"Keeping Silent" by Deb

Title: Keeping Silent

Author: deb

Status: complete

Category: S/J UST, h/c, angst

Rating: R (violence, torture, rape)

Season/Sequel Info: After Shades of Grey

Spoilers: Shades of Grey

Archive: SJA, Heliopolis OK

Feedback: Sure

Summary: Sam disappears and Jack is the only one who can save her.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Author's Note: I'd like to thank my beta reader, Bruni (for not letting me get sloppy with my verb tenses) :-)

WARNING: This story contains descriptions of Violence, Rape, and Torture.

* * * * * * *

"Oh for cryin' out loud, I'm coming!" Colonel Jack O'Neill barked out. Well, *retired* Colonel Jack O'Neill, that is. After looking through the peep hole he let out a sigh. Opening the door he asked the young man "Does General Hammond think that by sending my friends to ask me, I'll change my mind and come back?" Jack had had to put up with various SGC personnel coming to his home asking if he'd come out of retirement (again) for this or that reason. And this had been going on since he had informed Hammond of his retirement plans five months ago. No, nothing had happened…it was just time. Jack continued, "I don't care if the Asgard will only deal with me, or the Nox or the…"

"Sam's missing," was all the anthropologist said.

"What? When? How?" Jack was rattling off the questions at light speed. Sure they were the most basic questions, but they still flew into Daniel's face, one right after the other.

"Why don't you come back to SGC so we can talk?"

"No, Daniel. I want to know NOW."

"Come on Jack. Look, I'll explain on the way."

Jack agreed and followed Daniel to his car.

* * * * * * *

Sam awoke in a dimly lit 'cell', her wrists bound together with some sort of chain, which in turn was tied to the wall. She had no idea where she was, who had taken her, or what they wanted.

The last thing she remembered was exploring P2W-665 with SG-1 when Daniel had run off after spotting some rock…artifact. She sent Teal'c after him, to make sure he'd be OK. That left her and Lieutenant Stephen Keller, who was added to the team after O'Neill had left to make it a four man team again, to watch the perimeter. They were talking about…something... ~'Man am I groggy' she thought to herself~ …then, well she couldn't remember much after that.

She began worrying about her team. What had happened to them? Were they OK? "Teal'c! Daniel! Lieutenant!" she called out and then sat silently for a moment, listening for a response. She called again…still no response. She wasn't sure if the lack of replies was good (they got away) or bad (they were hurt, dead, ~no, don't think that way~ she cursed herself). She was about to call again when the cell door opened up and she found herself squinting, trying to avoid the bright light that was being shined at her.

"Who are you? What have you done with my team? What do you want?" she demanded.

* * * * * * *

General Hammond, Teal'c and SG-4 were sitting in the conference room. They knew that Daniel would be successful at retrieving Jack, so they waited in silence for them to arrive. The silence was disrupted by the voice of one angry Jack O'Neill yelling at Daniel. "She's been gone how long? When were you going to tell me, huh? Or did SGC think they could just sweep her existence under the rug?" They could tell the two were approaching the conference room because O'Neill's voice became even louder.

Suddenly the door flew open. Daniel was quickly entering the room, trying to get away from O'Neill's verbal attack. O'Neill was only a step behind him and quickly turned his attention to the general. "And what about all those wonderful little doohickeys that were supposed to make it easier to find our people?"

Shortly after his retirement, Jack had learned from Carter that SG-1 was testing a type of Global Positioning System that the SGC was thinking of implementing. A small transmitter would be placed in a tooth of each member, that way if they got lost or kidnapped, a receiving device could be used to track them down. Of course, you would have to be on the same planet as the missing person, but it was better than what they had had before…which was nothing.

Jack had been relieved to learn this. Although he had the utmost confidence in Carter's ability to lead SG-1, which she had received when he retired, he knew he would worry about her, about them, since he wouldn't be there.

"Colonel," General Hammond answered, "We used the tracking device, trying to locate Major Carter on P2W-665, but we were unable to." He raised his hand stopping Jack from asking the next question and continued. "Yes, we ran diagnostics on the tracker. It was functioning properly."

"So she wasn't on that planet? Or was there interference? Or…"

"Colonel. We completed numerous comprehensive searches on '665 and we are confident that she is not on the planet."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we now know which one she is on."

* * * * * * *

She sat there in silence, waiting for her captor to answer her. Finally, he did.

