of Daniel’s hip, thigh and leg.  Jack frowned, and thought,  --We’re going to have to find him some new pants.  We may meet up with more Jaffa, and we can’t have him looking like that.-- 

 

After about twenty minutes the scouts returned, and gave their report.

 

Carter began, “You were right, sir.  They’re waiting for us.  They have it set up like the original ambush, they’re just pulled farther back.  If we get within their perimeter, they’ll have us.”

 

It was starting to get dark.  Jack decided, “Right, we’ll find a secure place to go to ground for the night, and evaluate the situation again in the morning.”

 

Teal’c said, “I suggest we head toward the hills to the right of the Stargate,” pointing to the ones he meant.  “We should be able to find an easily defensible position on the higher ground.”

 

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

 

And so it proved.  Upon reaching the hills, they found a cave that was well hidden, but provided a good vantage point from which to observe the Stargate valley.  It was a good, deep cave, and they settled Daniel leaning against a ledge near the back.

 

With the last of the fading sunlight, Sam finally had a chance to attend to Daniel’s injuries, while the other two conferred on strategy near the cave’s mouth.  She cleaned and bandaged his cuts, the knife wound being the most severe, and cleared away as much of the drying blood as she could.  The bruises and contusions would have to take care of themselves, but she saw that he was shivering, despite the lingering heat. 

 

His glazed visage worried her.  He’d obviously been beaten, and his body would be responding to that, but she was sure that there was more to it.  She wished she could deposit him into a bed in the infirmary, and let Janet tend him, but that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, so she’d have to play doctor a bit beyond her training.  She thought, --Well, I’m not exactly inexperienced in this area, am I.  What kind of help would I want?--

 

After attending to the basic first aid, she let him put the jacket back on, waited till he met her eyes, then said, “Daniel, Teal’c and I didn’t see very much of what was going on earlier.  As soon as we realized what was happening, Teal’c fired.  What I need to know is, is there anything else you need some help with?  Any other injuries?”

 

From his face she could tell he knew what she was asking.  “No,” he answered blandly.  “Your timing was impeccable, as usual.  They didn’t,…you know.  Would have though.  It was a very close thing.” 

 

She was relieved, --Thank God for that much, at least.-- 

 

Daniel continued, “But how’s Jack?”

 

“Seems all right, why?”

 

“Well, he took some heavy hits.  Even passed out at one point.”  Daniel pulled his knees up to his chest, and wrapped his arms around them.  He was looking past her into the back of the cave.   “That was toward the end.  It may sound weird, but I wish it had happened earlier.  And that he’d stayed out.  I don’t know what was worse, having all that happen, or knowing that Jack was right there watching.  I felt so… embarrassed.”

 

Sam looked down at her hands, nodded sadly, and said to him, “I know what you mean.”

 

He looked up at her with sudden awareness.  She did know what he meant.  She’d been through it herself.  Their eyes met, and a look of understanding passed between them.

 

As his head sank down again he added, “You’d think I would get used to this kind of thing after a while.”

 

She touched her hand to his cheek, and said softly, “If only you weren’t so beautiful.”

 

After a moment, Sam shook herself and said more briskly, “I want you to eat something.  Rations are short, because we only have the two packs now, but you need it.  Doctor’s orders.”

 

Daniel looked despondent as he murmured, “Yes, ma’am.”  She saw that he was still shivering.

 

“Be right back.”

 

She moved to the front of the cave, and got a ration bar out of Teal’c’s pack.  Teal’c had gone on another recon, and she squatted next to Colonel O’Neill in the cave entrance.  He was looking out into the warm night.  One of the moons was rising full in the sky, suffusing everything with a soft silver light.

 

Without looking at her, the colonel asked, “How is he?”

 

“Physically, he’ll be fine.  He’s got a couple of bruised ribs, lots of cuts and bruises.  I got him patched up, gave him an antibiotic and analgesic.  The knife wound needs stitches, but I’m not set up for that.  I’ve got it taped shut.”   She paused.  “Some of the wounds… It makes me sick to think how he must have gotten them.”

 

Still gazing out, his face a mask, her CO replied,  “Yeah.  It was ugly.”

 

Sam continued, wondering if she was violating a confidence, “His emotional reaction to this is harder to judge.  Of course, he’s pretty shaken up.  But it seems that what’s bothering him most, sir, is you.”  That got him to look at her.  “He’s worried about how you are, but it’s more than that.  Your opinion is really important to him.  I think he’s concerned about how you’ll see him now, after what happened.”

 

O’Neill didn’t say anything, just watched her.

 

Committed now, she went on, “I’ve told him he has to eat something, he’s still too near shock to take any chances.  Maybe you’d have better luck actually getting him to eat than I would.”  She handed him the bar.

 

Jack gazed at her another moment, then said softly, “Teal’c’s on first watch.  I’m second, then you.  Get some rest.”  As he stood, he put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.  She half-smiled, and looked out into the night.

 

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

 

At first Jack could barely see Daniel in the dim light of the cave.  As his eyes adjusted, he saw that his team mate was sitting hunched over, with his knees to his chest, hugging them as though they’d blow away if he didn’t.  Bits of white gauze and tape showed at the jacket collar, and several cuts and bruises decorated the still face.  Jack squatted down to one side, facing his friend.   “Hey Danny, Doc Carter says you’re under orders to eat, but thinks you might not comply.”

 

Daniel was looking at the floor.  He answered distractedly, “What?”

 

“Here, eat this.”  Jack handed him the bar.  Daniel took it and held it without opening it.

 

“Thanks,” then nothing.  Daniel shivered.

 

Jack looked at the blank expression on the familiar face in front of him, and saw that Daniel was drifting away, closing down to the outside world.  He needed a friend, and needed something that would break though the barriers that were threatening to enclose him.  Jack had a good idea that those barriers were being constructed out of fear and shame and guilt.  He took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in his stomach, and made the decision, steeling himself for what had to be done. 

 

He eased himself to sit cross-legged on the floor.  “Daniel, I want to tell you something.”

 

“What.”  Not a question.  Not curious.  Not Daniel.

 

Jack took another deep breath, and released it as a sigh.  “You know that I was in prison in Iraq several years ago.”

 

Daniel nodded without looking up.

 

“While I was there, I was raped.”

 

Daniel’s head swung toward him, eyes wide with shock.  “What?”  This time a question, in disbelief.  Jack met Daniel’s eyes and held them.

 

“I never told anyone this before.  I was younger then.  A foreigner.  Didn’t speak the language.  There were too many, and I was alone.  Couldn’t stop them.  Ranks right up there with the top, oh, three worst experiences of my life, so I have a good idea how you feel right now.” 

 

Jack scrubbed at his short hair with his hands.  He brought his knees up and put his arms around them in unconscious imitation of the other man’s posture.  “When I was released, and my CO debriefed me, I reported every detail; the beatings, the interrogations, the torture.  Everything.  Except that.  I never told Kawalsky.  I certainly never told Sara.  People could see that there was something I wasn’t handling real well, but they didn’t know what, and I wasn’t saying.  They thought it was PTSD, and I guess in a way it was.  And in a way, it was the beginning of the end for Sara and me, me keeping something like that from her.  After a while I shut it out completely.  Gotta get on with life, you  know.  I wasn’t a guy that something like that would happen to.”

 

Daniel spoke carefully, “Why are you telling me now?”

 

“I guess I’ve gotten to the point where I can trust enough to tell it.”  The dark eyes carried the message as well as the words.  “Trust you enough.”  Jack’s stomach was in a knot by now.  The minute this man walked into his life, everything had started to change.  He remembered the first day, and how that geeky civilian who was trying to worm his way into an Air Force operation had annoyed him, started him feeling something other than pain and desolation.  It was the first tap of the hammer that would end up cracking Jack open like a nut.  And this is what it had come to, telling the kid one of the biggest things he had hidden down inside, as though it were nothing.  And letting him see what it meant to be able to do that. 

 

Jack felt himself crossing a line with the other man.  And it was okay.

 

Daniel was still staring at him, long hair framing his intense eyes.  “Thank you.”

 

There was still more to do.  Jack forced himself to go on.  “And there are two things I want you to know.  First is that it is something that’s survivable.  It isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as I made it.  Second, well, we keep going through that Gate, and we don’t know what’s gonna happen.  If… something like this… should happen again, and Teal’c, you know,  isn’t there to stop it.… Well, if it did happen, I want you to know that I would never think any less of you because of it.  Not a bit.”

 

Daniel hadn’t taken his eyes off Jack’s face.  It was hard to tell in that light, but Jack thought he could see the young man tearing up.  He thought, --Don’t cry Danny, I couldn’t stand it if you did.--  What he said was, “Are you all right?”

 

“Yes.  I was just thinking that there are a few people that I would gladly kill with my bare hands if I could.”  Daniel’s voice was husky.

 

O’Neill smiled.  --Fierce puppy.--

 

They sat together quietly, the thoughts of each turned inward.  Daniel shivered.  After a while, he said, “Jack, can I ask you something?  There’s something I don’t understand, and maybe you can explain it to me.”

 

“Sure.”

 

“I’m thinking about myself again.  Why is it that this keeps happening to me?  I mean, I know it isn’t only me, what you just said demonstrates that, but it does seem like since we started this I’ve been getting more than my fair share of unwanted attention.  More than Sam even.  Not that I want anything to happen to her, it just seems weird.  There was Apophis, Hathor, those guys on Hadante.” Jack looked sharply at him.  “You thought I didn’t notice, but I did.  I’ll include Shyla here; she was more subtle about it, but she was violating me, just the same.  There’s this thing today.  There have been other times, too, when I’ve seen people looking at me like they’d like to....  Even some guys at the base.  But why me?  Sam just now said that I was too beautiful, but I don’t get it.  I mean, I can look in a mirror.  I know I’m not ugly, but I’m not that great looking either.  In many ways, both you and Teal’c are more attractive than I am.  So why is it me they keep going for?  I mean, I really don’t understand it.  Is it how I look, or something I’m doing that I can change?  Can you tell me?”

 

Jack considered this for a moment and admonished himself,  --O’Neill, old boy, be very careful here,--  then replied, “I think I can tell you, at least give it a try.”  He settled himself into a more comfortable position.  “You see, grasshopper, it isn’t just about how you look.  Yeah, it does make a difference that you’re young and cute or whatever.  Sure, that’ll get more attention.  But this violent kind of assault is about something else.  How can I explain it?”  He stopped and thought for a minute.  “It’s like you have a glow about you.  Not visible light, but people can sense it anyway.  It’s like a glow of goodness, openness, honesty, sincerity.”  He didn’t use the word innocence, thinking that wouldn’t go down too well.  “Some people, like those shitheads today, without being aware of it want to destroy that.  I think there’s probably no better way to do that than through rape.  That’s what I worry about the most, that they might succeed in putting the light out.”  This kind of philosophical analysis wasn’t his forte, and he hoped it was making some kind of sense.

 

Daniel spoke, “I understand.  It’s like I have a neon sign on my forehead saying ‘VICTIM’ or something.”

 

“No, that’s actually not what I meant at all.  This glow thing is a good thing.  It’s probably why Sha’re was attracted to you.  It’s probably why the people we meet on missions usually trust you, even when they aren’t human, because most people have good in them, and they respond to it in you.  It’s why you get under the skin of big tough macho soldier guys – I’m talking about Teal’c, of course,” he teased, then turned serious again.  “It’s what makes you so effective, what makes you, you.  It may be what Carter meant when she said you were beautiful.  The problem for you is that people, mostly men, who’ve had those qualities destroyed in them at some point, can’t stand to see them exist in others, so they try to destroy them in you.  Teal’c and I don’t get picked on like you do because people can tell we’re not open.  We’ve got ourselves well closed down and defended, not just in a physical sense.  Carter too, to a certain extent; major defenses there.  But, it’s not like those guys today sat down and thought this through.  I think it’s some kind of instinctive reaction.  Your vulnerability is your strength, and your weakness.  But, um, keep it, you know.  The rest of us, Teal’c, Carter and me, we’ll try to make sure that you can, because it’s kind of nice to be around.”

 

Daniel was staring at him, struggling to take in what Jack had said, and the fact that Jack had said it.  He finally processed it through, and was able to get some words out.  “Wow.  How do you know that stuff?  You may be overstating the goodness thing, but generally, it makes sense to me when I think about it.  Like Shyla.  She wasn’t a bad person, but she’d had a lot of good burnt out of her by the sarcophagus.  Maybe she wanted something she saw in me, and to destroy it at the same time.  Then there was today, when all those big guys were crowded around me.  God, there were so many of them.”  His face lost its color again.  “But in spite of how what they were doing was… sexual… what I was feeling from them was pure hatred.  I couldn’t understand how they could hate me so much.  They didn’t know me, I hadn’t done anything to them.  But it was just hate and violence, directed straight in at me.   Even with all the stuff that’s happened to us, I’ve never felt anything like that before.  Not even with Apophis.  Well, it was kind of like that, but not so overwhelming.  I quess it’s worse when they’re in groups.”

 

“You got it.”

 

“How do you know all this?”  he asked a second time.

 

Jack sighed, “Live and learn, kiddo.”

 

“Have you ever felt like those men do?”

 

Jack pulled in on himself, closing.  “What do you think?  I’ve felt and done some harsh things, Danny.  Surely you’ve seen it in me.”

 

Daniel, worried that he’d gone too far, insisted, “You’re a good man, Jack.  And getting better all the time.”

 

The older man relaxed again, though maybe not quite so much.  “Thanks.”

 

They sat in silence.  Daniel was still folded up, but his soul was visible again in his troubled face.  He shivered, and Jack found that he couldn’t stand that anymore.

 

O’Neill stood up and stretched, glancing around for the others.  Carter was curled in a ball by the door, sleeping.  Teal’c was no doubt outside on watch.  It would be Jack’s turn to go soon.  He wondered if his headache would ever let up.

 

He looked down at Daniel.  Body still tense, pulled in.  Head starting to drop toward his knees.  Damn, he shivered again!

 

Jack scowled at him, and said accusingly, “You’re cold.”  He knew Daniel wasn’t cold.

 

He opened a shiny silver blanket that Sam had left, moved around to sit at the cramped figure’s left side, and leaned back against the wall.  “Come here.”  He patted his chest.

 

“What?”

 

“You heard me, come here.  You’re cold, and I’m going to get some warmth back in you.  Purely medicinal.  Turn around and face me, and snuggle on in.”  He kept his expression matter of fact, like no big deal.

 

Daniel, on the other hand, had that eyebrows raised/mouth open look on his face.

 

Jack ordered again, “Come on.”

 

Daniel began to move slowly, and groaned.  He’d gone stiff sitting like that, and his injuries were letting him know.  He grimaced and put his hand on his left hip, as pain radiated out from the knife wound.  But Daniel shifted to his knees and turned so that they faced each other, so close in so many ways.  He looked a little scared.

 

O’Neill snapped gruffly,  “Haven’t got all day.  Offer for a limited time only.”

 

Stiffly, Daniel settled onto his right hip, and leaned across Jack’s chest, resting his head on the other man’s shoulder, and finding a place for his hands around on Jack’s back.  He pulled his knees up so they were touching the wall by Jack’s side, and held himself rigidly, trying not to come into contact too much. 

 

Jack brought his arms up, around his friend’s body, and pulled him closer, taking the weight onto his chest.  “There, that wasn’t so hard.”  He slid the blanket over Daniel’s legs and lower back, and then settled in.  At first, Daniel’s body continued to carry the tension; his muscles were clenched hard as rock, and it felt awkward to hold him.  Jack felt a tremor pass through the form in his arms, and heard Daniel grunt, so he asked, “What now?”

 

Daniel replied into Jack’s chest, “I’m a grown man, and I shouldn’t have to be cuddled like a little baby.”

 

Jack smiled in the dark.  “We all need to be held sometimes, no matter how old we get.” 

 

Daniel remained quiet, and gradually Jack felt him loosen up.  As he relaxed, Daniel became heavier and heavier.  Eventually, Jack could tell by the breathing that his charge had fallen asleep, but by then, Jack’s arms were straining to hold him up.  He thought, --Shit!  What has this kid been eating, rocks?--  Finally, Jack shifted himself down the wall a little, and brought his knees up, to settle Daniel’s weight more fully on his chest and thighs.  That was better.  Felt nice, actually. 

 

The shivers stopped about twenty minutes later. 

 

--So, I’m sitting here, with Daniel in my arms.  Not your normal, everyday occurrence.  ‘Course, hasn’t been your normal, everyday kind of day.--  Jack reflected that he’d held Daniel before, like when he was so bad off going through the sarcophagus withdrawal, but he’d been near to dying then.  He’d held Carter in Antarctica, too, but he’d been near to dying in that case.  This was just a ‘come here, let me hold you’ moment, with shock as a thin excuse.   --Hey, is this part of my job description?  I don’t think so!--

 

 Jack thought that maybe this, too, was a line he was crossing.  But it was okay.  After a time, he drifted off to sleep.

 

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

 

Jack awoke to the weight of a hand on his shoulder.  The other shoulder, that didn’t have a head on it.  He opened his eyes to see Teal’c squatting in front of him.  The cave was much lighter now; he knew it must be morning.  He asked Teal’c in a whisper, “You let me sleep all night?  What about my watch?”

 

The low voice replied softly, “First of all, this planet appears to have a very short night.  Captain Carter replaced me on watch, and her shift has not yet ended.   In any case, I did not rouse you because I believe your arms to be the best medicine available to Daniel Jackson at this time.”

 

O’Neill thought he should say something to lighten that statement, so he opened his mouth.  For once he couldn’t think of a smart reply, so he just shook his head.

 

Teal’c continued, “I’m afraid we must all arise, now.  Captain Carter reports movement in the foothills below us.  Apparently, the Jaffa are initiating search parties, and some are heading in this direction.  It is best that we move on as soon as possible.”

 

“Right, I’ll wake sleeping beauty, here.”

 

The large man’s eye’s twinkled, “I have read that tale.  Is not a kiss required to achieve that end?”

 

Jack bristled, “Remind me to rescind your library privileges.”

 

Teal’c moved back toward the front of the cave, and Jack looked down at the face that was still pressed into his chest, snoring gently.  Daniel looked much better, despite the deepening of the visible bruises.  His face had some color back, but mostly he looked very relaxed; jaw muscles softened, and his eyelids flickering slightly with a dream.  He looked like Daniel again, a relief after the vacant mask of yesterday.  --Sleeping beauty, indeed!  Shame to wake him up, really.  I guess it’s some kind of achievement that Daniel got through the night without any nightmares.  I would have expected some doozies last night.--

 

Daniel’s arms were draped loosely around Jack’s waist, and the relaxed weight was pressing into his chest rather painfully.  It made Jack think back to yesterday, the body of that huge Guard lying on top of his young friend.  No wonder he almost suffocated.  That must have been another close call.  Jack reproached himself for not getting to Daniel more quickly, for not being able to stop all that from happening in the first place.  He knew that he wasn’t omnipotent, but dammit, there must have been something he could have done!  If Teal’c and Carter hadn’t gotten there when they did.…  It probably wouldn’t have stopped with the lead Guard, either.  They probably would have passed Daniel around until he was dead.  Jack shuddered.

 

--Snap out of it, O’Neill.  None of your people are out of the woods yet.  Time to get back into action!-- 

 

He tightened his arms around the body he was holding, and rocked Daniel slightly, saying, “Good morning, Dr. Jackson, this is your wake up call.” 

 

Holding Daniel so closely made him question why he had always thought of him as small.  He wasn’t small, at all.  In fact he was nearly as tall as Jack himself, had strong, broad shoulders, and the angular solidity of a man, without those pleasant soft bits that made women and children so nice to hold.  Yeah, he looked really young, but what had Jack been doing at that age?  Not kid stuff.  And Daniel didn’t do kid stuff either.  Jack thought that maybe it was time to start reprogramming that bit of his brain that saw Daniel as needing shielding.  Protect him, yes.  Always.  To hell and back.  But not because he was small or weak.  He most manifestly wasn’t either of those things.

