Once again they entered the entrance chamber they'd been studying when Daniel had insisted they leave. O'Neill quickly scanned the area, assessing the situation. In the middle of the chamber, Nurti' stood calmly in front of a kneeling Daniel, her first prime to the side and slightly behind her. Another Jaffa stood near the door leading outside and crumpled in one corner was the dead body of the old medicine man. No one argued or hesitated when ordered to kneel before their God. Right then O'Neill would have kissed her feet just to get near Daniel.

It was obvious to anyone with eyes, the young scientist was in agony and struggling to remain conscious. Shaking, his face pale beneath the bruises, Daniel repeatedly licked at dry lips, wincing each time his tongue touched one of the many cuts. Unable to open his eyes enough to see what was happening around him, he jerked away, almost falling over completely as Jack took hold of his arm.

"Daniel?"

"J-Jack?" Relief and hope evident in his voice, Daniel visably relaxed, intent on wiping the terror from his face, replacing it with an impassive mask that would have done Teal'c justice. "You...okay?"

"Back to normal kid...and sorry as hell."

"Nothin...s-sory fo-"

"Quiet!" Daniel flinched at the angry order. "I have not given you permission to speak."

Nurti stared at the SG leader, "I must compliment you O'Neill. You choose your followers well. They are courageous, strong willed and stubborn."

"You think you're telling me something I don't know." O'Neill snapped. Knowing Daniel couldn't see the grin he sent the others (a grin of encouragement designed to irritate the Goa'uld goddess), Jack gently squeezed the younger man's shoulder. "They're the best! To bad you can't say the same thing about your...snakes. And FYI, they're not my followers, they're my team!" Buying time, his mind searching for a plan, O'Neill nodded to Bannock's body. "So how come you killed the old man."

"Those who fail me are punished."

"A stern lecture wasn't good enough?" Jack deadpanned.

"Apophis will take great pleasure in breaking your spirits. Death will not come easy...nor last long." Her eyes locked with O'Neill's, arrogance written in every feature and movement, Nurti' ran her fingers through Daniel's hair sending a shutter through the scholar as he tried to duck away. "Your hatred served you well with this one O'Neill."

"Keep your filthy hands off him!" A vicious kick to his back sent Jack sprawling as he attempted to knock her hands away from the injured man.

Her expression suddenly softened as if speaking of a favorite pet. "He puzzles me. His suffering is immense yet knowing what you are capable of, he remains loyal. Aware of the pain still to come, he continues to remain silent rather than giving me the knowledge I seek."

"I have a proposition for you O'Neill," she smiled as gasping for air, he pulled himself back to his knees. "A treaty between the two of us. As your followers-"

"Team." He corrected.

"Team." Her tone condescending she took her seat on the throne near the control panel. "As your team was informed, Apophis would pay dearly for the four of you as would Sokar and several others but tell me what I wish to know and not only will I stop your friend's suffering but I will keep you with me. You will be treated well." She didn't need to add it would be as hosts. That was a given.

"Go to hell." Jack snarled. Screaming in rage he fought against the strong hands that grabbed him from behind as a burst of energy exploded from the ribbon device, flinging Daniel across the room. The archeologist curled into a ball, his stifled crys of pain released in pitiful barely audible whimpers.