"It is none of your business who I am, your team went back through the stargate…and what I want? Well, that is quite simple. I want your iris code." The voice was calm and familiar. Not familiar in that she thought she knew this person, but rather familiar in the sense that it sounded…human. As in, from Earth.

"Why do you want the code?"

"You are in no position to be asking questions…Major Samantha Carter…leader of SG-1."

'How in the hell does he know all that?' she thought to herself. 'Maybe he has gone through my things. I guess he could've figured all that out.'

"What happened to the other leader…Jack O'Neill, wasn't it?"

'OK, now *that* he couldn't have figured out from my things.' She began to worry. Is this an enemy we made before? She closed her eyes and racked her brain trying to identify the person speaking to her. She was jarred out of her thoughts.

"Well, I'm waiting. What is the code?"

"Yeah, like I'd give it to you. It doesn't matter what you do, I won't give it to you. Besides, my team will come for me. In fact, they're probably almost here now," she said confidently, but was met only with laughter.

"Yeah, we figured that there would be some sort of massive search for you on that planet…that's why we took you to another."

"We?" she asked, but soon stopped when she felt the punch across her jaw.

"You ask too many questions. Now give me the god damn code!"

Samantha Carter did not like being hit. She despised being held against her will. And she would *not* tolerate being bullied.

"Go to hell," was all she said through clenched teeth. She then prepared for another blow.

She heard a sigh. "I was hoping we could do this the easy way, but I guess I should have known better."

That blow she was preparing for came, followed by many others.

* * * * * * *

"What do you mean?" Jack asked. A mix of frustration and irritation laced his words.

"Major Gadlin, could you please share your report?"

"Yes sir," replied the commander of SG-4. He turned his attention to Jack, who had finally calmed down a little and had taken a seat next to Teal'c. "SG-4 have been conducting various searches on P2W-665 since Major Carter disappeared. Under orders, we always returned to SGC at nightfall, since we didn't know what or who had taken her." Major Gadlin, paused and took a sip of his water. After clearing his throat, he continued. "Yesterday, when we arrived on '665, we noticed something on the DHD…something that wasn't there the day before. Upon closer inspection, we discovered it was this." The major held up some dog-tags with a note attached to it.

"Those are Carter's," Jack said flatly. He didn't have to ask if they were…he already knew. The major nodded at Jack and continued.

"The note attached to her tags gave the coordinates to the planet where she is being held."

Confused, Jack turned to Hammond. "Doesn't that seem rather odd, General?" he asked.

"Yes it does, Jack. But there's more." The general gave a nod to the SG-4 leader indicating that he finish. Jack looked at him impatiently.

"The note was addressed directly to you, Colonel. It stated that you were to be the only one to come. If anyone else came with you…" the major paused a moment and looked at the floor. After a few sighs, he raised his head and looked right at Jack. "…they would kill her."

"Then what are we waiting for? I'll leave right now." Jack declared while standing up from the table. He began to walk towards the door when the general stopped him. "You do not have permission to go, Colonel."

Jack just stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around to face his former CO. He began to speak…slowly and from the pit of his very existence, which was very, very dark at the moment. "What on earth do you mean? Sam is out there, being held against her will, having to endure god knows what, and you're telling me that I can't go? They are willing to kill her, General. So I am going and I am going NOW!" His voice had grown louder and more grave with each passing word. Since he had retired, he seemed to be even more oblivious to his own insubordinate actions than ever before.

Calmly the general replied to Jack. "I understand your feelings, Jack, but I have a problem authorizing this. It sounds like you're being set up."

"Yeah? Well, I have a problem abandoning Sam." He said caustically and walked out.

* * * * * * *

Sam lay on the floor of her cell, bleeding, bruised, broken. Every part of her body was screaming with pain. And it didn't help that her wrists were still bound together and to the wall. All she could do was lie there in pain and cough up blood.

She still hadn't given up the code. Not after the fists to her face. Not after the kicks to her stomach and side. Not even after being choked…which was when she lost consciousness. The next thing she knew, she was lying in her cell…alone, thankfully.

She rolled over onto her back and tried to calm herself. It wasn't working. Eventually, though, the exhaustion took over and she fell into a restless sleep.

* * * * * * *

Colonel O'Neill paced back and forth in front of the Stargate. Every so often, he would pause, look up at the control room, as if expecting a 'go'. Not finding what he was wanting, he would return to his impatient pacing.

* * * * * * *

"Oh no. You can't go to sleep yet," taunted her captor, while slapping her face. She had no idea how long she had been awake, but she felt like she was approaching the 48 hour mark.