 

Daniel opened his eyes.   Momentarily disoriented, he brought one hand around, put it on Jack’s chest, and lifted his head.  “Jack!” he said, surprised.

 

“You were expecting maybe the June Taylor Dancers?”

 

“Who?”

 

“Forget it, before your time.”

 

Daniel started to push himself up, but groaned, and slowed way down.  He was still stiff, and had to lever himself up carefully.  While he was doing that, he said to Jack reproachfully, “You held me all night!”

 

“It was a short night, don’t let it go to your head.”

 

Just then, Sam appeared and knelt beside them, smiling at their discomfiture at being found extricating themselves from an embrace.  “You guys have a nice evening?”

 

Jack fired back, “Not you  too!”  He explained to Daniel, “Teal’c was already over here giving me shit.  They’re never going to let us live this down.”

 

It was Daniel’s turn to smile, “What, us?  I was strictly following orders, now wasn’t I?”

 

“Following orders?  That’d be a first.  Ingrate!  From here on in, it’s rocky cave floors for you.”

 

“Oh, that would probably be better than a bony old colonel.”

 

“Old!  I’ll show you…”

 

Carter interjected, “I hate to interrupt you two during a domestic quarrel, but we haven’t got a lot of time.”  She held a power bar up in front of Jack’s face.  “I believe I sent you back here to make sure our patient ate this.  You’ve failed on your mission.”

 

“That’s ‘You’ve failed on your mission, sir.’”  Jack shifted to sit upright, and found that he’d stiffened up quite a lot during the night, too.  He groaned and muttered, “Old.…”

 

Daniel was sitting cross-legged between them.  “I’ll eat it now, will that do?”, he offered, and took the bar eagerly.

 

She approved, “Yes, excellent.  And here’s one for you too, sir,” handing Jack another plastic wrapped packet.

 

Jack huffed.  “What am I going to do with you kids?  Discipline is breaking down all over the place.  What about you, Carter, have you eaten?  And you?” he questioned Teal’c, who was just joining them.

 

“Later, sir,” the captain said.  “The ‘good’ stuff was in your pack and Daniel’s, so we’re a bit short on rations, I think we’d better save them.”  She glanced meaningfully at the scientist, who was wolfing down his scant breakfast.

 

“No, everybody eats, if there’s enough.  I need you all in top form today.  We’ll make finding another food source a priority.  That’s an order.” 

 

Both the other two were clearly thinking about arguing, but he silenced them with a withering Jack O’Neill look that they thought prudent not to challenge.  Between them, they quickly finished the last of their food supplies, and the last of the water in their canteens.

 

As they started to move out, with Daniel limping slightly until the hip injury loosened up, Carter said to the archaeologist, “I really should check the dressings on your wounds, but I’m afraid it’ll have to wait until we can take a break.  Let me know right away, though, if you notice anything bleeding.  We can’t have you leaving a trail, now can we?”  She grinned. 

 

Daniel assured her that he was fine, and that he felt quite optimistic, actually.  He knew he must be better, he said.  No one had asked him if he was all right in well over 15 minutes.

 

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

 

They  moved through the boulder strewn undergrowth toward higher ground.  As they wound their way around the hillside which would block their view of the valley they were leaving behind, Teal’c brought up the rear, covering the signs of their passage.  When Carter determined it was drinkable, they refilled their canteens from a small stream.  After an hour’s journey, Colonel O’Neill decided they had put enough distance between themselves and the search parties, and it was time for a little meeting. He called them together to sit in a small copse of stunted trees.

 

“All right, we’re overdue for a debriefing, here.  Aside from us being up shit creek without a paddle, I personally don’t have a clue about what the hell’s going on here.  Carter, Teal’c, you want to fill us in on what happened between the attack at the ‘gate and your timely rescue?”

 

Teal’c began, as Carter got out her first aid kit and moved to check Daniel over.  “It was most curious that the attacking forces seemingly intended to capture us, rather than kill us.  Whatever the reason, this policy worked to our advantage.  We were able to defeat the warriors surrounding us.  When we saw that you and Daniel Jackson had been overrun, we withdrew into the forest.  The Jaffa did pursue us, but we were able to evade them.”

 

Carter didn’t let the understatement stand.  “Sir, actually, I got zatted and Teal’c carried me out of there.  We were being chased by several Jaffa, shooting at us the whole time, and he not only carried my useless self out, but lost them as well.”

 

Jack sat back and grinned at the large warrior in approval.  “Hey, I expect no less!  Then what happened?”

 

“When Captain Carter had recovered sufficiently, we approached the settlement, where we believed you had been taken.  We investigated the temple complex, and were eventually drawn to the sound of loud voices.  It was then that we discovered your whereabouts.”

 

O’Neill prompted, “Gee, you make that sound easy.”

 

Carter answered, “In a way, it was, sir.  I  mean, they obviously must have known we were still out there, but we barely encountered any guards or patrols.  There was hardly anyone there that looked like regular inhabitants, either.  The place was fairly open to just walk into.”

 

Teal’c continued, “Indeed.  I have noticed several puzzling anomalies with regard to the behavior of these Jaffa.  The ambush at the Stargate was well coordinated, down to ensuring capture rather than death.  The search being carried out currently is within acceptable standards.  However, the lack of security around the temple and the undisciplined behavior of many of the Jaffa demonstrates a lack of strong leadership.  It is as though there are some officers of talent, but no individual in overall command.  We do not know the purpose of this outpost.”

 

Daniel spoke for the first time, “We do know some of it.”  Jack looked toward him, then winced as he saw that Carter was cleaning a particularly red and swollen set of teeth marks over Daniel’s collar bone.  The anthropologist continued, “We know that there’s some kind of slave revolt going on.  They captured us at the ‘gate because they think the rebels are getting some kind of help from off world, and want to know where it’s coming from.  It seems the slaves are doing much better than the Jaffa expected.”

 

“Oh, really?” Jack drawled, wondering how Daniel got all that information from what had happened the day before.

 

“Yeah, I picked it up from what they were saying.  Unfortunately, we convinced them we didn’t know anything.  It explains why they went to all the trouble of capturing us alive, and then didn’t even want to interrogate us much.  As soon as they found out we didn’t know anything about the slaves, they lost interest in us pretty quick, except for….  It didn’t occur to them that we might be valuable to them in our own right, until that one Guard came along and recognized us as Tau’ri.  And even then he, um.…  Apparently his baser nature won out over more long term considerations.   Anyhow, the way they were talking and competing with each other, it did seem like there was a definite failure in their command structure somewhere.”

 

Daniel turned to their Jaffa companion, “Teal’c, may I ask, um, is that kind of behavior….  I mean what they were doing to me, is that normal?  Do Jaffa usually...?  Do you mind my asking?”

 

“I do not mind, Daniel Jackson; you deserve whatever explanation I can give you.  It is not unknown for Jaffa warriors to treat prisoners in that manner.  But neither is it common.  It would normally only be done to a prisoner who had in some way given great offence to the Lord; to be given to the Jaffa for their entertainment would be considered a special punishment.  It is the higher castes that determines the level of this kind of activity, which may also be used between Jaffa to assert dominance.  It is not only the Guards and Primes, but the Goa’uld they serve who establish acceptable behavior.  You have had direct experience of the example that Apophis sets for his servants.  But still, it sounds as though no such order was given.  The Guards undertook this attack on their own initiative.  If their discipline has broken down to this extent, it could conceivably benefit us, especially as they are now lacking even their nominal leader.”

 

Jack asked, “But Teal’c, since you killed their head honcho, won’t they just send through the Stargate for another one?  How’d they get into this state?”

 

“I am uncertain,” Teal’c admitted.   “It may be that Heru’ur sent them here with orders not to return until the rebellion had been quelled.  Anyone reporting the news that not only were they not victorious, but that their leadership was decimated, would meet a swift death.  They may wish to complete the assignment, and then determine who would get to take credit for it.”

 

Jack nodded, “Sweet.  That could also be to our advantage.  If they don’t have any leaders they trust, they’ll be slower on the draw.”

 

Teal’c’s mouth turned into its full downward position.  “Colonel O’Neill, unlike for your kind, trust is never a motivating force for a Jaffa.  Fear is.  Right now, they will fear their Lord Heru’ur much more than they fear us.  Their resolve may still be strong for that reason.”

 

Carter broke in, “But what about these slaves?  Why waste time and resources on us if they’ve got a war to fight?”

 

Jack answered, “Maybe because we took out a couple dozen of them in only a few minutes.  Maybe they’ve decided we’re dangerous after all, or that we really are spies helping the rebels.  If they got a good look at Teal’c here, they might be assuming that Apophis is involved somehow.”

 

Teal’c nodded, “Indeed, and in fact the search parties may not only be seeking us, but may be deployed to look for their enemy at the same time.”

 

Samantha continued, “Perhaps we should do the same, sir.  Look for their enemy, I mean.  The way they have the Stargate covered, there’s no way we’re getting in there on our own.  If we’re going to survive here, and make it back home, we’ll need some help.  If these rebel slaves are doing so well against the Jaffa, then they might be just the allies we need.”

 

“Good thinking, Carter.  Sounds like a plan to me.  There’re just two things.  One, how do we find these slaves?  And two,”  he rubbed a hand over his face, “when we’re overdue, General Hammond will send another team to look for us.  They’ll walk right into the same trap, and the stirred up Jaffa hornet’s nest might not be so restrained this time.  How can we warn Earth, and maybe get a little backup, too?  An armored division would be nice.”

 

They sat in silence for a minute while Sam finished her nursing, and returned the first aid kit to her pack.

 

Presently, Jack said, “Okay, look.  We’re due to report back in,” he dramatically looked at his watch, “about three hours.  Hammond will probably wait a couple of hours after that, then open the gate to try an’ get MALP readings.  If we can get close enough, without having to get right up to the gate, we can send a radio message through then.”

 

Sam and Teal’c looked at each other, and nodded in approval.  Sam said, “Good idea, sir.”

 

Daniel exclaimed, “We’re going back down there?  Isn’t that pretty dangerous?”

 

“Yes, it is.  That’s why we aren’t all going.  Teal’c’s with me.  Carter, you and Daniel stay here.  You can look for nuts and berries or something, but keep out of sight.”

 

Daniel was if anything more alarmed.  “Jack, as much as I want to stay as far away from those Jaffa as possible, we can’t split up!  We should all go.”

 

Carter nodded, “Colonel, I’d feel better about going with you, too.”

 

Jack shook his head.  “Gee, I sure do appreciate your enthusiasm, and I’m not thrilled about being separated myself, but the fewer that go, the better chance we’ll have of getting in and out without being seen.  Teal’c and I are trained in this stealth stuff.  We’ll be okay.  Daniel, I want to know you’re tucked in nice and safe here, where I don’t have to worry about you getting captured again.  Carter, I’m counting on you to look after him.  We’ll be back before you know it, and then we’ll go drop in on the neighbors and see if we can’t get ourselves invited for supper.”

 

Sam frowned, and Daniel’s expression changed quickly from concern to anger.  “Is that it?  I’m just baggage to be checked into a locker and picked up later?  Totally in the way and holding everyone back?  I resent that.  It wasn’t my fault what happened yesterday, and I don’t want you treating me like I’m a china figurine because of it.  We’re all in this together!”

 

Jack screwed up his face and cringed.  He remonstrated himself, --Good one, Jack.  That’s just what I was talking about earlier.  Stop doing that!--  Giving Daniel his best big brown ‘I’m just a clown’ eyes, he said, “Okay, so I didn’t say that very well.  If you’re a figurine, them I’m the bull in the china shop.  I don’t think you’re baggage, but you are a nearsighted, injured civilian, and you’re not coming with us.  That’s a command decision I’m making, and it stands.”

 

Daniel looked back at him with a red face.  “Well, just,” he blew a great breath out between his lips, “be careful.”

 

Jack raised his hand, “Scout’s honor.  Seriously, if we do run into trouble, it’ll be your turn to try and warn ‘em on Earth.  We don’t want any teams massacred here.  Teal’c, you’ve got your radio.  Carter, you’ve got yours.  Minimal contact.  Only call if it’s an emergency.  And no emergencies.  If you have to move out from here,”  he looked around at the landscape, “we’ll meet up on that hill, see the tall tree by the big rock?  No, that other tall tree by the other big rock.”

 

Arrangements made, Jack looked at his two younger team members one last time.  “So we’re looking at six to seven hours.  Heads down, eyes open.”

 

Carter nodded solemnly, “Good luck sir, Teal’c.”

 

Daniel just stood with arms crossed and brows knitted, biting his upper lip.

 

The two warriors turned and melted into the trees.

 

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

 

Teal’c and O’Neill were lying under some bushes, and had been for the last hour.  They were well within the perimiter still maintained by the Jaffa warriors around the Stargate, on a small rise which permitted them a view of the top left section of the ring.  They hadn’t moved or made a sound since settling into their hiding place.

 

Teal’c took the opportunity to study his commrade surrepititiously out of the corner of his eye.  O’Neill was lying on his stomach, one hand resting on top of Teal’c’s spare hand gun, his own weapons having been confiscated the day before.  The purple lump on his forehead made a colorful triangle with the blackened eyes.  The human appeared to be at ease, yet Teal’c could see he was alert to any sound or movement around them.  The larger warrior observed that it was only in situations like these that O’Neill could remain completely still.  He would normally be ‘bouncing off the walls’, an appropriate euphemism, at this prolonged inactivity.

 

Teal’c allowed his mind to consider the man at his side.  In the year and a half since O’Neill had convinced him to abandon his old life to join with the Tau’ri, his respect for the man had only grown.  On one level, the two shared a unique bond of understanding, which Teal’c had experienced with no one else other than Master Bra’tac.  Though the circumstances of their training and backgrounds could not have been more different, their lived experience actually gave them much in common.  Little needed to be said between them; they could practically read each other’s minds in the field, and could trust each other’s abilities as they trusted their own.  Teal’c felt proud and grateful to have found a friend and team mate of this caliber in his new home.

 

Teal’c reflected that it was a pity that humans aged so quickly.  O’Neill’s abilities as a warrior and leader were considerable, and increased with each passing day.  His skill and agility often proved to be the undoing of unsuspecting enemies.  Teal’c knew, however, that his friend’s body would not allow him to perform at the same level as a younger  man, most of whom lacked the judgement derived from experience.  This was one advantage of living as a Jaffa.  The accumulated wisdom of a lifetime could be combined with physical strength for nearly a hundred years.  In a way it was well that he had not met the Tau’ri until now.  As it was, after more than 80 years of service to the Goa’uld he had much to offer to the resistance.  It pained him to know, though, that baring his own sudden death, his service would continue long after O’Neill was forced to withdrawl, and in fact perhaps even after the other had died of old age.  It was an aspect of life among the Tau’ri that Teal’c had not yet come to terms with.

 

The stoic warrior chastized himself for allowing his thoughts to wander into that area.  Another thing you learn through long life is that it is not only impossible but futile to attempt to predict the future.  To serve the cause of freeing his people from the domination of the Goa’uld, and assist his new friends to the best of his abilities, now in the present moment, was quite enough to undertake.  The future would make its own path.

 

Teal’c returned to the contemplation of the puzzle that was O’Neill.  A puzzle, because despite all they had in common, the human also behaved in ways which Teal’c had never encountered before, never considered possible.  Certainly his informality, an almost flaunting of military hierarchy, was unknown among Jaffa, but Teal’c recognized the greater flexibility of the Tau’ri system as a strength in this case.  More than that, it was the seemingly contradictory nature of the man that perplexed him.  Obviously a hardened soldier, capable of considerable ruthlessness, O’Neill was also able to express great tenderness.  This was something Teal’c was only recently beginning to truly understand.  He himself had only ever been similarly open to his son, yet his current commander had many times chosen to expose his softer self, even in the middle of dangerous missions.  Like last night for example, when the Colonel had actually held Daniel Jackson in his arms, the love there readily visible.  While he himself felt a regard for the young scholar which often took Teal’c by surprise, and which he recognized did compromise his own strict martial stance, he doubted that he could have risked such a demonstration of vulnerability. 

 

The Jaffa wondered how this soldier could allow such an open attachment to his young friend to flourish without it obstructing his professional judgement.  Yet he had repeatedly observed O’Neill’s ablity to merge both aspects of his character into a manifestly superior commanding officer.  Teal’c felt that there was much to emulate in O’Neill’s example, and recognized that he himself had grown in this respect.   This was a surprising gift that he was persistently grateful for, and which he would continue to cultivate if circumstances permitted.  Yes, the man with a lifetime of experience could still learn from the relatively young, and O’Neill was not his only teacher.  The willingness of these, his closest friends, to risk not only their lives, but their hearts, made it increasingly possible for Teal’c to do the same.  He found that this gave his life more meaning than he had ever suspected it could have.

 

His reflections were suddenly cut short by the sound of the rotation of the Stargate mechanism.  Instantly, both he and O’Neill snapped to full alertnes, sharing a brief aknowledging glance.  In the woods around them, Teal’c was aware of Jaffa shifting position, preparing to attack whoever ventured through the portal.

 

Teal’c detatched the radio from his vest, and handed it to the other man, who pressed the earpiece firmly into place.  The moment the watery whoosh of the event horizon stabilized, O’Neill depressed the button and began to whisper urgently into the small box. 

 

“Stargate Command, this is Colonel O’Neill.  Do not, I repeat, do not activate the MALP.  The Stargate area is currently controlled by Heru’ur’s Jaffa troops.”  Teal’c could hear a  tinny chirping as the SGC, probably General Hammond, spoke to the Colonel.  After a moment O’Neill responded.  “Dr. Jackson is injured but fully mobile.  The rest of us are fine.  SG1 can not approach the gate at this time, and any rescue team sent through would meet heavy resistance.  We hope to connect with a rebel group which is already fighting the Jaffa, and enlist their support to retake the ‘gate.  It’ll take time to organize, if it’s possible at all.  It will also be very difficult to communicate further with you, since it requires us to cross enemy lines.  I do request that you have a squadron standing by to come through and assist in the event that we can contact you again.”  

 

O’Neill listened for another moment, then said, “Yes, sir, that is an option, but we would have to time it carefully.  I’m hesitant to approve that plan, sir.  The Jaffa are too far away for a conventional explosive to have much effect, and anything stronger could damage the ‘gate or catch us as well.   And there is a civilian population here.  My proposal is that you activate the ‘gate again in 72 hours and wait for my signal.  If we are in position, we will contact you to send through the troops.  If you don’t hear from us, wait another 24 hours, and try again.  If we haven’t contacted you by then, consider us MIA, and wait to hear from us.”

 

Teal’c could sense the Jaffa becoming restless at the apparent inactivity from the Chaapa’ai, and beginning to shift positions.  This was a dangerous moment for the mission.

 

After listening again, O’Neill continued quietly, “Yes, sir, I know.  I want to get my team home as much as you do.  It’s just that under no circumstances do I want to risk more lives than necessary  There are a lot of Jaffa troops here, sir, and our guys would be fully exposed targets.”

 

Then, “I understand, General, and thank you.  O’Neill out.”   He lowered the radio, and froze in place as the Stargate blinked off. 

 

Several runners moved between Jaffa placements, one passing directly in front of the hidden pair.  The consternation among the Jaffa over the unexplained activation was evident, but gradually the warriors settled back into their watchful, waiting postures.  After about half an hour, O’Neill signaled to Teal’c that it was time to go.

 

They slowly and silently left the shelter, and worked their way out of the surrounding woodlands.  Twice Teal’c halted their progress and waved his companion into protective cover as a single warrior or patrol approached their position.  Finally, they reached the foothills, and began to make their way back to the rendezvous point, breathing easier at last.  From what he had heard of the communication with the SGC, Teal’c knew that their situation was little improved, other than eliminating the concern that more teams would venture through unprepared.  Much would have to be accomplished in the next few days if he and his teammates were to return home, and Teal’c began to focus his not inconsiderable determination on that goal.

