"Parasite" by Ruth M King

TITLE: Parasite

RATING: R

ARCHIVE: Sam and Jack, Heliopolis, anyone else please ask.

SPOILERS: None

DISCLAIMERS: Stargate SG1 is the property of MGM, Showtime, Double Secret and Gekko etc. I'm just playing for a while !

NOTES: This is the sequel to Symbiosis. Please don't read it if you find rape stories offensive, although there isn't anything graphic, it isn't very nice. Also keep away if you're under 18. I am planning a third part, but it may not get written before I go on holiday.

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Jack O'Neill obviously wanted something. He had been hanging around the infirmary for almost an hour, playing with the equipment and generally getting in everyone's way. In the end Janet dragged him into her office, where he proceeded to destroy every paperclip she owned.

"It's kinda personal," he began.

"I'm sure it's nothing I haven't seen before," Janet assured him, curious as to what the problem could possibly be.

He looked uncomfortable. Janet got the feeling that he was considering a hasty departure, so she shut the door before he had the chance to run.

"Anything that you say in this office will go no further," she continued.

Even so he hesitated before starting to speak, "You know that Sam and I....well...we've gotten a lot closer recently."

"She told me....when I put her back on the pill."

"Oh, right."

He picked up her pen and dismantled it. His fidgeting was starting to get on her nerves.

"Is this about....?" she prompted, pointing downwards.

Jack actually blushed, before answering,

"No! That's one problem I don't seem to have. Look Doc, I'll give it to you straight. I'm having blackouts..... When I'm with Sam."

"Give me an example."

"The other night, I took her back to her place, but we had an early mission the next day and I didn't plan on staying. I woke up in her bed. She had bruises......I think I hurt her."

Janet was shocked. She had never thought that Jack could be the abusive type, but he had to be worried if he had come to see her about it.

"And you have no memory of this?" she asked, a touch coldly.

"None whatsoever. You have to believe me, Doc."

His tone bordered on panic, and Janet felt herself soften a little. This was a man who was obviously painfully worried by what he might have done to the woman he loved.

"OK, Sir, I'm going to have to run some tests. In the meantime I suggest you keep away from Sam."

"Yeah, all right. I can do that. Thanks."

He pushed back his chair and shuffled out of her office, obviously still concerned about himself and, more importantly, what he might be doing to Sam. If they did have a problem why hadn't Sam said anything? Then again, Janet had the sneaking suspicion that she might not. The matter obviously needed handling very carefully.

To himself, Jack admitted that he was scared. He'd never been this out of control and never with a woman. Her bruises weren't pretty, and must have hurt. Sam hadn't complained, but Jack had tried to make it better by making love to her again, as gently and tenderly as he could. God, he wanted her, a burning ferocious need that he found it difficult to control. The Doc was right he had to keep away from Sam or God only knew what he might do next.

She was everything to him. The past two months had been some of the happiest he had ever experienced.

<Don't forget to thank me,> Lantesh threw the comment into his mind.

<Saying I told you so is very annoying.> Jack snapped back.

<If it hadn't been for me you'd still have been mooning over each other.>

<I'm really starting to understand why Martouf was such a pain in the butt.>

The symbiont laughed, <So are you going to see Samantha?>

<Not a good idea.>

<If you're going to give her the cold shoulder, the least you could do is tell her why.>

Lantesh was right. He couldn't just avoid Sam without letting her know that something was wrong. She deserved that much. Having made his decision he headed towards her office.

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

"Sam!"

On hearing the doctor's voice, Sam pulled her shirt back on and buttoned it up to the neck. She didn't want too many awkward questions. Unfortunately, she could do little to hide the red mark that was evident on her face. She should really go and find some ice, but to do that she would have to go past Janet and Sam didn't think that she was ready for that confrontation. If she stayed here and kept quiet maybe her friend would go away.

The truth was that Sam didn't know how to handle the situation she now found herself in. When she'd first been with Jack he had been so sweet and attentive.....and he still was....on occasion. But something had changed and Sam couldn't say what it was. It was almost as if she was making love to some other person....one who wouldn't take no for an answer. Sam touched her cheek, wincing a little. She'd have to put on an extra layer of foundation tomorrow to hide the bruise that was going to form. What she really needed was a shower, to wash away the feel of him.

Jack had come to her office, saying that he had something to tell her. He had started to apologise, turned away for a few seconds and then......Sam couldn't say what had happened. She had found herself lying across her desk, Jack's hands pulling the clothes from her body. Sam had started to cry out, but he had hit her a stunning blow across the face. After that all she had been able to do was lie back and take it. Struggling against him didn't do any good, he was far too strong for her to have any effect. She didn't say the word rape, but she knew that it wasn't far from her mind. He'd been walking a fine line previously, but this time he definitely hadn't had her assent....and she didn't know what the hell she was going to do about it. Bring him up on charges? If she did that someone would find out about their change in relationship, and they'd both be court-martialled. In her heart she kept hoping that he'd change back into the tender, kind man she'd first fallen in love with. That was her biggest problem. She loved him, and didn't want to see him lose everything.