She had been enduring this 'unstable' schedule for over a week. She would not be allowed to sleep for long periods of time, then she would be free to sleep whenever she wanted. The same was occurring with her meals. One day she would get three meals, on others she would only get one meal…or none at all. The uncertainty of not knowing how long until her next meal, or when she would be able to rest was unnerving. She understood the tactics her abductors were using. 'Don't just deprive the prisoner…just make it impossible to anticipate her day. Blah, blah, blah.'

During the many days she'd been here, she noticed that, despite the cruel treatment, her captors kept her cell…clean…like a pine forest… No. Actually, there was no scent to this room. No scent, almost no light and no sound. That's what was causing her anxiety. Well, one of the many things. Without adequate external stimuli to distract her brilliant mind, she had found herself retreating into her own little world to think and ponder. And that worried her. She couldn't plan ahead for each day, let alone figure out how she was going to get out of this mess.

Suddenly she was roused from her thoughts by a growl from her captor. "This is your last chance. If you don't give me the iris code, right now, you will be very, *very* sorry."

She wasn't impressed by her captor's threat. She had already endured physical abuse, sensory deprivation, unpredictable schedule,…even threats of rape, and they hadn't broken her. She looked smugly at the man before her and sneered, "There's *nothing* you could do to *me* to make me talk." 'Yeah, that's it Sam. *Challenge* this guy. Smart move,' she thought sarcastically to herself.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he laughed as he walked to the door of the cell. She then heard him holler to one of the other captors, "Has Colonel O'Neill joined us yet?" "No, not yet." The man then looked back at her with a smirk and asked, "but you did leave that note with her tags, right?" Then the door slammed shut. Suddenly, Sam no longer felt smug. Instead, she was filled with a sick, sinking feeling.

* * * * * * *

Jack O'Neill sat low in his chair in the general's office. He was waiting for the general to get off the phone. When he saw Hammond hang up the phone, he began to speak, but was halted. "Jack, before you start…don't. I have not changed my mind. Military intelligence has analyzed the note found with Major Carter's tags and they agree that you are being set up..."

"So what? If I am being set up, which I'm sure I am, it doesn't change the fact that Carter is out there and needs help."

Hammond just stared at him, "Son, do we have to go through this again?"

Jack glared at him, "Yes General, we do. And we will continue to have to go through this until you let me go after Major Carter."

"I'm sorry, Jack, but I cannot, and will not, send any SG teams through the gate into an ambush."

Jack stood up so abruptly that the chair he had been occupying flew backwards. "You are not sending any SG teams, sir...just me. We have to rescue her. She is an important asset to this program. Losing her...", is voice began to falter, and he paused a moment, then continued, "...losing her would be a great loss for SGC." 'And for me, too,' he thought.

"Colonel, you are making good arguments, but I am afraid your judgement is being impaired by your love for Major Carter."

"What?!? Well, yeah," he said while clearing his throat, "of course I love her…and Daniel…and Teal'c…"

The general was not impressed with Jack's come-back. "Let me *rephrase* that. I'm afraid your judgement is impaired because you are *in* love with Major Carter. Son, if you feel you have to lie to me, fine, but don't lie to yourself. It helps no one."

Jack bent over to pick up the chair still lying on the floor and sat down in it. He was missing Sam beyond belief. Calmly and quietly he begged Hammond, "Let me go through. If I don't return in 48 hours, assume I won't be coming back and lock out my code." Jack waited for the general to argue against it, but he didn't. He just sat there thinking. Impatiently, Jack got up and paced the floor for a while, then stopped. Facing away from the general, his hands on his hips, Jack sighed and began again. "Please, sir," he said then turned to face Hammond. "I have to at least try."

"OK, Colonel. Permission to gate to that planet granted." The general hoped he was doing the right thing. "But this is what is going to happen. You will gate there. If you do not return within 24 hours, I will send a rescue team, SG-4, through." He stopped when Jack looked at him quizzically, then explained. "After you go there, the threat of an ambush decreases dramatically. Whoever is waiting there now, will more than likely be gone after 24 hours. If none of you return within the subsequent 24 hours of SG-4's dispatch, all of your iris codes will be locked out. Yours, Major Carter's, and SG-4's."

Jack nodded in agreement. He somehow knew that he would be met immediately upon his arrival and be escorted to…wherever…leaving the gate unguarded. He stood up and began walking to the door. "I'm ready to leave now."