 

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

 

As the pair approached the area where they had left the other two team members, Jack O’Neill was having trouble curbing his impatience.  They had been gone over six hours, and he hated being out of contact for that long, especially with hostile Jaffa everywhere.  But for that very reason they had to move slowly and carefully.  Anyhow, the fact that there had been no radio communications meant no emergency, right?  He was relieved that they were almost back now.

 

Then the warning tone in the low voice by his side stopped Jack in his tracks.  “O’Neill, someone has been here.”

 

Teal’c stopped and bent to inspect the ground at their feet.  He moved a few steps to his left, then trotted several more through the undergrowth, his CO following in his wake.

 

“Several men waited here some hours ago.  Then they moved toward our clearing.”  The two men exchanged a look, and began to creep closer to where they had left their friends.

 

Even as O’Neill’s demeanor settled into cool professionalism, his inner voice was screaming in his head, --Shit!  Damn!  Carter, Daniel, you’d better be all right or I’ll kill you!--

 

The two split up and moved around the perimeter of the area, quickly ascertaining that whoever had been there was long gone.  Unfortunately, as they entered the clearing it was also apparent that their friends were gone, too.  As O’Neill’s nerves entered a slow burn phase, Teal’c inspected the signs left in the clearing. 

 

After a minute he spoke.  “They were surrounded by twelve men.  There are indications of struggle,” the large man knelt and touched his finger to the ground.  “There is some blood.  Daniel Jackson’s, I believe.  He and Captain Carter were then carried away from here.”

 

Jack’s inner voice continued to haunt him, --Oh God!  The Jaffa have them again.  Daniel!  Carter!  If they hurt them! --

 

Teal’c read his commrade’s expression, and said, “It was not the Jaffa.  The footwear is different.  I believe our friends may have made contact with the rebel group after all.”

 

“Well, dammit!  They should have waited for us!  Which way did they go, Teal’c?”

 

“This direction.  But observe, Captain Carter’s pack is still here.  We should retrieve it.”

 

The pack was lying sheltered behind a rotting tree stump, canteen and first aid kit on the ground beside it.  Also there were two large leaves, one with a pile of small fruits, the other holding several handfuls of seeds.

 

Jack groaned, “Nuts and berries.  They collected nuts and berries after all.”

 

“Before we begin the pursuit, you should take advantage of their resourcefulness and eat.”

 

Jack protested, “WE will eat.  Dig in.”

 

“O’Neill, my symbiote will sustain me much longer than this small amount of food will sustain you.  Let us not waste time.  Eat, and we will go.”

 

Jack sighed acceptance, and began quickly chewing the crunchy, nutty seeds.  After finishing off the pile of fruits, he lifted the pack onto his back and looked expectantly at the other man.

 

“This way,” Teal’c intoned.

 

Jack followed Teal’c out of the clearing, fighting back the panic, focussing on the task, cursing the day they first stepped though the Stargate. --I’m so too old for this.  My heart will not take the strain!-- 

 

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

 

This time when Daniel woke up, his mind flashed back to that time in Egypt, he’d been 19 then, that he’d had too much to drink and been tossed over the back of a camel and taken home.  One time!  Only that one time he’d, um, celebrated too much, and there were people who still would remind him of it if given the chance.  Good thing they were all on another planet.

 

No, this time no newborn daughters to toast, no fermented sugar cane juice,  no camels.  But yes to the world rolling and bouncing up and down, to dry mouth and headache.  He opened his eyes and tried to put it all together.  Flung over someone’s shoulder, running through a rocky and dry scrubland.  The pain in the head – he remembered the silent men who had materialized out of thin air back in the clearing.  He and Sam hadn’t had a chance to put up more than token resistance before a blunt object had come into contact with his head and that was that.

 

Sam!  Where was she?  He tried to lift and turn his head to look for her, stifling a groan as the splitting headache intensified.  Through his blurry vision he thought he saw another dark green bundle slung over a shoulder a few men back.  He supposed that was good.  They were still together.  At least neither of them would have to face Jack alone.

 

Oh, Jack was going to be pissed!  And Teal’c might bust a cheek frowning.  Daniel hoped they were all right, and coming for them.

 

Daniel tried to focus productively, -- Okay, sit rep.  These men aren’t Jaffa.  Good thing.  Must be the rebel slaves.  Good thing, we wanted to contact them anyway.  But they don’t seem friendly.  Understatement.  They didn’t allow for so much as a “we come in peace” before resorting to physical force.  Not a good thing.  How many are there? --   Daniel could count 8 within his field of vision, and hear more on the periphery.   --Definitely outnumbered.  Not a good thing.  I’m conscious, but I doubt Sam is.  Personally, if we’re going running, I prefer to let one of them carry me.  Sam would probably feel differently.  Sam unconscious – is that a good thing or a bad thing at this point?-- 

 

--Hey, I’m not tied up!--  He noticed for the first time that his hands were free, hanging farther down the back of the guy carrying him. -- Good thing.  Though obviously they don’t consider me much of a threat. So what else do we know about these people?  Haven’t heard a word spoken yet so, a) they must be experienced, disciplined, careful, and b) I’ve got no intel.  Don’t know a thing about them except that they can move fast and quiet.  Strong, too.  I’m not a lightweight, but I don’t seem to be slowing the guy down at all.  Are they leaving a trail that Teal’c can follow?  What am I thinking?  Of course they are, they can’t be that good.  How long was I out?  How long since they took us?  Can’t really see the sun from here.  Okay, basically as Jack would say, I don’t know squat.  Oh, my aching head. -- 

 

Suddenly, the group stopped in unison, stood listening, then moved even more soundlessly into a stand of trees to the right.  Daniel’s ‘porter’ had to crouch to pass under some heavy branches, then they were in a dark clearing before a cave entrance.  Daniel found himself hoisted off the shoulder he’d been so comfortably draped over.  His  “oof” upon hitting the ground resulted in a foot resting on his chest, and the point of a long spear poked under his chin.

 

Daniel met the dark eyes of the figure looming over him.  He said in the same language the Jaffa had been using, “Hello.  My name is Daniel.  You are the ones fighting the Jaffa, right?”

 

The man’s eyes widened, and he called to someone behind him in a dialect of the language Daniel had spoken, close but not quite the same, “Gemmal, come here.  This one’s awake and talking.”

 

The first man didn’t move a muscle as another, younger man joined him.  Daniel tried again, “My name is Daniel.  Could you let me up now?”  Daniel couldn’t even imagine how he must look right now.  Sam had managed to loop some string through the edges of his pants along the hip and leg, keeping the material closed a bit more, but he was still bloodstained and bruised, with fresh dried blood in his hair from the earlier blow.  He couldn’t be looking very reputable or trustworthy.

 

Apparently not very dangerous, either, because Gemmal nodded to the first man, who moved away.

 

As Daniel climed to his feet, Gemmal said, “You are our prisoner.  You will make no movement, or your life will be forfiet.”  Checking them out, Daniel saw that the men were all solidly built, mostly with long dark hair and eyes.  They wore shirts made of a felt-like material in earth tones or leather vests, over soft, form fitting trousers tucked into high boots.  They looked confident and capable, and well at home with their weapons.

 

“I understand.  My friends and I wanted contact you, may have much in common,” Daniel began.   He was trying to shift into the new tones and structure of the dialect, but didn’t quite have it yet.

 

Gemmal was about to respond when a shout went up behind him.  Daniel heard Sam’s voice raised, and started towards her, but was restrained by two pairs of strong hands.

 

Everyone moved toward the commotion, and found Sam pinned down flat on her back by two men holding her arms.  Another was squatting one foot on either side of her pelvis, his hands on her chest.  As Gemmal approached, the man looked up, eyes wide, face clearly paler than it was supposed to be, and said in an awstruck and slightly frightened voice, “It’s a woman.”

 

Everyone froze except Sam who renewed her struggle to get free and barked, “Get OFF me right now!”

 

Daniel called back, “Sam!  Are you all right?”

 

“Super.  You?”

 

“Yeah, trying to make like peaceful explorer here.  Tricky part of the meet and greet.”

 

“Gotcha.”  She stopped struggling, but continued glaring at the man whose hands were on her breasts.

 

Gemmal turned to Daniel for confirmation.  “It is a woman?”

 

“Yes, woman.  Name is Samantha Carter.  She is, um, thinker and warrior.  Does not speak your language.  Is it, um, not usual for women to be warriors here?”

 

Gemmal stared at Sam, moved forward to kneel beside here, then looked back at Daniel.  He said in a choked voice, “No women here.”

 

Daniel didn’t understand.  “No women warriors?”

 

“No women.  For ten years.  No women.”  He reached toward Sam tentatively, and touched a finger to the side of her face.  The others moved forward, the tension level skyrocketing.

 

Daniel thought, amazed, --No women here for ten years.  Sam is the first woman they’ve seen in ten years?  Uh oh.-- 

 

He said, his voice suddenly cold and authoritative, “Don’t touch her.”

 

The men froze again, looking to Gemmal for direction. 

 

Daniel continued, “We are envoys from another people.  Is not permitted to touch the woman.  We will speak to your leader.”

 

Gemmal looked Daniel over, unconvinced, but said, “We will take you to Gattahn, my father.  He will decide what to do with you,” he looked back at Sam, fire growing in his eyes, “and with her.”

 

The men holding her pulled Sam roughtly to her feet as Gemmal and the other stepped back.  They walked toward the cave enterance.  She asked Daniel, “What’s happening?”

 

“They’re taking us to their leader.  Sam, these men haven’t seen a woman in ten years!”

 

She looked over at him in alarm, “What?”

 

“Really.  We’re going to have to play this very carefully.  We, especially you, are in a lot of danger here.  Try not to provoke them.  Seriously.”

 

“They’re not taking me without a fight.”

 

“Understood.  If it comes to that, I’m right there with you.  But let’s try to avoid it, OK?”

 

“It’s not really up to me.”

 

They entered the cave and moved into the darkness.  Though Daniel was totally blinded, the other men walked quickly and casually.  Perhaps their eyes were dark adapted.  They wound their way into the hillside for some minutes.  Daniel was starting to feel totally vulnerable again.  They would never find their way out of here without light.  Without help.

 

Once, he heard Sam’s voice, “Daniel?”

 

“Still here.”

 

“Just checking.”

 

They came to a stop, a cavern of some kind judging by the reverberations.  Gemmal held a whispered conversation, then someone approached.  A voice in the dark asked, “You are called Daniel?”

 

“Yes.  I can’t see you.  Could we have some light?”

 

There was a sound like liquid in a container, then a fizz as a soft glow filled the room.  Daniel tried to take it all in as quickly as possible, sure that Sam was doing the same.  The cavern was low ceilinged.  Standing up straight, Daniel had about 5 inches of headroom.  The chamber was unadorned, with five doors leading into darkened tunnels.  On one side of the room were a pair of low, short-legged, broad chairs that would be comfortable for a large man to sit cross-legged in.

 

There were eight men in the room, in addition to Daniel and Sam, all staring at her.  They were a powerful looking group, but Daniel had no problem picking out the leader.  One large man, about fifty years old with brown, graying hair and beard stood out from the others.  He had a strong charismatic presence, a sense of power about him.  That was Gattahn, the last syllable was pronounced with a guttural growl that certainly seemed appropriate.  He was looking at Sam, a hungry gleam in his eyes.  She tensed as he stepped toward her.

 

Time to distract him.

 

“Master Gattahn.  We are travelers from far away.  We came through the Chaapa’ai and were attacked by the Jaffa of Heru’ur.  How is it that you come to this place?”

 

The older man continued his slow approach toward Sam, but replied, “We come from the world Neelot.  Our people were slaves to the Goa’uld, but we grew strong and attempted to throw them out.”  He raised his head high and moved in close behind Sam.  “We failed, that time.”  He raised his hands to run his fingers down her arms. 

 

She tensed to defend herself, but Daniel stopped her.  “Sam, give me a chance.”

 

She threw him a doubtful look, but acceded.  “Trusting you, Daniel.”

 

The other man, momentarily captivated by the sound of her voice, nevertheless continued, “Our punishment was that all the men and boys over the age of 8 were banished to this planet, to work the cursed mines.  They have promised to send us home, but do not.  Now we will take our freedom, punish the Jaffa animals, and force them to show us the symbols to travel home.  The women, the girls await us.”

 

With a nod of his head, two men grabbed Sam and threw her to the ground.  Both received blows that knocked them back, but they were immediately replaced by two more.  When Daniel attempted to intervene, he was restrained by another pair.  After a struggle, Sam was pinned down by a man on each outspread arm, leaving her body vulnerable to the man who knelt over her.  The similarity with the position he had been in only the day before was not lost on Daniel, and the knot of fear for his friend that rose in his stomach strengthened his resolve.

 

As Gattahn placed his hands on Sam’s breasts, a look of ecstasy spread across his face. 

 

“Gattahn, no!  Don’t hurt her, please!  She is a valuable person in her own right, not for you to use.”

 

The man ignored him and began to move his hands sensually, exploring the contours of Sam’s chest, and down over her belly to her hips.

 

“Her name is Samantha Carter, Sam.  She’s part of a team which visits new worlds to seek allies against the Goa’uld.  She has a father named Jacob and a brother named Mark.”

 

“Is she your woman?”

 

“She is a free person, she belongs to no one.  Sam is my friend.  Please release her.”

 

“Silence him.”

 

One of the men restraining Daniel swung a short, blunt stick into the side of his already abused head, and through the pain he felt his knees give way.  When his vision cleared, he was kneeling on the ground between his captors. 

 

Gattahn had pulled Sam’s T shirt free from her pants, and slid his hands underneath to caress her breasts, encountering the further barrier of her sports bra.  He ran his palms over the warm, smooth surface of the material.

 

“Gattahn, don’t!  My people and yours can help each other.  Together we can defeat the Jaffa and retake the Stargate.  We will help you find your planet.  Do you have a wife?”  The look on the rebel leader’s face answered him.  “We will help you find her.”

 

The older man’s face hardened and clouded again.  After savoring the smoothness of Sam’s chest, he pushed her T shirt up under her chin and slid her sports bra top up as well, exposing her naked breasts.  A groan sounded from several men in the room, who moved forward to gaze on her.

 

Sam began to struggle against her stronger attackers, with no effect.  Others were drawn to the spectacle, and men began appearing in the doorways, craning their necks for a look, while not daring to enter.

 

Daniel continued desperately, “We will help you find your wife again, and then what will you tell her?  That you couldn’t wait for her, you had to rape the first innocent woman you laid your eyes on?  A woman named Sam, who has friends and family who care about her.”

 

As Gattahn’s fingertips gently traced the outline of Sam’s nipples, he growled again, “Silence him!”

 

Two more blunt blows impacted Daniel’s face and head.  He slumped, allowing his captors to hold him on his knees, and spat out the blood running into his mouth from a cut where he had bitten his cheek.

 

As Gattahn’s hands explored Sam’s breasts, Daniel began again, “Our people will help you, but not if you hurt this woman.  If you hurt her, you will have made more enemies, because we will avenge her.  Is this worth losing your chance to go home?  Do you condem your people to exile because you can’t control yourself?”

 

Gattahn frowned furiously, and Daniel rushed on.  “You called the Jaffa animals.  Well those animals tried to do the same thing to me yesterday.  This woman prevented it.”  He pulled his restrained arms together enough to yank down the zipper on his jacket.  “They did THIS to me!”  He tore the guaze pads off his neck and shoulder, revealing the inflamed bite marks and bruises.  Gattahn looked up at him and took in the displayed wounds.  Daniel continued, “Is this what you would do to her?  Are you the same as the Jaffa?  Is this the kind of man you are?”

 

A low growl rumbled from Gattahn’s throat, and one of the men hit Daniel again.  The leader’s hands stilled, one cupping each breast, and he bent his head, breath coming rapidly.

 

Daniel’s senses were reeling, but he saw that the other man was struggling with himself.  He hadn’t had a woman in ten years, and here was one for the taking.  He had the power.  He had the desire.  But Daniel could tell that he was getting to him.

 

Almost there, he continued softly, “Gattahn.  Please.  She’s my friend and you’re scaring her.  Look at her.  Please.”

 

The rebel leader looked into the captive woman’s eyes for the first time, and saw a person looking back at him.  Daniel had won.  Gattahn’s shoulders slumped, and the tension began to leave his body, but his hands remained where they were, his eyes locked with Sam’s.

 

“So, Daniel from far away.  What is it you propose?”

 

Pain, fear and exhaustion were taking their toll on him, but Daniel had to hold on a while longer.  “We become allies.  There are four of us here, if you didn’t know that already.  The other two went to communicate with our planet.  We need to find them.  Jack O’Neill is our leader and a clever warrior.  He has defeated the Goa’uld before.  We all have.  The other man, Teal’c, is a Jaffa,” their shoulders stiffened at the word, “but he has joined us to fight against the Goa’uld.  It’s important that your people remember this:  He is a Jaffa who bears the mark of Apophis on his brow, but he is our friend.  No matter how you hate the Jaffa, Teal’c is different.  Do not harm him, and you will find him a great ally.  First we find them, bring them here.  Together we will plan a great battle, so that we can all go home.”

 

Gattahn listened impassively.  He continued to gaze down at Sam.  Suddenly, her stomach rumbled.  The warrior woman bit back a curse at the timing, but the older man laughed, eyes twinkling, and sat back.

 

“Release them.”

 

As the men dropped Daniel to the ground, the others loosened their hold on Sam, who rolled away pulling her clothing down and scrambled to Daniel’s side.

 

“You speak fiercely, young Daniel, but I believe that you are in need of immediate assistance, are you not?  Food, rest,”  he eyed Daniel’s state of dress, “and clothing.”

 

He spoke to the others in the room.  “Let it be known that the woman is under my protection.  No one shall touch her without my permission.  I have spoken.”

 

The other men nodded.

 

“Tend them.  We will talk in the morning.”  He turned and walked out.

 

The other men began to drift away reluctantly, casting intense glances back at Sam.

 

She steadied Daniel as he sat up.  “How are you?”

 

“Fine.  Relieved.  We have a temporary alliance, at least.  I promised them a lot, but we can worry about that later, right?”

 

“Right.  Thank you, Daniel.  Thank you so much.”

 

He smiled a half grimace at her serious face and answered, “We’re not really safe yet, but so far so good.”

 

A small man with an ageless, timid face approached them, bowing shyly.  “Would you come with me?”  He was carrying a small bowl with some glowing rocks crumbled inside it.

 

Daniel replied, “Yes, of course.  Thank you.”

 

The man walked into one of the dark tunnels, and the Earthlings followed, Sam’s hand supporting Daniel’s arm.

 

The man, Mohab they discovered, led them to a small, bare chamber and leaving the light, disappeared.  A few minutes later he returned with a pair of trousers to replace Daniel’s shredded fatigues, a blanket and some food.

 

“You can rest here.  I’m sorry we can’t offer you better accommodation, but we had to leave all our comforts in the town when we defied the Jaffa.”

 

“We’ll be fine.  You’ve been very kind.”

 

“Please stay here.  While Gattahn’s command will be obeyed, your presence here is very provocative.  It would be best if you didn’t attract attention.”

 

“I understand.  Thank you for the warning.”

 

Mohab bowed again and backed out of the room.  Sam smiled after him.  “I guess it takes all kinds.  Most of the men we’ve seen have been so rough, and he seems so, well, gentle.”

 

“Almost femine, yes.  It’ll be fascinating to see how this relatively free society, as compared to a prison for example, has adapted to being all men with no women.  We can assume that some roles normally filled by the female gender would be reassigned to some of the men.  It will be interesting to note to what extent those roles are shared by all, and to what extent individuals become indentified with the tasks, and whether…”

 

“Daniel,” she interrupted tiredly, “not now please.  Let’s just eat.”