There was no longer any noise outside her office door, and Sam guessed that Janet had probably gone. It was safe to make a bid for freedom and go home. She only hoped that Jack wouldn't be waiting for her, but she didn't know where else she could go....unless.......

Finding herself outside Daniel's apartment was a surreal experience. There had been a time when she had called this place home. In a way Daniel had hurt her more than Jack had ever done. He had rejected her, when she needed him most and she could only hope that he wouldn't do the same this time.

He looked surprised when he answered the door. She hadn't set foot in the place since she had left six months ago, he knew that something had to be seriously wrong for her to do so now. To his credit, he didn't ask her any immediate questions, although he must have wondered what she was doing there. He let her inside and poured her a stiff drink. Sam sipped the whiskey slowly. Daniel may have been a wuss when it came to beer, but his capacity for spirits was unparalleled.

"So?" he began.

"So?" Sam heard herself repeat.

"There has to be a reason you're here, Sam. I'd like to hear it."

She couldn't really blame him for sounding sullen. At least he hadn't turned her away.

"It's Jack, isn't it?" he went on.

"Yeah," Sam admitted.

"Did he do that?"

Daniel gestured to the mark on her face. Sam's hand immediately flew to her cheek as she made a futile attempt to cover the bruise. The gesture confirmed his observation.

"I'll kill that sonofa...."

Sam had never seen him so angry. She really thought that he'd go after Jack's hide that very minute.

"Daniel, no. He'd kill you first."

"Maybe."

"Look, it doesn't matter."

"How can you say that? He had no right to hit you, none at all."

"It happened, I'll deal with it. I'd better go."

Sam started towards the door, but Daniel intercepted her. He couldn't let her leave like this. She hid it well, but he could tell that she was very emotionally upset by what had happened. He made a conscious effort to calm himself.

"Why don't you stay in the spare room," he offered. "We can talk more in the morning."

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

"Yes, she's here," Daniel told Janet.

"Thank God. Look is it OK if I come over. I've had some of Colonel O'Neill's test results back."

"Sam's asleep right now."

"This may be important. I'll be twenty minutes."

The line went dead before Daniel had a chance to protest any further.

"Who was that?" Sam asked as she came out of the spare room.

"Janet. She's coming over to talk about Jack."

"Oh."

"You don't have to see her."

"Yes I do, Daniel. If there's something wrong with Jack I may be able to help."

"Until he hurts you again?"

"Call me when Janet gets here."

Daniel swore to himself as Sam walked away. How could she even consider giving Jack another chance? He was certain that there were other bruises, one that he hadn't seen. It was only the obvious injury that had forced her to do something. He was so distracted by the dark thoughts that he didn't check before he opened the door to his apartment.

"Sam here?" Jack O'Neill asked.

"I don't think...." Daniel began.

"Don't mess with me Daniel."

The man looked desperate, and totally sincere and Daniel no longer had the suicidal urge to hit him.

"Jack, go away. She doesn't want to see you right now," he said, quietly.

Jack hesitated, obviously unsure as to what he should do next. Eventually, he turned his back and started to walk away.

The change, when it came, was a subtle one. Jack stopped walking, his posture straightening imperceptibly. He turned around and, with a sweep of his hand, Jack sent Daniel crashing to the ground. Stepping over the younger man's still form, he entered the apartment in search of Sam.

She was waiting for him.

Sam had heard Daniel cry out and was on her way to the front door when Jack appeared.

"Samantha," he breathed as he reached for her.

"Leave me alone Jack."

"I can't do that."

He took another step towards her and Sam prepared herself to fight. She wasn't going to let him hurt her, not again. His first blow was stunning, but Sam managed to block it and stay on her feet. She wasn't so lucky the second time. He swept her legs from under her, leaving her helpless on the ground. Sam screamed as loudly as she could. Jack clamped his hand over her mouth, trying to silence her, but Sam bit him and started to scream again.

"Sam!"

It was Janet's voice. The doctor didn't hesitate and launched herself at Jack, knocking him off Sam. Between them, the two women managed to bring him down. By the time Daniel had managed to revive himself, they had immobilised him.

"Nothing like a little girl power," Janet muttered as they stood back, breathing heavily.

"What's wrong with him, Janet?" Sam asked.

The man that lay bound before them bore no resemblance to the Jack O'Neill any of them knew. His face was distorted with pure rage.

"This isn't Colonel O'Neill," Janet explained. "It's Lantesh."

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Ruth M. King