"Negative." The general's words stopped Jack in his tracks. He turned around readying himself for another argument with his ex-CO. But before he had a chance to begin, the general, sensing what was about to happen, explained. "First, I want you to report to Doctor Frasier. I want you fitted with a tracking device. If you don't return and I have to send in a team, I want every advantage we can get."

Although unhappy about the delay, Jack knew that the general had a good point and nodded his agreement. He left for the infirmary. Hammond was surprised, but happy, that an argument had not ensued.

* * * * * * *

Sam sat alone in her dark cell. She was trying to make sense of what her captor had said. Were they setting a trap for Jack? Probably. But why? If she wouldn't give up the code, then Jack definitely wouldn't, either. Hell, he had been in Black Ops, for cryin' out loud. She stopped and chuckled a little at her last words. The thought of a phrase that Jack normally used made her think of him, which, for no rational reason, made her feel safe. She knew she wasn't really safe, but the thought of him made her feel that way anyway.

But she was worried. These people were definitely smart. Not theoretical astrophysics smart, but they did seem to know a lot about her and SGC. They had to have a reason for setting this trap for Jack.

* * * * * * *

"Chevron five encoded." Lieutenant Simmons' voice echoed from the speaker. His voice was filled with worry. He obviously was concerned about the welfare of the object of his crush.

Jack stood in the embarkation room at the foot of the ramp. He absentmindedly rubbed his jaw. It was still a little sore from having that tracking device placed within one of his back teeth. 'This device had better work' he thought.

"Chevron six encoded."

Jack's heart began to pound…partly from concern about what he'd find on the other side, partly from his worry about his friend, and partly from the anticipation of seeing Carter again (he hoped).

"Chevron seven locked."

The Stargate opened with a powerful burst, then quieted to its usual serenity. "Colonel, you have a go." Jack looked over his shoulder at the control room. He nodded at the general. Then he gave a 'don't worry' smile at Simmons. Simmons nodded in return. He then began his way up the ramp towards the gate and stepped through.

* * * * * * *

Colonel Jack O'Neill surveyed the area as he slowly descended the steps from the Stargate. The gate was situated in a field of knee-high grass. He could see trees off in the distance.

He was expecting…someone. Anyone. But there was no one in sight. He cautiously walked away from the gate a bit. He noticed a narrow dirt road a few meters in the distance. He started to walk towards it, but paused, not sure what to do. If he went to look for her by himself, he could miss whomever he was supposed to be 'meeting'. But what if there wasn't any one?

When he got to the road, he looked back and forth, checking both directions. He was getting frustrated, irritated, and…

"Welcome, Colonel O'Neill," a man said from behind him. Jack spun around to take a look at the man. He looked familiar, but Jack couldn't quite place the face.

"Do I know you?" Jack asked.

"No questions, Colonel," the man responded.

* * * * * * *

'Today is the day I die' thought Major Carter as she was struck again. This 'interrogator' was different from the one who usually conducted these 'interviews'. And this one had no compassion.

This meeting had started with the man pulling a knife on her. She thought she was dead then. He didn't stab her...instead he used the knife to cut away her clothes. Then the beating began. Unable to defend herself, she just closed her eyes and tried to endure. The beating continued. If she didn't have a concussion before, she definitely had one now.

All of a sudden, the beating stopped. 'Maybe I don't die today.' She hesitantly thought. She slowly opened her eyes to look at the bastard who had been delivering the blows. She couldn't focus her eyes completely, but she knew that she saw two things…one, the big grin on the bastards face. And two, the object he was smiling about…the gun pointed at her head. He started to laugh, "ready to have your brains blown out?" he asked mockingly. All she could do was close her eyes, lower her head, and think of all the things she hadn't done…hadn't said.

'click'

She shuddered with the sound…prepared for the quick pain and the immediate quick death. But…she was still alive. Was she? Then she heard the laughter from her captor. She looked up at him and glared. He pointed the gun at her head again.

'click'

She shuddered again. And her captor laughed again and walked up to her. Although she was covered in bruises and blood, she was still naked, and she did *not* like the way he was looking her up and down. He was no longer laughing. "Do you think I would actually kill you," he said with a heavy, quiet voice, "before I had a chance to have you."

Sam's eyes grew large with fright. She knew what he meant and she was mortified that she did not have the strength or energy to fight him. Plus, she was still chained to the wall. All she could do was close her eyes and turn off *any* and *all* of her emotions. With any luck, the torture would be over quickly.