 

“Oh, sorry.  Yes let’s.”

 

They gave their attention to the meal, a rough unleavened bread spread thickly with a spicy paste, some small oblong fruit/vegetables, and cups of bitter tea.  Sam mused, “I wonder what the Colonel and Teal’c are having for dinner?”

 

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

 

Teal’c led the way as the pair tracked their missing collegues, O’Neill trotting alertly behind him.  About two hundred yards along they found Carter’s radio lying in the dirt, probably dropped there as they carried her away.  Less than an hour after setting out, it began to get dark.  Teal’c called a halt and announced that they must pass the night there.

 

O’Neill protested, “But it was light last night, with the two moons.  Let’s keep on going.”

 

“I believe that would be unwise.  The trail we follow is faint.  The moonlight causes the shadows to fall differently, and we could easily misread the signs, and have great difficulty regaining the trail.”

 

Jack was frustrated, but agreed.  “I hate to think of them held captive somewhere.  How far ahead of us do you think they are?”

 

“Some hours, I’m afraid.  Perhaps 4 or 5.”

 

“Damn.  At least the night is short.  Okay, you get some good kel-no-reem time in, and you can replace me on watch in three hours.  I sure could use some more of those nuts and berries about now,” he complained.

 

“There are animals in the undergrowth around us, but I’m afraid my staff weapon would be too destructive, and your gun too noisy.”

 

“We could zat ‘em, but we can’t risk a fire to cook with, and I’m not desperate enough to chow down on raw opossum.  We’ll just have to make do with this tasty and so good for you water.  Oh joy.”

 

They settled against a rock to the side of the trail, and each fell to thinking about the events of the last days, the challenges to come, and wondering how their friends were.

 

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

 

After Sam and Daniel finished the food, for a few minutes they sat looking at each other in an exhausted stupor.  Finally, Daniel said, “Sleep.  Now.”

 

“Absolutely.  I’ll take the first watch.”

 

“Look, Sam, what good will standing watch do under these conditions?  We’re already totally in their power.  I think we’ll both need all the sleep that this supposed ‘night’ has to offer.”

 

“You’re probably right.  It just makes me nervous, especially since we’re totally in their power.  And you’ve noticed the steady stream of faces leering through the door, haven’t you?”

 

“Yeah.  Doesn’t make for a restful night, does it?  Well, I  suggest some strategic positioning.  You lie down over here near the wall, with me on the inside.  No one can sneak up on you that way.”

 

Lacking a better idea, other than sitting curled up in the corner with a rock in her hand, Sam did as he suggested.  Daniel lay down next to her, and flung their one blanket over the both of them.  Staring at the ceiling, they were aware of the continued activity in the doorway, and were unable to sleep.

 

Sam decided to take charge.  She turned on her side facing the wall, and suggested that Daniel spoon in behind her.  His broader frame would shield her completely from the doorway, and frankly, the physical contact was comforting.  Pleasantly snuggled in to her warm back, Daniel let her cushion her head on one arm, and wrapped the other across her chest, hand resting on her shoulder.  Hugging her close and lightly kissing the back of her head, he chuckled.  “Last night all cuddled up with Jack.  Tonight all cuddled up with you. I hope the others are here by tomorrow night, so I can get a turn in with Teal’c.  If so, then this mission will definitely rate as one of the best ever, as far as I’m concerned.”

 

She answered affectionately, “You’re silly, Daniel.”  But she couldn’t stop herself from worrying about everything that could happen between now and tomorrow night.

 

Both were asleep within minutes.

 

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

 

Sam woke to total blackness.  The glow from the bowl had obviously died.  She felt warm and drowsy, and aroused.  Daniel’s arm had slipped down, and his hand now rested softly on her breast.  Oh, god, did that feel good.  She breathed deeply, and felt her chest move against him.  She took in his warmth, his masculine presence, his distinctive scent.  Admittedly in need of a shower, but then so was she, too.  She nestled back a little closer to him, then reprimanded herself forcefully. -- Oh Sammie, do not let yourself go there.  The poor man’s exhausted, and could there be a worse time or place?  Okay, under control.  No problem.--

 

Then the errant hand tightened on her breast, and her breath caught.  She could feel his arousal against her rear, though she knew he wasn’t really awake yet.  A surge of desire shot through her, and she prayed   -- Oh lord, give me strength! --    She and Daniel had an unusual friendship.  The fondness and trust between them allowed them to appreciate each other in a physical, sexual way without it becoming too intense.  But why couldn’t they just have a nice little illicit encounter in the store room, like everyone else?  No, this had to came up between them at totally inappropriate moments like in the middle of missions.  This time not only inappropriate, but dangerous, too.

 

She felt Daniel nuzzle the back of her neck and whisper, “Oh, Sam.  Bad timing, huh?”  His hand caressed her breast.

 

She answered breathlessly, “Yeah.”

 

“We’re absolutely NOT doing anything to draw attention to how incredibly beautiful and desirable you are.”

 

She could barely get out, “Absolutely not,” as a shiver of electricity ran directly from nipple to groin.

 

“I mean, just because we can’t see them in the dark, doesn’t mean they can’t see us.  And this blanket will only cover so much.”

 

His lips brushed her neck.

 

Sam was starting to sweat.  “I’m sorry, Daniel.  I’m really trying here, but I have to tell you that I want you so much right now, I could scream.”  She moved her rear against him, and elicited a soft groan in response.

 

“Sam, what are we going to do?”

 

She started to turn to face him, but he tightened his arm, and held her in place.

 

He whispered, “Damage control.  No one’s getting naked, and nothing athletic.  How ‘bout I just touch you a little.  Does that sound good?”

 

She was not going to object when he shifted her head so his arm could angle up across her chest, and clasp the other breast.  Being held immobile by Daniel and pawed, in a good way, was so erotic.  She tried to slip her hand between them to stroke his erection, but he shifted away from her. 

 

“Please Sam!  Not a good idea.  Just let me do this.  Relax.”

 

She forgot the forming protest as he massaged her nipples with the palms of his hands.  They grew stiff and pushed at the two layers of cloth.

 

The man behind her whispered, “I can imagine how your naked breasts would look right now.  The texture of your skin.  Their weight and roundness.  So perfect.  So you.” 

 

His hands and fingers moved inquisitively across her torso.  She was already fully wet, and his words made the ache between her legs almost unbearable.  As she sucked in a breath, her spine arched outward, shoulders and rear pushing into him.

 

“Oh Daniel, please!”

 

The arm beneath her head shifted again, so he could reach that hand under her shirt, push up her sports bra, and rub both nipples with outstreached fingers and thumb.  At the same time, the other hand moved over her belly and downward.  His fingers pushed into the space between her legs, exsposing the heat trapped there.  This contact, even through the thick cloth of her combat trousers made her vagina vibrate with anticipation.  She would have writhed against him, but his arms held her motionless.  Sam clenched her hands to keep from flailing out.  She thought, --Anyone who looks in now should see two sleeping people.  Just take it and don’t move!-- 

 

Daniel shifted that hand back up to undo the button, loosen the zipper, and slip into her pants.  His fingers stroked her pubic hair, and tickled her inner thights.  She shifted her legs slightly to allow him better access, and his fingers strayed down to her labia, testing her wetness.  Her pelvis moved involuntarily, pushing into his hand.  Small gasps escaped with her quickening breath.  He was touching her there.  He had to touch her inside, too.  He had to!

 

Daniel’s index finger drew circles around the sensitive point of her clitoris, increasing her urgency, then slipped slowly into her body.  She stilled as she revelled in the sensation.  More, she needed more.  Must have said it out loud, because his warm breath was murmuring in her ear, “Sshh.  Quiet.  Be still.”

 

“Now!” she whispered back, command evident.

 

He added a second finger to the caress, and made sure to locate her G spot, the point on the front side of her vagina that amplified the pleasure tenfold.  He plunged his fingers in and out, positioning them to make long strokes over the sensitive spot.

 

Sam allowed her pelvis to rotate in small circles, and couldn’t help but pant as the stimulation grew.  He held her as tightly as he could as she rocked helplessly into his hand, seeking her release.  His hand left her breast to clamp over her mouth as the motion of his fingers inside of her drove Sam over the edge.  Her climax crested, and she would have forgotten everything and cried out her pleasure for the world to hear.

 

Daniel removed the hand from her mouth so she could suck in great gulps of air, and her body calmed.  Sam slumped back against him as she began to recover her sense of self.  She turned her head into his neck and cooed several small “oh”s by way of thanks.  Her hand trailed down his arm and wrist, and came to a rest on top of his hand, which was still cupped over her pubic mound.

 

She dozed languidly for a moment, then moved her hand once again toward Daniel’s still prominent erection, whispering his name.  And once again he stopped her.  “Hold that thought, woman, I’m definately going to want a rain check.  But not now.  Not here.  It’s all right, I’ve really enjoyed this.”

 

“Okay, you lout,” she joked.  “Putting me through that while holding back yourself.  I’m going to get you but good.  In fact, I know of a store room on level 26 that comes highly recommended for that kind of payback.”

 

“It’s a date.  On base, yet.  Very naughty.”

 

“You may have noticed that I’m not quite as straight laced as my reputation makes me out to be.”

 

“Yes, I think I had noticed that.”

 

They relaxed into a more comfortable positon, his arms still around her, and drifted back to sleep.

 

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

 

They awoke next when Mohab, who was apparently going to be their personal attendant, shook Daniel’s shoulder.  “My friends must wake now.  Gattahn wishes to speak to you.”

 

They sat up quickly, squinting in the dim light of another bowl of glowing rocks.

 

Daniel answered him, “Yes, thank you.  We’ll be right with you.”

 

“Here, I’ve brought you some more food and drink, and water to wash with.  Please attend to your needs, and I will return for you soon.”

 

After gratefully consuming their rations, they used the bucket of water and cloths to clean themselves as best they could.  Sam worked most of the blood out of Daniel’s hair, and cleaned and checked his wounds.  Without the medkit, she couldn’t replace the dressings, but luckily everything seemed to be healing without any problems. 

 

Just as they finished arranging themselves to be as presentable as possible, Mohab returned.  He guided them first to a nearby chamber with a hole cut in the floor, underneath which ran a small stream of water.  Next to it sat a pile of soft moss.  The purpose of this place was evident.

 

Sam smiled. “The man read my mind!”

 

Daniel blushed, and stammered, “You first.  I…I’ll just guard the door.”

 

Sam thought it sweet that after the intimacies they’d shared, Daniel still had the capacity for shyness around the simplest things.  As a soldier, she saw personal hygiene as a pretty matter of fact business.  She relieved herself quickly, and said with a twinkle, “Okay, now it’s your turn.  I’ll make sure no one walks in on you.”

 

She stood in the doorway looking out.  It was pitch black, the only light being behind her, but she could sense movement down one passageway.  It was very disconcerting that everyone else was virtually invisible, and her tension began to return.  Suddenly Mohab appeared beside her, where he stood staring at her as though she were an alien.  Which she was, technically.  To break the silence, Sam said, “Hello.”  The man jumped as though bitten by a snake, and didn’t respond.  He had a look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place.  Jealousy?  Fear?

 

Daniel rejoined them, and Mohab led them to the room they’d been in the day before.  As they traveled through the hallways, they encountered men, singlely or in groups, who stopped where they stood, and stared silently as they passed.  Each and every one.  Daniel reached for Sam’s hand, and drew her to walk closer to him.  He didn’t release his hold, but Sam didn’t object, thinking, --If it makes him feel better, I can live with it!-- 

 

In the ‘audience’ room, Gattahn was seated, cross-legged in one of the two chairs, and motioned for Daniel to take the other.  He shrugged at Sam, and sat, leaving her to settle on the floor at his side.  The rebel leader began speaking to Daniel, obviously getting to the point without preamble.  She felt Daniel stiffen beside her, and looked up to see his face go completely white.

 

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

 

Gattahn began, “Last night you pleasured the woman.”

 

Daniel felt the blood drain from his head and the knot of fear return to his belly.  God, they’d been stupid!  What in hell had he been thinking?  This could write their death warrant if he couldn’t pull their butts out of it but fast.

 

“You saw?”

 

“Yes, I was in the room watching you the whole time.  You said that she was not your woman.”

 

“She is not.  She is a free woman, and she is my friend.”

 

Gattahn raised his eyebrows.  “I will be her friend as well.  I will touch her in that way.  I will have what you took.”  His eyes began to undress her right there.

 

Daniel became still and serious.  He didn’t spare a look at Sam, but focused all his attention on the intense man in front of him and took a deep breath.  When he spoke, he locked eyes with Gattahn and would not release him. 

 

“Perhaps it has been so long that you have forgotten what it’s like to give a woman pleasure, to feel her tremble in ecstasy at your touch.”  This was a dangerous line to take and Gattahn looked close to violence, but Daniel had to get his attention.  “I say perhaps you’ve forgotten because otherwise you would know that a woman does not open herself to a man in that way on demand.  It is a gift that can only be given freely.  I took nothing from her; her pleasure was a gift that Sam gave to me.  Perhaps you are remembering the joy of your wife’s response to you.  Perhaps you shall experience it again.”

 

When Daniel fell silent, Gattahn held his gaze for a moment, then let his eyes drop again to the woman.  She watched them intently, as though she knew they were talking about her.  Her finger tips rested lightly on Daniel’s thigh.  He raised his face again, and said to Daniel, “You speak with wisdom.  It is very annoying.”  Then he smiled, and Daniel relaxed slightly.

 

The young man continued, “We acted inappropriately.  It will not happen again.  I ask your tolerance for our irresponsible behaviour.”

 

“You are young and impulsive.  I understand this.”  His dangerous eyes sparkled in amusement.  “I do, in fact remember what that is like.  But you will do well to be circumspect.  Do you understand?”

 

“I do, sir.”  He nodded his head once, with great seriousness, a gesture borrowed from a certain Jaffa friend.

 

Sensing a pause, Sam whispered a question, “Daniel?  What is it?”

 

“Can I explain later?  I think we should move on right away.”  He turned back to Gattahn.  “Is there any word of our friends?”

 

“More friends?  Are you all this close?”

 

Oh, boy.  This guy wasn’t going to let him off the hook.

 

Gattahn continued, “Search parties set out at sunrise, but none have reported back yet.”

 

“They probably haven’t had time to find them,” Daniel suggested. 

 

“They’ve had more time than you realize.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You have ‘slept’ half the day away.  The sun rose 5 hours ago.”

 

“Oh.”  Daniel was stunned.  It must be the disorientation of  being underground.

 

He relayed this news to Sam, and then went on.  “I was thinking.  Our friends Jack and Teal’c don’t know that we’ve reached an understanding here.  All they know is that you took us by force.  They’re not going to just walk up to your people and introduce themselves.  Maybe Sam and I should go out and try to find them.”

 

“You will stay inside here.  My men will bring them.”

 

“I just mean that Jack and Teal’c are very good.  You won’t find them unless they want to be found.  Perhaps if you gave your search teams a message from me, they could call it out.”

 

“That might be appropriate.  What would you have them say?”

 

He thought a moment.  “Tell them to say, ‘Space Monkey says come on down.’  He’ll know it’s from me.  Except that Jack doesn’t speak your language either.  Teal’c does, though, or something close.”

 

Gattahn agreed to pass the message along, and signalled to a man lurking in the doorway, who came over to receive his instructions, then turned and slipped away.

 

Daniel proceeded to question Gattahn about his people and their situation, frequently translating for and consulting Sam as the conversation progressed.  For her part, she prompted, “Ask him about the glowing rocks.  Ask him about their mining techniques.”

 

Gattahn in turn probed about Earth’s, and especially SG1’s, experiences with the Goa’uld and martial capabilities.  Many of the questions he referred to Sam.  After a couple of hours, Sam and Daniel were taken by Mohab on a tour of the underground complex, then fed again.  Despite feeling more confident of the strength of their alliance, the threatening feeling of being watched, of agression just below the surface, never left them.

 

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

 

O’Neill and Teal’c began following the trail again at first light, discussing their options.  Yes, they were hoping to form some kind of alliance with the rebel group, but the initial contact had been clearly hostile in nature, and they couldn’t be sure what state they’d find their team mates in, if they were still alive at all.  They may need rescuing.  Clearly, discretion would be the better part of valor. 

 

As they travelled into the thickening forest, they stopped a couple of times to clear some bushes of small fruits like the ones Carter and Daniel had left.  Since they didn’t know where the seeds had come from, they had to make do with that.

 

After traveling for several hours, Teal’c, still in the lead, stopped and held up his hand.  He made a brief signal, and the pair slipped soundlessly into the bushes, crouching there to wait.  After a minute, four armed men came into sight, following the same route backwards.  They moved smoothly and unobtrusively, the colors of their clothing blending into the landscape.  But they passed the hiding place and continued along the way O’Neill and Teal’c had come, slowing down and looking around more carefully.  When a young man gave a signal, the four fanned out to look for signs in the forest, and continued moving forward.

 

Jack and Teal’c let them get a fair distance ahead, then began to follow carefully.  The previous trail now being disturbed, they hoped that this group would lead them back to the rebel base.  The locals moved cautiously, keeping a sharp watch out everywhere except behind them, and their pursuers were able to track them even as they turned back toward the direction they had come.  After about an hour, another man approached them, held a brief conversation with the group’s young leader, then disappeared into the trees again.

 

Jack began to feel impatient, and called Teal’c over for a consultation.  “Look, this could take hours, or days.  I think it’s time we took a more direct approach.  Let’s get the drop on these guys, and see what we can get out of them.”  Teal’c readily agreed, and they set out with new purpose.

 

The pair flanked the team, then Teal’c threw a rock into a clump of tall bushes.  The four stilled, then moved in cautiously at the leader’s signal.  As the first two entered the thicket, O’Neill snuck up behind one of the two farther back, and hit him soundly on the head with the butt of his gun, catching the man as he fell and lowering him silently to the ground.  Teal’c similarly disposed of the second man, and they moved into the brush themselves. 

 

Soon after spoting his next target, O’Neill lost sight of Teal’c.  Stalking the young man carefully, Jack moved closer.  At the sound of a startled yelp from their left, the man pivoted, long spear at the ready.  Jack chose that moment to launch his attack, leaping from behind a large rock to tackle his prey to the ground.  This he succeeded in doing, but not before receiving a blow from the base of the spear directly into his stomach.  Jack didn’t allow the pain to register, as his instincts drove him to disarm the other warrior, and roll him onto his stomach, pinning his arms behind his back with the weight of his body. 

 

Fully in control of the man beneath him, Jack snarled in his ear, “All right, buddy.  Where’re my people?”

 

The young man began to talk quickly, and Jack could clearly make out the word ‘Daniel’ more than once.  Jack barked an approximation of the ‘shut-up’ word he’d learned two days ago, which the man apparently understood well enough to obey.

 

O’Neill called softly, “Teal’c?”

 

“Here, O’Neill.”  The large man materialized beside him.

 

“He’s trying to say something about Daniel. Can you make it out?”

 

Teal’c posed a short question, and the man replied urgently.

 

“He says that our friends are guests of his people, and that they wish us to acccompany these warriors to their base.  He asserts that Daniel Jackson has sent a message so that you would know that this is the truth.”

 

“And what message would that be?”

 

Frowning, Teal’c had the man repeat that part, then turned back to his commanding officer.  “It makes little sense.  ‘The astral simian says to go down.’”

 

Jack snorted.  “The astral simian says to what?”  He thought a moment.  “Astral simian.  Space monkey.  That’s our Danny-boy.  I’ll have to clear up the rest of that message with him later!”

 

Jack cautiously rolled off the young man, who sat up warily.  He spoke again, and Teal’c translated, “His name is Gemmal, and his father is the leader of these people.  He will lead us to their base, but first wishes to check on the condition of his men.”

 

Jack winced, “How bad are yours hurt?”

 

“I fear that one has suffered a broken arm.”

 

The one that Jack had hit appeared to have a concussion and had to be supported to stand, while the third recovered quickly.  Casting an apologetic look at Gemmal, Jack motioned, “Lead on.”

 

Throwing suspicious, faintly hostile glances at Teal’c, Gemmal nodded, and led the group back into the forest. 

 

Finally, they were on their way to see their missing team mates.  Jack hoped that they were all right, and that they’d been able to come to an understanding with these rebels.  The men they were walking with were good.  Not as good as Jack or Teal’c, but they would be formidable adversaries just the same.  He hoped that Daniel had been able to work his magic with this rough group, and wasn’t lying in a prison somewhere.  Well, they’d know soon enough.

 

After walking for only about a half an hour, they stepped through a barrier of thick trees into a clearing.  Suddenly, about half a dozen men poured out of an opening in the cliff face, while the same amount appeared out of the forest to surround the newcomers.  Jack and Teal’c both brought their weapons up and assumed a defensive back to back position, as the men around them moved forward brandishing their spears and bows and arrows.  Gemmal snapped an order, and the others ceased to advance, but maitained their aggressive stance.  Gemmal spoke then to Teal’c, who informed O’Neill, “He insists that we surrender our weapons before we proceed.”

 

“I don’t like it!”

 

“Nor do I, but in truth we would require no less in their place.  If you believe that the message from Daniel Jackson is real, then perhaps it would be best to comply.”

 

Reluctantly, Jack lowered his gun.  It was snatched out of his hand immediately by one of the rebels, who then brought the point of his spear up under Jack’s chin.  Jack returned the unfriendly gaze of his captor with his own steely stare.  He heard Teal’c move abruptly, and slowly turned his head toward his friend. 

 

Three men were surrounding the Jaffa, one of whom was attempting to tie his hands behind his back.  Teal’c argued briefly with the young leader, then allowed himself to be bound.  Seeing O’Neill’s questioning look, he said simply, “They are afraid of Jaffa, and we must proceed.”

 

Jack got a sense of just how much his team mate was trusting Daniel’s word.  To allow himself to be restrained like that by antagonistic warriors they were only hoping would be allies, had to go against every instinct Teal’c had. 

 

The two were pushed forward brusquely and led into the cave mouth.  They were soon blinded by the darkness, as their friends before them had been, and led through a series of tunnels.  Suddenly the group stopped, and Jack and Teal’c were shoved roughly to their knees.  Jack could hear movement around them, then a voice hissing to one side,  beginning with the word, “Jaffa….”

 

Jack could hear the hostility in the intense voice, and worried for Teal’c’s safety.  These men were at war with Jaffa, and it was understandable that they would have trouble accepting one in their midst.  He just hoped nothing happened that they would all regret later.

 

Just then, Jack began to sense the glow of an approaching light.  A man holding some kind of lamp in his hands stepped into the room, and following behind him were Carter and Jackson.  Daniel’s face was dusted with new beard growth, and he was still wearing Jack’s seen-better-days jacket.  He also had on some clingy new trousers that were not much less revealing than the old torn ones.  Carter’s hair was disheveled, but otherwise she looked remarkably spit and polish considering how many days she’d been in the same clothes.  Jack wanted to jump up and run over to hug them senseless, but was resoundingly put off the idea by the spear point in his back.

 

Daniel took in the sight of the large, bearded man snarling into Teal’c’s face, and walked forward, speaking urgently.  Carter moved like she was glued to Daniel’s side, one hand gripping his jacket as they approached the conflict.

 

The bearded man turned angry eyes on Daniel, and spat several sentences accusingly at the linguist.  Jack could see how tightly Daniel held himself in control as he replied, and knew that he was trying to defuse a dangerous situation.  The man glared at Daniel for several seconds, as though he was imagining a violent response, then straightened up.  With one final sneer, he barked a command and retreated to the side of the small room.

 

The spear was withdrawn from Jack’s back, and a man bent down to cut Teal’c free from his bonds.  Jack stood slowly, and moved toward his team mates, keeping one eye on the man who seemed to be the local leader.

 

“Daniel?  Carter?  How ya doin’?” 

 

“Good, Jack.  Are we glad to see you!”

 

As he stepped in front of them, Jack got a better look at Daniel’s face.  Fuming, he reached out to take hold of Daniel’s chin, and turn his head so that he could see the extent of the new damage there.  His eyes narrowed dangerously, and he turned his head to seek out the beared man, who met his gaze directly.  Jack silently accused the other man, who understood the communication perfectly.  He answered Jack just as silently, ‘Yes, I did that.  And if I like I’ll do worse.  You’d best remember that.’  The exchange continued as Jack responded with a look that clearly stated, ‘You touch him again, I’ll kill you.’

 

Daniel was watching this silent altercation with growing alarm.  He brought his hands up to Jack’s arms, to pull his attention back to himself, saying, “Easy there, Jack.  Don’t go all alpha male on me.  There’s a lot going on here that I need to tell you about.  Let’s go talk, okay?”

 

Jack nodded, and Daniel said something briefly to their ‘host’.  The man motioned with his chin to one doorway, and turned his back on them to exit via another.

 

The group followed the light man out into a corridor.  Jack noticed how uncharacteristically silent Carter was, and how she was still plastered to Daniel’s side as they walked, while he kept one hand on the small of her back.  Jack was working toward a teasing comment when they passed a knot of men in the tunnel.  Serious faces watched silently, fixed intently on the pair at the front until they were distracted by the sight of a Jaffa.  Jack frowned.  What was going on here?  His unease grew as another man passed them, leering at Carter blatantly.  Okaaay, what the hell was going on here?

 

Presently they were ushered into a small plain room with one blanket in the corner and a jug of water and two cups to one side.   Jack did a 360, then said, “Nice digs you got here.  Planning on putting it up for a Better Homes and Gardens award?”

 

He glanced at Daniel, and saw that the young man was leaning slumped against one wall with his face in his hands. 

 

“Daniel?”

 

He looked up at Jack, his face a study in exhaustion.  “Sorry, I’m just so relieved that you’re finally here.  It’s been so…tense.”  Whatever load Daniel had been carrying, he was evidently pleased to be able to pass it to Jack.

 

Teal’c spoke then to the woman, who hadn’t moved more than a foot away from Daniel.  “Captain Carter, are you well?”

 

“Yeah, thanks.  This place puts me on edge.  I’m really glad you guys could join us.”

 

“As am I.  Please tell us what has happened.  Are these people truly to be trusted as allies?”

 

Daniel answered,  “Oh, that’s a long story…”

 

The light-man returned then with a tray of food, and the four sat down on the floor.  While the new arrivals ate, Daniel explained the situation of the Neelot people.

 

Jack listened in amazement.  “Seriously, not a single woman on this planet for ten years?  No wonder they’re a bit testy.”

 

Daniel laughed cynically.  “Exactly.  Waaay too much testosterone.”

 

Jack turned to Carter with concern.  “Did they hurt you?”

 

She shot a brief glance at Daniel before responding, “I’m fine, sir.”

 

Jack didn’t buy it.  “Okay, Carter.  Spill.  What happened.”

 

She blushed slightly, but her mouth tightened as she answered.  “Well sir, things were going very much in the same direction as what happened to Daniel the other day.”  She looked at her young team mate with open admiration. “But Daniel stopped him.”

 

“Who was it?  Was it that Yucatan guy?” O’Neill demanded of Daniel.

 

“Um, yeah.  But don’t go off all half cocked.  We worked it out.”

 

“How?  There’s a  big old rebel leader who hasn’t gotten any in ten years getting ready to rape Carter here, and you worked it out.  Have you got a strategic nuke hidden someplace you didn’t tell me about?”

 

“No, Jack.  I used the only weapons I’m really good with.  Words.”

 

“You talked him out of it?”  Jack was stunned.

 

“Well, it wasn’t easy.  I had to work at it for quite a while.”

 

Carter added, “That’s how he got those bruises and swollen lip.  They kept hitting him to shut him up, but he wouldn’t, and finally he got through.  Gattahn placed me under his protection, so no one else has touched me.  That doesn’t stop them from looking, though.  Daniel’s been running interference for me ever since.”

 

Both O’Neill and Teal’c were gazing at Daniel with pride.  He looked up at them and asked, “What?”

 

Jack spoke, “Well, the other day when they were getting ready to, um, hurt you, I couldn’t do squat.  I was just a dead weight along for the ride.  It took Teal’c and his staff weapon to stop that bozo.  Now you were in exactly the same position with Carter, and you talk him out of it.  I’m just a little impressed, and feel more than a little superfluous.”

 

“But Jack, that was a totally different thing.  There was no chance at all of stopping that guy the other day.  If you remember, I tried to talk to him.  He wouldn’t hear me.  Gattahn is pretty coarse, positively mercurial in temperament, but he still has a sense of humanity inside him.  There was something there to connect with.  We can thank god for that, because it not only saved Sam, but it’s what’s going to get us home, I hope. 

 

“Also,” Daniel went on, “you should know that I promised Gattahn that we would help them defeat the Jaffa, free his men, help them find their planet again, and help them defend themselves against the Goa’uld.  I promised we would return them to their women.”

 

“Ah, about that,” Jack said.  “Does it seem unlikely to anyone that the Goa’uld would leave a planet full of women and children just sitting there.”

 

Teal’c nodded.  “It would indeed be uncharacteristic.  In addition to being an active workforce, the Goa’uld are interested in breeding humans for future use.  It seems doubtful that they would forego the production of new slaves for this period.” 

 

Jack scowled and nodded.  “So we’re thinking,…”

 

Daniel finished, “That they have either taken the women somewhere else, or brought in a whole new group of men to take their place.  Yes, Sam and I thought of that.  It’s unfortunately very likely that these men have no home to go to.  Given the situation, I certainly wasn’t going to point it out to them.  I suspect that they know it too, on some level, but if they accepted it, then they would have no future.  They’d have nothing to live for or believe in.  We need them to keep believing until we can retake the Stargate, but even after that, I’d like to help them find out the truth.  And then I’d like to help them find new lives.”

 

Daniel stared off sadly to one side, and continued quietly, “I know how they feel.  I need to believe, too.  I’d like to help them go on, like you help me.”

 

The four sat in silence contemplating the unfortunate parallel of Daniel having lost his wife. 

 

Presently, the conversation resumed, and Sam and Daniel filled the other two in on what they’d found out about the rebel group.  They had been miners on Neelot for countless generations, which explained their dark adapted eyes.  Although they were  mining naquada here, veins of another mineral ran alongside it in some of the caverns.  When the sap of one of the indigenous trees came into contact with that rock, called kal’la, a chemical reaction was produced which caused the mineral to give off energy in the visible spectrum, light.  That’s what the bowls of glowing rocks were.

 

When the Goa’uld became interested in kal’la, and wanted the miners to start extracting it as well, the men had realized that they weren’t going to be sent home.  They would be kept there until they were too old to work, and then disposed of and replaced.  That had motivated them to take the risk to stand up to the Goa’uld.  One night, all the men who could, packed up and left the settlement by the temple, disappearing into the darkness.  That had been about four months ago, and they had been waging a war of attrition ever since.  When Jaffa patrols came after them, the rebels targeted the officers, driving the troops back time and time again despite their inferior weapons.  They were doing well against the troops currently here, but knew that if reinforcements arrived from Heru’ur, they wouldn’t have much chance of success.  Gattahn and two of his advisors had been training the miners in reconnaisance and combat skills, but they needed new ideas and experienced leadership to win.  They needed a swift victory, and to get the hell out of there.  That’s where SG1 came in.

 

Finally, Jack nodded.  “Okay, I guess I need to talk to Mr. Yucatan.”

 

“Gattahn,”  Daniel corrected.

 

“Whatever.  One rule here, kids.  No one goes anywhere alone.  I want the four of us to stay together whenever possible.  When we have to split up, then I want either Teal’c or myself paired up with either Daniel or Carter.  You two will be less exposed that way.”

 

“Us two?” questioned Daniel.  “It’s Sam who’s in danger here, not me.”

 

The other three exchanged looks.  Jack had already observed that when the staring started, not all eyes were fixed on Carter.  He was sure that in his role as protector, Daniel hadn’t even noticed.

 

“Ehem.  Daniel, you do know, man does not live by woman alone.”

 

The young man stared at him.

 

“Remember what we were talking about?”

 

His stare turned into surprise.  “You mean…”

 

Jack continued, “It’s not at all unusual, really.  Humans need intimate contact.  If there are no women, then even normally hetero men will form relationships between themselves.  So you should be aware, Daniel, that you could be seen as fresh meat or competition on that level.  Also, we should all keep in mind that given the fact that returning to their home world would possibly jeopardise relationships that are maybe a decade old, some of these men might not be quite so eager to go.  A few people with mixed motives could put the operation at risk, and perhaps even the alliance itself, so we have to keep our eyes open for that.  Anyway, I don’t want you going anywhere alone.”

 

Carter interjected,  “I’ve been watching his back, sir.  Though no one’s made a move, Daniel has been generating quite a bit of interest, and as far as I’m aware, I’m the only one under Gattahn’s protection.  He didn’t say anything about Daniel.”

 

“Right, good point.  With that in mind, whoever’s with Teal’c watches his back, too.  These folks don’t know him and love him like we do.”

 

Daniel was slumped over again, staring at the floor.

 

Teal’c’s deep voice intoned gently, “Daniel Jackson, we will not allow any harm to come to you.”

 

The reply was dejected.  “When will this all be over?”

 

Jack assured him forcefully, “Just as soon as humanly possible.”

 

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

 

After their long discussion, it turned out to be night again.  Having asked Mohab to wake them at dawn, Jack was convinced to forgo the watch rotation and the three humans stretched out on the floor.  As they settled in, Sam and Daniel cast some conspiratorial looks at Teal’c as he composed himself for meditation.  But Daniel shook his head and whispered, “Aw, I can’t bring myself to do it.”

 

All of them were aware of the satisfaction of being back together again.  Despite the continuing uncertainty of the situation, it was somehow easier to face with all parts of the team in place.  They rested together in the soft glow, listening to the occasional voices and movements in the passage, and began to relax for the first time in days.  Before long, each had found his or her peace.

 

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

 

In the morning  they were ushered in to see Gattahn.  Teal’c was pleased to find that the two leaders were both making an effort to be on their best behavior.  As Daniel Jackson would say, they still had ‘issues’ between them, but they agreed to concentrate on the task at hand.  Colonel O’Neill began by questioning the rebel leader about his troops’ capabilities. 

 

The population of Neelot had been transplanted from Earth thousands of years ago, but harsh climate and lifestyle had prevented them from thriving significantly.  When they said that the entire male population of the planet had been exiled, that meant only that there were a little more than seven hundred men currently on P4Z-103, the youngest 18 years old and the oldest in their eighties.  They were divided between three underground bases, all abandoned mining tunnels, and were coordinated through messages carried by runners.  Although they had a small stash of Goa’uld weapons, few knew how to use them and preferred to rely on their traditional home made bow and arrow and spears.  They were a strong, focussed people, and fast learners, but still basically miners not warriors.  Their recent success was due mostly to their physical agility and personal motivation, and a long history of solid hierarchical structure.  The men knew how to obey orders.

 

Gattahn estimated that there were still over 400 Jaffa on the planet, most based in and around the central temple complex.  They were well armed and armored, and had learned to travel in groups large enough to make them difficult targets.

 

Jack laid it out for Gattahn, with Teal’c translating.  “Okay, we’ve got several fronts of action.  One, the patrols’ new objective will be to take as many weapons as they can.  If Jaffa get killed in the process, so much the better, but we need to match their firepower a little better.  Two, all the men in the other bases will convene here for the duration.  It may be a bit cramped, but we need everyone to be on the same page with the planning and preparation.  Three, we need some kind of surprise, something they’re not expecting that can give us an advantage.”

 

He turned to his 2IC.  “Carter, I’m no physicist, but I’ve been thinking about this glowy rock stuff.  I want you to see if it does anything else.  I’m thinking explosives here.  Sound and light would be good.  Destructive capability would be better.”

 

Sam brightened visibly at the new project, her face breaking out into its first real smile in days.  “Yes, sir!  I’d love to find out what agent in the sap is activating the mineral.  Maybe it can be distilled or refined to achieve a more combustive chemical reaction.  I’ll get right on it!”

 

“Go girl.  Gattahn, I’ll need your men to form up into 20 units of 35, or less not counting the infirm.  Each one should select a leader, who will receive instruction from me in combat skills.  Those leaders will then teach the material to the others in their units.  As the final attack plan is established, those commanders will be responsible for making sure their unit does what it has to, where and when assigned.

 

“Okay, we’ve got about 36 hours before Hammond opens the gate for the first time.  If we can get ourselves organized in time, we go then.  If not, then we try it 24 hours later.  With any luck, all we’ll have to do is clear the gate area, and wait for our own reinforcements to arrive.”

 

Teal’c noticed Daniel Jackson watching the rebel leader with concern.  The older man’s eyes had narrowed angrily as he sat back listening to the proceedings.  While he had agreed to the plan so far, it was clearly difficult for him to accept that an outsider would step in and start giving orders.

 

Daniel interrupted Jack’s flow by saying, “Master Gattahn, did I not tell you that Jack was a clever warrior?  I hope that you will make good use of him.  Think of him as a skilled consultant here to assist you.”

 

Gattahn tilted his head sceptically at Daniel.  “I do not think your Jack would agree to that characterization.”

 

Daniel dipped his head humbly, “No, probably not.  In fact, when the time of the final battle arrives, I’m sure he will insist on having total command.  But if you let him do his job, he will free your people.  I have no doubt about that.” 

 

The rebel regarded the linguist evenly for a moment, then nodded his acceptance.

 

Jack was mildly exasperated by the interruption.  “Hey, we’re working here!  Teal’c, you’re with Carter.  Daniel, you’re with me.  We’ve got a lot to do, people, so let’s get to it.”

 

Now Daniel turned to him.  “Um, Jack?”

 

The colonel snapped, “What?  Daniel.”

 

“It doesn’t make any sense for Teal’c to go with Sam.  He should be with you organizing and training the miners.  All Teal’c could do for Sam is translate, and I can do that just as well.”

 

Jack replied with obviously false patience, “Daniel, what did we say earlier?  You and Carter go with me or Teal’c, do the math.  I can’t stay with Carter, because neither of us speak the lingo.  That means Teal’c goes with her.  Clear enough?”

 

Daniel worked on generating some patience of his own.  “That’s a waste of resources and you know it.  Look, Sam and I got along all right before you got here.  We’ll look out for each other, and be real careful, and if you try and babysit us the whole time, we’ll never get out of here.  Trust us, Jack.  We’re capable people, and can take care of ourselves for a few hours.”

 

Teal’c could see that O’Neill was contemplating an explanation of why that wasn’t in fact true, but deep down the colonel knew the young man was right.  Teal’c really was needed for the training, and the men had to get used to interacting with him, taking orders from him, so they could work together in the coming campaign.

 

After glowering at Daniel for several moments, O’Neill capitulated.  “All right.  But I want you to check in every hour by radio.  If the tunnels block the signal, put down what you’re doing and find us.  If you don’t I’ll tie you both to Teal’c’s leg for the duration.  Understood?”

 

Daniel nodded, and Captain Carter grabbed his arm to encourage a swift withdrawl.  “Come on, let’s go find Mohab and see if he can get us the things we need.”  The pair headed out of the room.

 

Gattahn had been watching the interaction with great interest, following the tone if not the words.  As O’Neill scowled at Daniel’s retreating back, the man motioned for Teal’c to translate.

 

“Your young friend makes very persuasive arguments, does he not?”

 

O’Neill grimaced, “Yeah.”

 

“It is very annoying.”

 

“You can say that again.”

 

“Especially since there are times when a man does not want to be convinced to do the right thing by a persuasive argument.  Sometimes a man wishes to follow his instincts.”

 

Jack smiled ruefully.  “Hard to do that with a walking, talking morally superior genius hanging around.”

 

At last, the two chiefs had found common ground.  Teal’c tried to maintain an impassive expression as the conversation continued, but found it difficult because he couldn’t help but imagine the indignant reaction Daniel Jackson would have had to this banter.  Now that would be some fine entertainment.

 

“Yes, I feel great sympathy for you.  It must be most unpleasant.”

 

“You have no idea.”

 

“I would hate to be in your position.  Still, as a sign of my great respect for you as a warrior, I would be willing to relieve you of the burden.  When this is over, you could order the boy to remain with us, and thus be free to follow your own inclinations.  It would be a great sacrifice, but considering that you are helping to free my people, I would be willing to make it.”

 

The Tau’ri appeared to consider the offer carefully.  “Well, Gattahn, that’s mighty generous.  But no, I could never ask that of you.  He’s my problem, and I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with him.  It would be unfair to inflict him on you, so I’ll just have to suffer on.”

 

“My deepest condolences.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

By now the two men were grinning wickedly at each other.  Jack slapped the bearded rebel on the back, and the three of them happily went off to inspect the troops.

 

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

 

The next couple of days passed in a whirlwind of activity.  O’Neill and Teal’c conducted training exercises with the unit leaders, and circulated to supervise the work with the ‘troops’ themselves.  Gattahn kept them informed of the intelligence that was constantly being received from field scouts regarding Jaffa movements and emplacements around the gate.

 

After several spectacular failures, Carter was able to come up with a way to make the kal’la produce small explosions.  They weren’t particularly powerful, but would serve to distract and disorient the opposition, at least temporarily.  It was Daniel who devised the delivery system.  He placed a strong leaf, which kept the mineral and activator separated, between two halves of a dried gourd cut with interlocking edges.  The force of the impact when thrown was enough to cause the rocks to break through the leaf, setting off the reaction.  It wasn’t the safest system, but if the ‘bombs’ were carried carefully, liquid side down to discourage leaking, it worked well enough.  Jack was so proud of Daniel for his military ingenuity, that he almost knocked his lungs loose pounding on his back.

 

Only one incident caused a hiccup in the proceedings.  Four of the 18 year olds, with typical youthful arrogance, decided to have a go at Sam and Daniel when they were on their way to check in with the colonel.  Three of them felt they had to find out exactly what a woman was, while the other was more interested in Daniel.  Although they were all young and strong, they showed more enthusiasm than skill in their assault.  With two lying groaning on the ground, and the other two pinned against the wall by Sam and Daniel, the archaeologist explained to them in no uncertain terms that all the Tau’ri were off limits, and that they should pass the word that any further attacks would be met with lethal force.  Of course, he didn’t mean that, but the kids had no way of knowing.  Characteristically, Jack took the opportunity to say “I told you so” in a gloating fashion, but Daniel held his own by pointing out that if they had been able to stay in the workroom instead of traipsing all over the complex looking for him, they wouldn’t have been exposed at all.  And besides, they’d handled it just fine, thank you very much.  Teal’c and Sam grinned at each other behind their backs as the two men exchanged, “Oh yeah, well…” provocations.  Then they all went back to work.

 

In the end it was easy, almost ridiculously easy. 

 

With the traveling time required to reach the Stargate, they’d missed the first window of opportunity when the SGC opened the gate, ready to send through support troops, so when the second scheduled activation approached, they were going, ready or not.  But they were basically prepared, enough to allow O’Neill to feel confident that not too many men would be lost, and that they had a chance for success. 

 

Each of the units was briefed on its role in the engagement.  One member of each team was supplied with a Jaffa weapon, either zat or staff, so that he could keep the enemy at a distance if necessary while the others got into position during the main attack.  Six hundred and fifty nine men of the miners’ group participated in the final campaign, and all were able to sneak into place without alerting the Jaffa to their presence.

 

One group, led by Teal’c and Carter, was to engage the Jaffa near the Temple compex.  Their goal was to create a diversion, and draw as many of the warriors as possible into that conflict, while the other group took the Gate.  It was a simple, obvious strategy, which might not have worked if the Jaffa had still had competent leadership.  But in fact, the remaining guards and warriors were overconfident and unsuspecting, and fell into the trap as though following well choreographed dance steps.  The rebels took damage, no way to avoid it when that far out gunned.  They lost nearly 100 men, but in the end the enemy lost even more.

 

By the time the ‘gate sprang into life, Jack and Daniel were leaning against the DHD, watching the miners hogtie captured Jaffa warriors.  They couldn’t see the General’s face, but could hear the disappointment in his voice when he found out that he wasn’t going to be able to send in the cavalry to rescue SG1.  The squadron still came through to help with the mop up operation, but the fun was all over.

 

Gattahn broke into tears and violently embraced both Jack and Daniel when he realized that they were finally, truly free.  He kept a marked distance from Sam and Teal’c, but thanked them both with the utmost gravity.  Sam received no appology for her earlier treatment, but then she hadn’t really expected one. 

 

Interrogations regarding the location or coordinates of the Neelot homeworld revealed nothing; it seemed that honestly none of the Jaffa currently on planet knew where the miners had originated.  As SG1, with Gattahn and Gemmal by their side, stepped onto the ramp at the SGC, O’Neill called out, “General, you’d better get on the phone to Dominos.  We got one whole hell of a lot of guests comin’ to dinner!”

 

The next days were filled with med exams, debriefings, handling the influx of refugees and prisoners, and troubleshooting the altercations that began erupting as Gattahn and his men recovered enough from the shock of sudden freedom to reveal their innate contrary tendencies.  Doctor Fraiser was having to practice her intimidation skills as she organized exams for the new arrivals; the men were still unsettled by the novelty of having women around.  Master Bra’tak arrived to escort away the captured Jaffa, with really very little explanation of what he intended to do with them.  Best not to think about it too much, Jack thought.  Consultations with allies produced a probable location for Neelot, and finally Gattahn and his advisors set off with Teal’c and SG2 to check out the situation. 

 

That afternoon, Jack stuck his head into Daniel’s office, and said to the exhausted linguist, “Chicago Blackhawks versus the Toronto Redwings on ESPN tonight at seven.  You there?”

 

The young man considered the offer sceptically for a minute, then nodded.  “Sure.  I could use a nice, boring, uh, quiet night doing something as mindless as sitting in front of the TV.”

 

Jack diplomatically skipped over the ‘boring’ crack and retreated happily.

 

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

 

The pizza was eaten, alcohol consumed, – beer for Jack and wine for Daniel – and the hockey game concluded.  Jack snapped the TV off with the remote control, the silence shocking after the shrillness and screeching of the television.  Jack leaned back against the sofa, stretched languidly with his hands behind his head, shifted his seat, and yawned.

 

Beside him on the sofa, Daniel eyed his friend speculatively.  He decided that Jack’s settling in like a cat routine probably meant it was time to go.  He set his glass down on the coffee table and turned to speak.  “Thanks for another memorable evening, Jack.  I’m sure that some day I’ll come to appreciate the game half as much as you do.”

 

Jack opened one eye and peered at him sideways, “You’re not going yet, are you?  It’s still early.”

 

“Well, you look pretty beat.  I should let you get your beauty sleep.”

 

“Actually, I was hoping you’d stay for a while.  You know, talk maybe.  We haven’t had a minute alone since we got back.”

 

“Am I hearing things?  Is this Jack O’Neill saying he wants to talk?”

 

“Well, you know that in my book heart to hearts are right up there with having teeth extracted without anaesthetic, but I was just wondering, um, how you’re doing, what you’re thinking and stuff, after all that.  And you’re not likely to volunteer that information without me squeezing it out of you, right?”

 

Daniel opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again and grunted through his nose.  He picked up his empty glass and said, “If we’re going to do this talking thing, I’m going to need another drink.”

 

“Can do.”

 

Jack strolled out to the kitchen and returned with a full glass of red wine and another beer for himself.  He then settled himself on the arm of the big chair facing the sofa, and looked at Daniel expectantly.

 

The object of his scrutiny said, “Okay, so I’m supposed to start this off, am I?  Well, I can.  I, I don’t know if I can tell you how much it meant to me that you told me about what happened in Iraq.  I know that must have been hard, and I hope you know that I’ll never betray your confidence.”

 

Jack’s face tightened.  He hadn’t expected that to be point number one on the agenda.  “No problem.”

 

Daniel ignored the dismissal. “And if you ever wanted to talk any more about it, I’m here.  I wouldn’t push you, but if you wanted to, I’m sure it would set a good example for me in how to open up about personal stuff.”  He grinned teasingly.

 

“Um, right.  Well, maybe, uh, someday.”  Jack wiggled uncomfortably on his perch.  “I guess that’s fair, your turning the tables like that, because I meant for you to talk about what happened to you.”

 

Daniel sighed.  “I’m still working through that.  It really scared me, you know that.  I don’t like feeling helpless, and…. It was days and days of wondering every minute if someone was going to jump me.  I don’t know how to feel about it yet, really.  I don’t want it to change me, affect my life, but I still feel a bit shakey.  Loud noises, sudden movements, and I’m through the roof.  I think it’ll be alright, though.  Being back here where I feel safe helps.”

 

“Speaking of which, I remember what you said about some guys at the base looking you over.  You want to elaborate on that?  Is there something I should know about?”

 

Now Daniel looked uncomfortable.  “I don’t want to make a big deal out of that, it’s no big thing.”

 

“Maybe you should let me be the judge of that.  You’re notoriously bad at picking up on danger signals.  If someone’s made you uncomfortable, you should tell me.”

 

“Oh, it used to happen more at the beginning,” Daniel explained, “when I was wandering around the base like a little lost academic.  I’d get comments and looks from groups of guys in the hallway.  Hathor didn’t help anything, either.  It just surprised me, is all, because we’re supposed to have the best people in the SGC, we’re supposed to be able to trust each other.  Anyhow, people know me better now, and I have no doubt that they know I’m under your protection.  A person would have to be suicidal to mess with me when you’re around.”  The smile flashed again.  “So that’s not much of a problem anymore.”

 

“Much?”

 

Daniel grimaces.  “There was this one incident a couple of months ago.  Kind of creeped me out.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“I was leaving the base pretty late; twelve, one in the morning.  I got into the upper level elevators, and this guy got in after me.  I’m standing there watching the numbers like you do, and he was standing against the side wall, staring at me.  I mean, he never said anything, and it’s probably just my overactive imagination, but it felt like, like he was way into my personal space.  Just looking at me.  Made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.  Hard to explain, made me real nervous anyway.  When we got out at the parking level he disappeared.  For once I was actually glad to have to go through the signing out process, and that there were guards around.  Silly to get freaked out like that by nothing.”

 

Jack didn’t show the anger that was eating at him.  “So who was he?  You get a name?”

 

“No, I was, um, trying not to look at him, actually.  I’ve seen him around a few times, but I don’t know him.”

 

“Anything else happen?”

 

“Happen, no.  When I’ve seen him recently I have felt uncomfortable, but what am I going to do?  Go up to him and say, ‘Hey, stop looking at me like that?’”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Like I’m a cream cake in a shop window?  Really, it’s no big deal.  Sometimes someone will just rub you the wrong way, that’s all.”

 

“Daniel, you were right when you said we’re supposed to have the best people in the SGC.  There’s a reason for that.  Maybe you’re not concerned for yourself, but what if this guy with the attitude were to come into contact with some of our more sensitive offworld visitors?”

 

“I never thought of that.”

 

“It’s part of my job as second in command on the base to be aware of what’s happening with the personnel.  It sounds like a bad one slipped through our screening process, and maybe it should be looked into, don’t ya think?”

 

Daniel still looked doubtful, “Maybe, but you know I could be imagining things, don’t you?”

 

“Somehow I don’t think so.  You’re the most trusting person ever born, and if there was nothing there, you wouldn’t be picking up on it.  How about you just point him out to me, and I’ll check things out, real discreet like.”

 

“Yeah, the bull in the china shop.  Okay, I’ll point him out, but take it easy.”

 

Jack nodded, and waited to see if Daniel was going to say any more.  The room was silent, and they could hear the clock ticking on the mantle.  After a few minutes, Jack started getting fidgetty, and was beginning to think maybe they’d talked about everything that needed talking about, when Daniel stood up, walked over to the window and looked out into the darkness. 

 

With his back to Jack, arms folded across his chest, Daniel finally spoke.  “I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to bring something else up, and I think, what the heck, we’re ‘talking’, just do it.”  He turned and leaned against the window frame.  After taking a deep breath, Daniel gazed up at the ceiling and spoke, “When I was about seven, my parents were working on a dig in Egypt, like they usually were.  Although it was a small tomb they were working on, one day we went to visit some other archaeologists at one of the pyramids.  That was a great adventure for me, and like most small boys I guess I thought I was invincible, could do anything.  So I decided I was going to climb the pyramid.  It was enormous, and there was no way in hell I could have done it, but I didn’t think of that at the time.  It was just a game.  So up I started.”

 

Jack listened quietly, wondering where this story was going. 

 

“When you see pictures of the pyramids, it looks like they’re very uniform, with nice steps going up the side.  In fact the blocks they’re built out of are huge, and though they’re in great shape for being four or five thousand years old, they are getting worn by weather and pollution.  So there I was, scrambling from the start, and pretty soon the game didn’t seem so fun.  But I was stubborn, even then, and no way was I going to be a quitter.  When I’d gotten, oh, maybe fifty yards up, I got stuck on a little ledge, couldn’t go up, afraid to go down.  After I’d hung on there for probably only a few minutes, the ledge gave out, just disappeared under my feet.  I slid and tumbled down the side of the pyramid, screaming the whole way – you can imagine - and got caught up against the back of a raised ornament near the ground level.  I hadn’t really fallen far, and I wasn’t hurt other than some bruises and a skinned knee, but I was scared out of my mind. 

 

“Anyway, my father heard me, ran up and carried me back down.  Then my mother just sat and held me for ages while I cried, and then for ages more after I calmed down.  She didn’t say much, just held me and rocked me a little bit.  My dad came over a couple of times and put his hand on my head, ruffled my hair, just to let me know he was near.  I can still remember how she smelled of dust and lilac, how soft her chest was and how strong her arms were.  I felt safe, cherished, like everything in the world was going to be all right.  I think I even started planning my next assault on the pyramid.”

 

Jack smiled at that, he could just imagine the willful young Danny getting himself into scrapes.

 

Daniel was vaguely smiling, too, at the memory, then his face grew serious again.

 

“My parents died less than a year after that incident.  That was the last time anyone ever held me like that, because I was afraid or hurt, and made it better.  The Child Protective Services people and foster parents tried to give me physical affection, but it was a quick hug and pat on the back kind of thing.  And anyway in the system I learned fast to hold it in, not show any need.  Sure, I’ve been held by lovers, by Sha’re, but that’s kind of different, isn’t it?  So since I was seven years old, no one had ever really held me like that again, until that night in the cave when you did.”

 

Daniel stopped, and a series of emotions flowed over his face.  Jack could tell he wasn’t done, and was glad he himself wouldn’t have to speak yet, because he had quite a lump in his throat.

 

Daniel walked back over to the sofa, and sat down.  Pushing his hair back from his face, he continued.  “That was really something, for me.  You holding me really took me back to that time with my parents in Egypt.  I felt so safe, so.…” he shied away from the ‘L’ word.  “Part of me just ate it up like I couldn’t get enough, like I was a kid who had found an anchor in the world.  And I… I thank you for that, for what you gave me.  But another part of me was angry; at myself, at you, at anything, because I don’t want to feel like a child.  I’m an adult man, and I don’t want to need an anchor.  Especially living in this military environment where everyone treats me like I’m vaguely incompetent.  I need to feel that I can stand on my own two feet to retain my self respect. 

 

“I know you’ve always seen me as a sort of feckless science geek, especially at first.”  Jack opened his mouth to protest, and Daniel held up a hand to stop him.  “But what you don’t realize is that I never saw myself like that until I came into the SGC.  Before my ‘crazy’ theories derailed me, I used to head up important excavations, supervising teams of twenty, twenty five people, where I was the one in charge.  People came to me for advice and to make decisions.  I was the one who mediated between real world getting-things-done and the politics of academia.  And I taught college classes where I was the one people looked up to, even though I was practically a kid.  They treated me like that on Abydos, too.  Then all of a sudden I’m low-man on the tough-guy totem pole, in a culture I can barely comprehend.  And no, I don’t want to be an alpha male soldier, but I do need to feel like a competent adult, and that’s been a bit of a struggle.

 

“So that night in the cave left me feeling pretty confused.  I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I’ve come to realize that I’m overly sensitive about that being independent thing.  I’m not as tough as you, and I never will be.  I know you didn’t intend for me to feel like a child, you just wanted to help me, and you did.  And I’m getting to the point were I can accept it that way, and thank you for it.”

 

When Daniel finished speaking, Jack managed to croak out, “You’re welcome, glad to help.”

 

Then he immediately began to berate himself.  --Jack, you coward.  There’s your friend baring his soul, and you’re just going to leave it like that!  You gonna protect your place on the tough guy totem pole no matter what?  Tell the kid the truth.  Tell him the truth!--

 

Jack cleared his throat, “Um, can I try that again?”

 

Daniel looked up at him questioningly.

 

Jack slid off the arm of the chair, and moved around to sit on the coffee table directly in front of Daniel, so their knees were almost touching.  He took a deep breath and sighed.  “What I just said, that glad to help crap, made it sound like I thought I was doing you a favor, but that’s not true.”  Daniel still looked confused, so Jack continued, “You see, kid, and you know that’s a term of affection, and I’m not calling you a child, right?  I’ve, ah, gotten real used to having you around.  I really like having you around.”  He had to keep trying to get it right.  “It’s important to me to have you around.  You, you’re not the only one who needs an anchor sometimes, and you’ve been that for me for a while.

 

“When I saw you go down under all those honkin’ big ugly… bastards… I thought they were going to kill you.  I thought you were dead.  Then when it was clear they had other plans first I was so relieved you were alive, but I wasn’t at all sure you’d be glad, considering what they were doing.  I so didn’t want you to be hurt.  I so needed…  What I’m saying is that it shook me up more than I’ve been in a long time.  I was well and truly scared.  So that night, yes I could tell you were in shock, and maybe I could help that, but mostly when I was holding you, I was doing it for myself.  I needed to feel that you were alive, and all right.  I needed reassurance.  So maybe being alpha male soldier guy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Maybe being here for each other is kind of better.  So thank you for letting me hold you.”

 

Daniel’s face was red, he looked a little like he was choking.  “Wow, Jack.  You’ve never said anything like that before.  I didn’t know…”

 

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.  I’m just how I am, you know.  It’s true, though.”

 

Daniel’s face got a shade redder, and he sucked in a breath.  Jack was afraid he was going to have a stroke or something, when a snort erupted from the younger man’s nose.  Daniel brought his hands up over face, shoulders shaking.  Just when Jack realized he was trying to stifle laughs, the other man started to calm down.  Daniel rubbed the tears out of his eyes and sat back, grinning from ear to ear.

 

This was too weird.  Laughter and Daniel Jackson were not words often found in the same sentence unless he was the object of said laughter.  “Um, Daniel, are you going loopy on me?”

 

“No.”  The smile didn’t fade.  “I’m just all of a sudden feeling really happy.”

 

Jack looked at the beaming expression on his friend’s face and suddenly he started feeling really happy, too.  Geez, if soul baring could get a reaction like that, maybe he should do it more often. 

 

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

 

The next day Daniel rushed to the ‘gate room when he heard that SG2 and the Neelosians were returning early from the exploration of their former home.  The expression on their faces as they stepped through the event horizon said it all.  General Hammond and SG1 accompanied the group to the briefing room, and listened in silence as Major Ferretti told the tale. 

 

It was a worst case scenario.  Neelot was crawling with people, human slaves working the mines for Heru’ur.  Gattahn and the others hadn’t recognized a single one of them.  The women weren’t there.

 

There were a few Jaffa on the planet, but the slaves were quite compliant and obviously not considered a great threat, so security was lax.  On the other hand, when they had tried to question the current residents about their predecessors,  the locals had become alarmed and suspicious.  SG2 and its allies had thought it best to pull back for the time being, before drawing attention to themselves.

 

The newly freed humans were clearly devastated by the turn of events.  After pacing up and down in front of the window overlooking the control room, Gattahn suddenly pounded both fists violently on the conference table, making coffee cups and pens jump.  He let out a low growl that brought guards running into the room with guns drawn.  Hammond waved them away as Daniel approached the distressed man.

 

The linguist bent over slightly, so that he was looking up into Gattahn’s face, open palms extended.  He spoke softly, “Master Gattahn, please believe me that this is not over yet.  You must not give up on the hope of reuniting your people, and you must show your men that this setback isn’t the end.”

 

The older man looked intently at Daniel, and ugly snarl disfiguring his face.  He slowly reached one powerful hand up and wrapped it around the base of Daniel’s neck.  As all three of his team mates stood to intervene, the archaeologist made a small motion with one hand to still them.  Otherwise, he simply maintained eye contact with the man confronting him and waited.

 

Gattahn snarled into Daniel’s face, “Believe you?  You promised that we would find our women, that I would be with my wife.  That has meant nothing!  You lied to me and tricked me to save yourselves.  You’re not as powerful as you thought, are you?”  The hand tightened slightly.

 

Daniel had been through this too many times with the rebel leader.  He didn’t believe the other man truly wished to hurt him, so he answered calmly, “Yes, I said whatever I needed to in order to protect my team.  That doesn’t mean it wasn’t true.  Observe, we did help to free you from the Jaffa and that planet.  You and your men are safe from the Goa’uld here.  We did find Neelot.  It is not our fault that the Goa’uld have relocated the rest of your people.  There are many more things we can try, and we will do everything possible to find out where the women and children were sent.  I have not lied to you.”

 

As Daniel expected, after a moment the glare subsided, and his throat was released.  To his surprise, however, the other man actually appologized, eyes lowered.  “I am sorry, young Daniel.  You Tau’ri have done much for us.  I do not like being helpless, powerless, dependent.  It makes me…unreasonable.  You are, you are a good friend.”  With that, the same hand that had been on his throat gripped Daniel’s upper arm for a brief squeeze.

 

Daniel responded gently, “I know how hard it is to wait now, when you believed the reunion to be so near.  But I think you will find that you are neither helpless, powerless nor dependent.  Shall we all plan what to do next together?”  He motioned to the other people in the room.

 

Gattahn nodded, and they both turned back to the table.  Sam and Teal’c had resumed their seats, but Jack was still standing, watching Gattahn warily.  Daniel signaled to him to sit as he and Gattahn took their places.  General Hammond resumed control of the meeting with raised eyebrows.  “May we continue now, gentlemen?”

 

“Yes, sir.” 

 

With Daniel and Teal’c translating, the group discussed options for the next step.  Over the course of the next hour, it was decided that a small group would return to the planet to try to blend in with the inhabitants and seek information.  Gattahn insisted that it be Neelosians to undertake this mission.  It was their planet and their people they were looking for, after all.  In the end, he agreed that Major Ferretti and one other from the SGC accompany them for support, but without their distinctive uniforms.

 

Also, since it appeared that it might be some time before the mystery of the missing women was solved, it was urgent to find some kind of temporary home for the refugees, who were chafing in what they felt was captivity.  Gattahn agreed that it would be best for his men to establish a base on another planet, so that they would at least have the necessities of daily survival to keep them busy.  General Hammond promised to begin evaluation of likely planets, and the meeting broke up to prepare for the return trip.

 

 

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

 

At lunch time, O’Neill extracted Daniel from a pile of paper work, and walked him to the cafeteria to meet Teal’c and Sam.  The mess hall was crowded when the the pair walked in, and Jack stopped a few steps into the room to scan the sea of faces for his team mates.  Not there yet.  He frowned with impatience, then noticed Daniel sidling up to him a bit closer than ususal.  The young man leaned into him and whispered, “Elevator,” pointing with his chin toward the coffee area.  He then meandered nonchalantly over to wait in the food service line.

 

Jack looked over to where Daniel had indicated, and saw a burly Marine somewhere between 35 and 40, caucasian, with sandy brown hair, pouring himself  a cup of coffee.  The elevator guy, huh?  Jack strolled over and reached for a mug while casually glancing at the name printed on the man’s shirt pocket.  Sgt. Schoop.  Didn’t ring a bell.  As the sergeant stirred sugar into his drink, O’Neill greeted him in a friendly manner, “Hey there, Schoop.  How ya doin’?”

 

The man didn’t even look up.  He’d known exactly who was standing next to him.  He answered smoothly, “I’m doin’ pretty good, Colonel.  Nice job takin’ out those Jaffa, sir.”

 

“Thanks, Sergeant.  Lost some good men, though.”

 

He glanced appraisingly at O’Neill.  “Hear these guys,” indicating a table full of Neelosians, “gave Carter and Jackson a pretty hard time.”

 

O’Neill had to bite back the urge to insist the man use his team mates’ rank or title when referring to them, reminding himself to just keep it cool.  “Oh, not much.  Nothing we couldn’t handle.”

 

“That’s good sir.  If you’ll excuse me.”  Schoop walked away and joined a table of other marines.

 

Jack stared into his coffee cup for a moment, letting the warning bells sort themselves out in his head.  Oh, yeah.  Definitely something there.  Nothing overt, just a feeling.  The guy was dangerous.  Why could Jack not remember meeting him before?  Part of his job was to oversee the screening process for new personnel.  Yes, looking into Sgt. Shoop was top of the to-do list.

 

Carter and Teal’c came in then, and the three continued on to get some food.  Over lunch, while he lectured Daniel on the foolishness of letting crazed giant aliens grab him by the throat, O’Neill’s internal radar was now keeping close tabs on the exact location of one Sgt. Schoop.

 

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

 

That afternoon Sam and Daniel stood outside a storage room grinning at each other.  They were smoldering, very pleased with themselves grins that would have fooled a passerby for about one second, had anyone been passing just then.  Daniel rocked back on his heels, and said lightly, “Well Captain Doctor, thank you very much, that was quite productive and informative.”

 

Sam smirked back, “You’re welcome Doctor Jackson.  I’ll let you know if there are any additional materials that require your attention.”

 

“I’d appreciate that.”  With one last bat of his lashes, Daniel turned and moved off down the hall. 

 

Sam followed the archaeologist with her eyes until he rounded the corner.  More specifically, she watched the way his rounded butt moved beneath the material of his pants.  Holy Hannah!  How did one person get to have it all?  A mind like that, a personality like that, and a body like that? 

 

She leaned against the wall and let her mind drift back into the recently vacated store room to caress the memory of  how his skin felt.  Both silky soft and hard in her hand, in her mouth.  The gentle dampness of his perspiration as she ran her fingertips under his shirt and up his chest.  She sighed, and thought what a good thing it was that she wasn’t in love with Daniel.  If she were, it could get out of hand really fast, so to speak.  As it was, Sam felt grateful for this unexpected aspect of their friendship, for his help in keeping the passionate side of her alive.  She thought it was a use it or lose it kind of thing, and lord knew she had few enough opportunities to use it. 

 

--Still, that Sha’re is one lucky woman.--  She frowned at herself when she realized what she’d just thought.  Sha’re had been a lucky woman for that one year, but it wouldn’t describe her situation now.  Now it was Sam who was lucky.  Most of the women and not a few of the men on the base would be green with envy if they knew she had rights of access to that man’s body.  Even so, she’d give it up in a minute if Daniel could have Sha’re back.  She worried that there was an emptyness in him that would never be filled if they weren’t reunited, and maybe even if they were.  Daniel was changing so fast, growing stronger and yet more closed all the time.  Anyone with eyes could see that.  Not many people knew how much he still missed his wife, though.  How long could he live with this pain without the damage being permanent?

 

All three of his teammates were there to help him through, each in their own way.  A smile spread across her face as she reflected that she had definitely drawn the winning number in the ‘Being There for Daniel’ sweepstakes.  --Bad, ungenerous thoughts, Sam!--  But it was true.  The man was seriously hot stuff.

 

There was someone standing in front of her, speaking to her.  Sam forced her eyes and mind to focus again on the present.  The boy in uniform was asking, “Are you all right ma’am?”

 

“Yes, Airman.  Just tired.  What can I do for you?”

 

“Sgt. Siler said to tell you that he finished repairing that piece of equipment in your lab.  He’s waiting there so you can test it before he goes.”

 

“I’m on my way.  Thank you.”  The boy walked away.  What, was the Air Force recruiting from Junior High now?  Shaking her head, she headed to the elevator.  Sgt. Siler was in for a treat.  Captain Carter was definitely in the mood to let her smile shine.

 

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

 

After lunch, after one meeting with Gattahn, and another with Hammond, after dealing with “urgent” and “important” paperwork, Jack finally had time to close his office door and begin his investigation.  The personnel file was easy to access, and Jack skimmed through it with a practised eye.  Okay, so Schoop was in stock and supply.  He shifted boxes around from one store room to another.  He looked more like a bantam weight fighter.  He’d come aboard when Jack had been recovering from being pinned to the wall by that orb thing from P5C-353.  Yup, this one had really slipped through the cracks. 

 

Standard postings, nothing much of note as far back as ten years, but then something caught O’Neill’s eye.  The man had been stationed with US advisors in Honduras in the late 80’s.  He was in supply then too?  No change in rank or position in ten years?  Well, that was interesting.  Jack knew for a fact that some of the troops there had done a lot more than advise.  Like training Contra guerilla fighters, gun running, the occasional massacre of innocent civilians.  The guy could be Special Ops, even Black Ops.  Supply is a good place to be invisible while you carry out ‘unofficial’ missions.

 

He stopped himself.  --Jack, don’t jump to conclusions here.  One posting does not a trained assasin make.  Let’s go a little deeper.-- 

 

Who was his CO in Honduras?  Lt. Colonel Hector Villalobos.   A couple more taps of the keyboard brought him the information that Villalobos has died two years before of a heart attack.  Damn, that would make him hard to get ahold of.  And the 2IC?  Aha!  Major Niall MacIlvry.  Alive and well and living in Kansas.

 

Within minutes MacIlvry’s phone was ringing.  When the man answered, Jack jumped right in.  “Major, this is Colonel Jonathan O’Neill, US Air Force.  I’m calling to get your first hand opinion of a Marine I’m thinking of assigning to a special project.  Served under you about ten years ago in Honduras.  Sergeant Wayne Schoop.”

 

There was a pause on the other end of the line.  “Colonel, what kind of posting were you considering him for?”

 

“I’m sorry, Major, I can’t go into that.”  He hoped that if MacIlvry and Schoop had been involved in something covert, he would assume that that was the case now.  “I just want your general apraisal of Schoop’s ability to handle himself in the field.  Any weaknesses I should be aware of.  Does he hold up under pressure, that sort of thing.”  On a hunch, O’Neill never mentioned the word supplies.  It paid off.

 

“Oh, I can give Wayne full points for his field work.  Disciplined, committed, skilled.  I’m sure you’ve seen his stats on marksmanship.”

 

“Yeah,” Jack lied.

 

“No, the only thing you have to watch out for is his, um, personal life.  He tended to pick inappropriate objects of affection, and sometimes he didn’t treat them too well.  Colonel Villalobos had to bail him out of scrapes a couple of times, and that’s why he was eventually transferred.”

 

“Not exactly low profile, huh?”  His blood was running cold.

 

“No.  He may have gotten his head together in the last ten years.  I hope so, ‘cause he was a damn fine soldier.”

 

“I’ll look into that.  I appreciate your time, Major.”

 

Jack decided not to risk any more phone calls, but knew a few back doors to find out more about what wasn’t listed in Schoop’s service record.  After an hour, he sat back with a sigh.  He had two problems.  One, the guy was working for someone.  Someone other than the SGC, that is.  Jack couldn’t tell who, but it wasn’t likely to be good.  He was a mole, but was he just info gathering or was he there to take some kind of action?  And how many more like him were there?

 

Second, and of more immediate concern, was the possibility that the Marine had his eye on Daniel.  His young team mate had come a long way in the area of self defense, but today’s conspicuous show of bravery notwithstanding, he wouldn’t have a chance if Schoop decided to take him.  Better nip this thing in the bud.

 

O’Neill caught General Hammond before he left for the day.  The base commander was as alarmed by the revelation as Jack was, on both counts.  He was reluctant to move on Schoop immediately, however.  He wanted to make some phone calls of his own, and he wanted to observe the suspect for a while, see who he hung around with, try to flush out any more plants on the base.  The general observed, “Dr. Jackson is spending almost every waking hour with the Neelosians, always accompanied, as you ordered.  In a couple of days SG1 is scheduled for that recon mission to the planet we’re considering for the relocation of the refugees, so Dr. Jackson should be safe enough for the time being.  We have the opportunity to find out more about this operation before we take the seargent into custody.  I suggest we take advantage of that.  You’re in charge, Colonel.”

 

“Very well, sir.  I, I’m thinking I don’t want to mention this to Daniel unless we have to.  He’s been a little jumpy since the last mission, and I’d like to clear this thing up without him ever having to know about it.  If anything goes wrong, though, I’m going to put him in protective custody whether he likes it or not.”

 

“Let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that.  We’ll both be very, very careful.”

 

Jack hoped that that would be enough.

 

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

 

The next day Ferretti, along with Anne Wilman, a linguist whom Daniel had been tutoring in Goa’uld and Jaffa dialects, accompanied Gemmal and three other Neelosians back through the gate to their homeworld.  So far, the SGC hadn’t been able to find any clues about where the others had been relocated, so a lot was riding on this recon mission.  Normally, Jack would have wanted himself and Daniel to accompany the group, but the base was in too much of an uproar for Jack to leave for an extended period, and Daniel appeared to be the only one to have a calming effect on Gattahn. 

 

Daniel and Teal’c spent the day helping the refugees prepare for their settlement on a new planet.  Carter took advantage of everyone else being busy with the visitors (she herself avoided them whenever possible; all may have been forgiven, but was not forgotten), to hide out in her lab and experiment on the kal’la samples she’d brought back.

 

With many of the refugees still present on the base, there was a lot of extra activity in the halls.  This made it easier to run a subtle surveillance on Schoop.  O’Neill assigned two of his best men to carry out an inventory of selected items, which would explain their presence in supply areas of the base.  They were able to keep the sergeant in sight most of the day, without anything noteworthy taking place.

 

The following day passed so quietly that Jack was beginning to think that maybe he’d overreacted to the situation.  Maybe he had, but this guy was good at being invisible, so maybe he was just making sure there was nothing to see.  Jack wasn’t willing to wait much longer to take him, though.  Even if nothing happened by the time SG1 got back from checking out that nice deserted planet, he’d have the man picked up.

 

Late in the evening, General Hammond called O’Neill into his office, and informed him of a schedule change for the next day.  Originally slated to leave at 07:00, SG1’s departure time had been moved up to 05:00 due to a conflict with an offworld team’s expected return.  Jack found Teal’c in his room and informed him.  He got Carter on the phone at her house.  She didn’t mind the change; being exceedingly chipper in the mornings she probably would have been there by five anyway. 

 

Jack had a harder time locating Daniel.  When there was no answer at the apartment, Jack checked with the security desk, and sure enough the archaeologist was still on base.  When he wasn’t to be found in his office, the mess hall, the gym, Carter’s lab or the locker room, Jack was feeling frustrated and a little worried.  Schoop had left at 17:30 as normal, so that wasn’t likely to be a problem, but where then was the missing scientist?  It was after 23:00 hours for christ’s sake.  He was about to get security out to look for him, when the answer dawned on him.  Yup, that was it.  He’d be willing to bet money he knew where the kid was.

 

When he got out of the elevator, the halls were deserted.  Unless there was a returning team to be checked out, or some emergency, the medical level tended to close down after hours.  For one thing, this was because there wasn’t much to do, but also it was to let anyone recovering in the infirmary have as much peace as possible.  The lights were dimmed, and the soft whooshing of the ventilation system was practically the only sound. 

 

Jack followed the hallway around a couple of corners, then found the door he was looking for.  ‘Physical Therapy’.  He pushed through the swinging doors, and knew he’d been right.  A light on the other side of the large room was diffused by clouds of steam billowing toward the ceiling.  Jack walked further in, and found what he was looking for.  Daniel was submerged up to his neck in the whirlpool bath, heat level on high.  There was still some bruising on his face and chest, but he looked almost healed.

 

Daniel’s eyes were closed, and he was clearly oblivious to the world around him as he luxuriated in the hot jets of water.  It was well known that one of Daniel’s favorite creature comforts was a hot bath, coming in third after coffee and chocolate, which Jackson actually considered essential to sustain life and not luxuries.  He’d even said once that sometimes he didn’t mind getting injured, because then it was so easy to get Doctor Fraiser to assign him hydrotherapy.  Daniel didn’t like to use the one in the main locker room anymore, because of unpleasant associations, so the young man had charmed the physical therapists as effortlessly as he charmed everyone else, and they made an exception for him to use their whirlpool after hours.

 

Jack stepped up to the side of the tub, and his mouth twisted into an amused grin as he startled his friend back into reality.  “Hey there.  I see you have company tonight.”

 

Daniel blinked up at him then replied, straightfaced, “You know I don’t like to bathe alone.”

 

Jack laughed, and held up his hands in a defensive gesture.  “Too much information there, Daniel!”  He pulled up a low stool and sat down beside the tub, resting his forearms on the side.  He eyed the yellow blob bouncing chaotically on the raging surface of the water.  “So how’s Rodney doing these days?”

 

“Oh, Rodney’s good.  You can’t keep a good duck down.”

 

Jack’s mind drifted briefly back to when he’d given this rubber duck to Daniel.  It had been his son Charlie’s favorite bath time toy.  The small yellow duck wore dark wrap around sunglasses, just like Jack liked to wear, and Charlie would fly it around over the bath tub, pretending it was his dad skimming the surface of the ocean in his plane.  Jack had been away on missions a lot, and it had been a way for Charlie to remember him, and feel a connection to him when they were apart.  After his son had died, after he and Sara had split up, it was one of the objects Jack had kept.  Rodney had lived in his locker on the base, where Jack could look at it and feel that connection to the lost boy. 

 

After the encounter with the crystalline being on P3X-562 that had first taken his, then his son’s form in order to heal Jack of his greatest pain, he’d done a lot of thinking.  He’d realized that part of Charlie would always be alive inside him, and that he didn’t need a duck to remember him by.  He also decided that maybe he didn’t need to hold onto the pain quite so tightly.  Knowing of Daniel’s fondness for baths, he’d given Rodney to him.  Within himself Jack had made a ritual, a rite of passage out of it.  He’d said silently as he handed the toy over, ‘I’ll always love you, Charlie, but I release you to move on.  I release myself to move on.  Be at peace.’ 

 

Daniel had been puzzled by the gift, but after Jack had quipped, “Don’t worry, it’s not a freudian ‘I want you to replace my son’ thing.  I just thought you might like it,” his friend had seemed to understand that it was something special, and been touched by it.  And Jack had been touched that Daniel hadn’t insisted on asking more.  He’d always known what Jack needed when it came to facing Charlie’s loss.  Now, as often as not, Rodney accompanied Daniel on his night-time submersions, a fact which contributed to the visible melting of therapists at Daniel’s feet.

 

He tore his mind away from the past to find Daniel looking at him speculatively.  Jack said, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.  There’s a change of plan tomorrow, we go at 5AM now.”

 

“Oh good, I’m glad you told me.  Since it’s so late, I think I’ll sleep on base tonight.  Will you come and shake me out at 4:30 if I’m not up yet?”

 

“Yeah, sure.  I’ll bring coffee.  So are you ready for this mission tomorrow?  I know Doc Fraiser cleared you for duty and all, but are you feeling, you know, up to it?”

 

“Yes.  Actually, I’m looking forward to it.  Exploring a sunny, deserted planet that’s already been checked out once by another team, just the four of us, sounds like heaven.  Can we stay a week?  I’m just joking, I know we need to get the Neelosians moved in there as soon as possible, if it works out, but even a day of it sounds like a holiday after the last couple of weeks.”

 

“Sweet, isn’t it?  We get paid to take vacations to paradise planets.  Must have earned some good karma points somewhere.”

 

Yawning, O’Neill left scientist and duck to soak, his own face and hair damp from the steam, and worked his way back to the elevators.  Just as he stepped inside, he thought he saw a movement in the shadows at the end of the hall.

 

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

 

Daniel had his head tilted back, elbows in the air, head resting in the palms of his hands as the water played around him.  He floated easily back into his reverie, lulled by the hot jets that seemed to extract all remnants of tension from his muscles.  The steam created a fairy tale atmosphere around him, muting all sound except for the music of bubbles breaking on the surface of his bath.  At moments like these, he could almost forget the rest of it:  the responsibility he had to the SGC, to the people they encountered like the Neelosians, to his wife; the threat of Goa’uld invasion hanging over the Earth; the danger he and his friends faced every time they stepped through the gate; his own sorry lack of a personal life.  At first these periods of escape had made him feel guilty; he’d only have to think of where Sha’re was, and the mood would be gone.  But he’d quickly come to realize that he needed it.  He needed sometimes, not even very often, to just check out for a while.  If he gave himself this time, then he could handle all the rest.  If he didn’t, then he couldn’t.  That simple. 

 

In the early days, Daniel’s insecurity had made him wonder if his penchant for a long hot bath would just confirm his status as the base’s resident wimpy civilian, but he didn’t worry about that any more.  They all must have their own ways of coping, but being military the others just kept theirs hidden.  In fact, he wondered what Jack did to get away from it all.  Maybe those occasional famous fishing trips were enough for him.  Star gazing.  Hockey.  Chess.  Crap movies.  Come to think of it, maybe the colonel was actually an expert escapist.  Daniel thought that maybe he should take lessons.  Oh.  Duh.  Jack had been giving him lessons since they came back from Abydos.  -- Little slow on the uptake, there Jackson.  Why don’t you try not resisting all the way through ‘Hockey Night’ next time!-- 

 

His musings faded as he became aware of a presence beside him.  He opened his eyes.  “Hey Jack, I was just…”

 

The man in the black T-shirt wasn’t Jack.

 

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

 

O’Neill felt fatigue wash over him as he leaned against the back wall of the elevator.  All he wanted to do was get home and fall into bed for a few hours.  But there had been someone in the hallway, hadn’t there?  So what if there was?  A lot of people work at the base, lots of people have business in the infirmary.  So someone was in the hall, no big deal.

 

The doors opened, and Jack moved toward the second set of elevators that would take him to the surface.  He leaned against the back wall of that one, too, as the box rose.  But it didn’t matter, did it?  No matter what logical, reasonable explanation there was for it, Jack admitted to himself that he wasn’t going to be able to sleep unless he checked.  Definitely overreacting.  Must still be a little jumpy himself.

 

The elevator reached the top, the doors opened, and Jack pressed the button that would take him back down.

 

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

 

Daniel couln’t think of any reason for this particular stanger to be standing over him like that while he was in the bath.  No reason where it could possibly be a good thing.

 

As he unclasped his hands from behind his head, he began, “What are you….”

 

As he brought his arms around the man sprang forward and grabbed Daniel’s wrists, pushing them against his chest and pinning Daniel against the back of the tub.  It happened so fast, it took a second for his new captivity to register.  “What are you doing?!”

 

The man’s face was inches from his own.  “Doctor Jackson, at last we’re getting properly acquainted.  I’ve imagined this moment so many times, and now that it’s finally happening, it’s perfect.  You are beautiful all hot and wet like this.  No wonder the colonel wanted a look.”

 

Daniel tried to shove the man off, but found that he was held too firmly.  He tried to use his feet to push himself up, but he couldn’t get purchase on the smooth floor of the tub.  He made a tremendous effort to calm himself as much as possible, so that he could say evenly, “I want you to release me and step away right now.”

 

“Oh, I don’t think so.  I’ve waited too long, and it’s finally pay-off time.  It’s your own fault, you know.  I couldn’t touch you while I was on a mission, but you changed that.  It was you who put O’Neill on to me, wasn’t it?  The man didn’t even know I existed, I’d made sure of that, then all of a sudden, he’s very interested in me.”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I don’t even know your name.”

 

“Well, your boyfriend does, that’s for sure.  My cover’s blown, and with it any reason to stay away from you.  I guess I should thank him, he even led me to you tonight.  When I finish here, I’ll take the elevator up, sign out, and disappear from the face of the planet.  By the time they find you, my associates will have me starting a new life somewhere else.”

 

“Let go of me right now.”

 

“Not by a long shot, Daniel.”  The assailant grinned and shifted his grip so that he held both of Daniel’s wrists in one strong hand, running the other along Daniel’s abdomen, then following the curve of his hip to the thigh.  As the man brought his face close  to kiss him, Daniel turned his head away, and began to struggle again.  The hand on his thigh pushed down sharply, then began to slide between his legs.

 

Daniel twisted his hips and brought his knees up to deny his attacker access, but the man suddenly shoved his torso lower into the frothing water, so that Daniel had to tip his head all the way back to keep his face from going under.

 

“You fight me, boy, and you’ll be finding it real hard to breathe, unless you’ve grown gills.”  The hand forced its way between his thighs.  When Daniel moved to block him, it caused a wave to slosh up the tub and wash over his face, filling his nose and mouth with water.  He coughed the water back out and gasped for air.  Next thing he knew, a large hand wrapped itself around his balls and squeezed.  The sudden pain in his most sensitive body part caused him to freeze completely, except for sucking in gulps of air.

 

“Play nice now, Daniel, and it won’t be so bad.  You might even enjoy it.”

 

Something snapped in Daniel’s mind.  No way, no FUCKING way was he going to just lay there and take it.  His anger at all the people who had abused him or tried to in the past two years suddenly rushed to the surface.  --I will not be a victim anymore!  This stops here and now!-- 

 

As the adrenaline rushed through him, he shouted, “Get.  OFF.  Me.”,  and lunged upward with all his might.  As Daniel thrashed, trying to get some leverage with his legs on the slippery sides of the tub, the man holding him muttered, “Dammit!”, and pushed him all the way under.  He let go of his grip on Daniel’s testicles, and pushed his pelvis firmly to the floor of the tub.

 

Daniel continued to writhe and fight, the frenzied activity making his body crave oxygen all the more.  Daniel felt air bubbles escape from his mouth and nose, and the burn in his lungs intensify.  He needed air!  He thought, --This is it!  I’m going to die here!--  Nothing to lose, he increased the struggle, now fighting for his very life.

 

The weight holding him down suddenly disappeared, and he found himself gasping for breath on hands and knees beside the tub before he even knew it.

 

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

 

The moment he walked in the door of the PT room, Jack’s rational mind took a hike.  All he knew for several minutes was a mixture of fear and fury.  Finally, a cracking voice speaking his name brought him back to his senses.  He looked up to see Daniel, breathing heavily, water streaming off his hair and body, standing on the other side of the tub.  Jack could see the pulse pounding in his throat, and his eyes were like saucers as they fixed first on Jack’s face, then travelled sideways to take in his fist, which was suspended in air at shoulder height.   Jack’s gaze followed, and he saw blood on his hand.  He then looked down at the figure he was kneeling over.  Yup, Schoop had definitely been restrained.  Bent, folded and spindled as well. 

 

He looked back up at Daniel.  Their eyes held for several seconds, while Jack lowered his arm and slowly stood.  After a pause, Daniel leaned over to look at the man on the floor, then back up at Jack.  Shaking his head, he said solemly, “Well, I said a person would have to be suicidal to mess with me when you’re around.”  He smiled briefly, to reassure his friend.

 

O’Neill’s own shock was beginning to pass as he stood, his heart starting to beat again.  “You okay?”

 

Daniel nodded, “Yeah, thanks.”

 

“Anytime.”  Jack picked up a towel off a nearby table and threw it to Daniel as he walked toward the phone on the wall.  Lifting the handset he said, “This is Colonel O’Neill.  I need security in the Physical Therapy room on the double.”  And as an afterthought, “Oh, and a med team, too.”

 

He turned to find that Daniel had wraped the towel around his waist, but was still standing motionless in a pool of water on the cold tile floor.  “Danny, you may want to get dressed before the next portion of the evening’s entertainment begins.”

 

Daniel looked startled.  “Oh.  Right.”

 

Jack stared at the ground and listened to the wet slap of Daniel’s feet on the tile as he gathered his clothing and began pulling on his pants.  Jack felt strangely numb and disconnected.  He couldn’t stop thinking about it.  Daniel had almost died.  Jack had asked him to trust him with the situation, and as a result he’d almost died.  If he’d gotten there a minute later.…  If he hadn’t come back at all…

 

He looked up, and Daniel said to him with concern, “It’s all right.”

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

The door flew open, and three armed guards rushed in, followed closely by Doctor Warner and a nurse.  All five stopped and stared at the man lying in a puddle of blood reddened water.  Jack informed them, “This man just tried to kill Doctor Jackson.  Patch him up, I want him alive and well for the court martial he’ll be getting, but keep guards on him at all times.  Consider him very dangerous and at risk of escape.   No one moves him anywhere, and I mean anywhere, without a direct verbal order from myself or General Hammond.” 

 

While Doctor Warner knelt beneath the three guns trained on the supine man, the nurse went to the phone to call for more assistance.

 

Daniel was rubbing the towel through his long hair when Jack moved up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder, guiding him out of the room.  He knew Daniel would have to be checked over, so he steered them into the infirmary, back into a vacant corner.  They settled into two chairs, side by side.  Daniel asked tersely, “You want to tell me about it?”

 

Jack sighed.  “See, turned out it wasn’t just about you.  Schoop was an agent for someone; NID, CIA, someone else, we don’t know.  Hammond wanted to check him out some more, see if we could find evidence of further infiltration at the base.”  He tailed off into silence again.

 

Daniel asked, “Schoop?  That was his name?”

 

“Yeah.  Wayne.”

 

Daniel shuddered.  Jack asked, “What happened tonight?”

 

Looking at his hands, Daniel answered quietly,  “He said that his people were, what do you call it, ‘extracting’ him tonight.  Said that since you knew about him, there was nothing to keep him away from me anymore.”

 

Jack’s stomach sank.  It had been his fault Daniel was attacked.

 

Daniel spoke again.  “It wasn’t your fault.”  Jack shook his head.  “No, seriously, it wasn’t your fault.  Spies inside the mountain is a serious thing.  You had to investigate that.  One thing, though.  You should have told me.  Did you think I couldn’t keep it a secret?”

 

Jack answered quickly, “No!  No, it wasn’t that.  I just didn’t want you to have to know that a trained killer was stalking you.  We thought you would be safe, wouldn’t have to find out about it until later, if at all.  We were wrong.  Must be that when the guard at the gate changed, no one told the new guy to inform me immediately if Schoop entered the base.  Too many damn holes in this one.  We waited too long to apprehend him, and somehow they found out.  I was gonna have him picked up tomorrow, regardless, but that would have been too late.  I’m sorry, Daniel.”

 

“Jack, you saved my life tonight, and you’re apologizing?  That one’s hard to figure.  Just, next time tell me.  I don’t know if it would have made any difference with what happened tonight, but could we agree in principle that I should know when I’m being stalked by a trained killer?”

 

The older man pursed his lips and conceeded with a nod.  The kid was right, of course.  “And next time you notice anyone acting strange, you tell me right away, okay?”

 

“It’s a deal.”

 

Then the med team, surrounded by guards, pushed a gurney through the door, everyone talking at once.

 

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

 

Another team was assigned to the recon mission the next day, as Jack had the whole infiltrator mess to sort out.  In addition to the paperwork and offical depositions, Jack had one pissed off Jaffa to contend with.  Without raising his voice, Teal’c let O’Neill know that his own bodily safety would be in jeapordy if he ever again concealed such a threat to the young scholar.  One look from Carter said that she’d be glad to help break his bones if it came to that.  So he was particularly grateful for her whispered, “Way to go, Colonel, beating the crap out of him,” as she left the room.

 

Daniel himself was subdued.  He answered all the questions, received all the expressions of concern for his well being, with quiet dignity.  Then he asked if he could please go back to work. 

 

Schoop had suffered a fractured jaw and several broken ribs, but was recovering adequately.  Jack considered him to be one lucky camper.  If it had been Teal’c, the Marine wouldn’t have woken up this morning, or any other for that matter.  He stonewalled all the way through the few questioning sessions that Doctor Fraiser would allow, smirking provocatively at Jack with the unswollen half of his face, but the colonel was nowhere near ready to give up.  He so still had a score to settle with that guy.  He anticipated that an ideal moment would arrive to include Teal’c in the interrogation team.  The big man wouldn’t even have to touch him, just look at him like he was a low-life, bottom-feeding, scum-sucking, toad-faced rodent with no reason to live.  No acting skills required.

 

Everyone brightened considerably when the team came back from surveying the proposed relocation site, giving the whole thing the thumbs up.  Unpopulated, abundant, no pesky minerals to attract Goa’uld attention.  Perfect.

 

The next several days were largely given over to transporting men and supplies to the planet, and helping them get started.  Gattahn, with Daniel and Teal’c often in attendance, shuttled frequently between the two locations.  He wanted to be with his men as they settled into a new lifestyle, with no mining in their futures, but he also wanted to be on hand if the team that had gone to Neelot checked in.

 

By chance, he was on Earth when that day came.  When Ferretti called through by radio after sending the GDO signal, he said only to expect visitors, and there was no chance to prepare before people started pouring through the Stargate.  The crowd was led by a statuesque woman of about 40, who stood still and let the others flow past her, as she caught sight of Gattahn standing at the base of the ramp.  He stood frozen and helpless as she finally moved again, walking down the steps and into his arms. 

 

The SGC personnel, led by Daniel and Teal’c, were trying to move the women, girls and boys, none over 18, along into the hallway as more appeared through the gate, but they were hampered by scenes of reunion as all the Neelosian men still on base streamed into the gate room.  Even Sam, watching from the control room, had to smile as long lost friends and loved ones hugged, kissed, cried, and kissed again. 

 

After several hundred people had stepped through, Gemmal and Ferretti finally made their appearance.  The Major beamed at the crowd in the control room from his place trapped near the gate, shot a thumbs up sign, then made a slashing motion across his throat and pointed to the great ring behind him.  They were all there.

 

Chaos reigned for nearly half an hour before General Hammond was able to round up the appropriate SGC personnel, Gattahn, his wife and several other Neelosions, and herd them into the conference room, closing the door behind them.  Gattahn’s wife, Suleia, held his hand as she related what had befallen her half of the people. 

 

Several weeks after the men had been taken from their planet, Jaffa came and told the women to pack their things, they were going to join the others.  This they did, gladly believing that losing their homeworld was a small price to pay for being reunited with the men.  One of the girls, however, overheard some of the guards talking about how the women were in fact being taken somewhere else entirely.  The women’s council discussed it, and decided that they could not allow themselves to leave the planet, unless they were sure of where they were going.  This was the only place the men would know to find them if, when, they returned.  So the women had taken their packed belongings and, much as the men had done a decade later, snuck away to hide in the multitude of abandoned mines which threaded through the hills for a hundred square miles around the Stargate. 

 

The Jaffa pursued them, but the women had kept moving, knowing the tunnel system much better than the warriors.  They didn’t fight or make any trouble, so when the planet’s new settlers began to arrive, the Jaffa were quickly diverted from the search to orient and train them, and over time gave the refugees less and less thought.  And so the community had lived in hiding, in isolation ever since.  They agreed that one or two of the women should go to live in the town by the gate at all times, in case word came.  That was their only hope of ever ending the exile on their own planet. 

 

So when one of Suleia’s daughters heard a strange woman’s tentative questions in the wash house, she followed the foreigner, Anne Wilman, back to their camp.   When she saw who was there, she came whooping into the group and flung herself on Gemmal, her older brother.  When the shock of finding exactly what they were looking for passed, Gemmal and the others followed the girl back to the community’s hillside base.  There they agreed with the women’s council that the best course of action would be to get all their people off the planet at one time, as frequent activations of the Stargate would probably draw attention.

 

In the dead of night, the six hundred surviving Neelosians quietly came down from the hills, circled the town, and walked through the event horizon into a new life.  Ferretti concluded by saying that he had heard the sound of approaching Jaffa just before stepping through himself, but they had come too late.

 

Tears were pouring down Gattahn’s cheeks as he listened to the story of the women’s bravery and determination.  He flung himself out of his chair and knelt beside Suleia to hold her tightly in his arms, and rock her as he crooned adoration in her ear.  There was hardly a dry eye in the room at the joy of these people so long separated.

 

The planet the SGC had settled the refugees on had long been abandoned, so there was little danger of being discovered there by the Goa’uld.  It would serve these people as a permanent residence.  Everyone agreed that the new arrivals should continue on to the planet that would be their new home as soon as possible.  Starting over wouldn’t be easy.  Both groups had suffered many casualties, and both the men and the women had changed, individually and collectively, over the last ten years.  They would have to relearn how to live together, but they would do it as free people.

 

After receiving assurances that additional supplies and medical personnel would follow shortly, the gate was opened again.  Within minutes, the embarkation room was nearly empty.  SG1 stood at the bottom of the ramp to receive Gattahn’s final thanks and goodbyes. 

 

He spoke quietly to Daniel, and pulled him into a powerful bear hug.  He then turned to O’Neill, and asked Daniel to translate when he said, “So, Jack, the offer still stands.”

 

Jack shook his head sadly and replied, “No, I’m afraid I’ll still have to decline.”

 

Gattahn riposted, “I would take good care of him.”

 

Jack winced.  He deserved that.  “I promise to do that myself.”

 

“Very well.  Goodbye, my friends.”  He bowed to Teal’c and Carter, then strode up the platform and into the blue circle.

 

Daniel looked at Jack quizzically.  “So, what was that all about?”

 

“That, Danny-boy, was a happy ending.  They don’t crop up often enough for us to recognize them right away.  But you all notice that warm glowy feeling inside right now?”  The others nodded.  “That’s an indicator that something very good just happened.  Try to remember that for the next time.”

 

Jack was standing between Daniel and Teal’c, and slapped each of them on the back while winking at Carter.  “What do ya say I take us all out to dinner to celebrate?” he said, and pushed the group toward the door.

 

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

 

The following afternoon, Jack stuck his head into Daniel’s office, and the rest of his body quickly followed.  Daniel had been expecting the visit all day.  Nevertheless, he raised his eyebrows as Jack hovered over his desk.  “Something I can do for you, Jack?”

 

Jack looked a little nervous, like usual when he was working himself up to doing the talking thing.  “No, I just wanted to say… What I said yesterday about happy endings?  It’s really true, you know.  They do happen sometimes, and not just to other people.  It could happen for you, too.  Do you believe that?”

 

Daniel didn’t know if he did.  He tried, but hope was hard to hang on to.  Jack looked so eager, though.  His friend so much wanted things to turn out well for him, so much wanted him to keep believing.  Daniel sighed internally.  Okay, he’d try a little bit longer.  “Yes, Jack, I do.”

 

“Good.”  The tall man looked down at Daniel shyly.  “And are we okay?”

 

The corners of Daniel’s mouth twitched as he nodded.  “Of course.”

 

“Good.  See ya ‘round then.”  He walked to the door.

 

“See ya.”

 

That’s one thing Daniel did believe.  Whatever happened in the future, Jack wouldn’t be be far away.  It’s hard not to have faith in a force of nature.

 

 

 

 

The End

 

 

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