As he eased her down, he ran one hand over her shoulder and down her chest. He cupped her breast and leaned in to grasp it with his mouth. ~Oh god, just, please, let this end soon~ She soon heard him undoing his pants and sliding between her legs, forcing them apart. ~This is just a dream. This is just a dream. It is *not* really happening~ Tears began to form in her eyes as she began to endure the worst moment of her life.

* * * * * * *

"We are almost there." The 'escort' turned around to tell Jack. "You can see the camp in the distance."

Jack looked where the man had pointed. He saw a few stone buildings. 'Sam,' he thought to himself, 'Hang in there. I'm almost there.'

* * * * * * *

Sam was alone again. She sobbed silently. This was the most terrified she had ever felt. She had been stripped of everything…her strength, her energy, her clothes, her self-respect. She didn't know how or if she could go on much longer.

* * * * * * *

Jack was led into one of the buildings. It was empty, except for a chair in the center of the room and two men standing in the far corner. "Please, have a seat, Colonel." Jack complied and immediately asked for Sam.

"You give us what we want, and we'll give you what you want." snarled a man. Jack looked around at the five men who had now joined the three already present. Jack felt his heart drop to the floor when he saw one of the men entering, buckling up his belt and adjusting his zipper. He had blood on his clothes. Jack looked up to the man and saw he had a sinister grin on his face. 'Oh god, Sam. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. I promise to get you out of here.' Jack cleared his mind of the treacherous thoughts. "So what is it that you want?" he asked.

"Your iris code."

"Ha! If you think I'll give that to you," Jack stopped and scrutinized the man, "then you are crazier than you are ugly."

"You do realize that we *will* get it out of you."

Jack didn't look at anything but the floor for a few seconds. With his arms across his chest, he looked up at the man defiantly "I spent four months in an…"

"Iraqi prison. Yes, we know."

Jack looked stunned. How did they know that?

"Last chance, Colonel. The iris code…"

"Go to hell," Jack spat at his captors.

"No, you are the one going to hell." One of the men growled. Then Jack was roughly escorted out of the room and to another building. The sun was setting and soon darkness would loom overhead.

As Jack, with his guards, entered the new building, he became overwhelmed with dread. He was in a hallway of some sort. There was nothing but a small table and two chairs. A man…a guard Jack presumed…was sitting in one of them. Jack then looked at a heavy door that was across from the table. 'This must be the prison.' Jack thought to himself. He was trying to assess the escape potential. It didn't look promising. So far he had counted nine 'hostiles' and he had no idea how many more there might be.

The 'guard' then stood. He took out some keys from his pockets and walked towards the door. Jack's escorts shoved him closer to the door that was now being opened.

* * * * * * *

Sam looked up as the door was opening. She couldn't take it anymore. They had broken her. She was prepared to tell them what they wanted. 'Forgive me, Earth'. And she closed her eyes in defeat.

But there were no captors, just…another prisoner?

* * * * * * *

Jack was given a lantern and pushed into the cell. He couldn't see anything…his eyes hadn't adjusted yet. "Your torture is about to begin." He heard as the door slammed shut.

Well, that's kinda odd. Why give me this lantern? What do they want me to see? Oh god, Sam! Jack quickly fumbled with the lantern to turn up the light. As the light increased he scanned the dark cell.

Then he saw it. An image of someone…Sam? He crossed the cell to the body. 'Please be alive.' Jack pleaded. He crouched down to inspect the broken figure. Bringing the lantern close, his heart sank, his lungs stopped working, and his brain exploded. It *was* Sam…and she had gone through hell.

She was naked, covered in blood, shivering. Jack immediately took off his jacket and began to wrap it around her. As soon as he touched her, she jerked violently. "Sam. Sam. It's me, Jack. It’s OK. You're OK," he began in a hushed voice.

"Jack?" an almost inaudible voice asked.

"Yes Sam, it’s me." He successfully wrapped his jacket around her. He then gently placed his arms around her, pulling her close to him. He was too concerned for Carter to be enraged at the bastards who did this to her. But the rage was there…pushed down for another time. For now he needed to take care of Sam. His Sam.

He held her close and realized just how frail and weak she had become. He cried silently. He didn't want her to see him upset, but he couldn't fight back the tears.

"I didn't give them the code, sir" she weakly stated.

"I know. You did good, Major." He tried his best to comfort her.

"Please don't give them the code," she begged. With a new companion came a new resolve. "I've endured too much for it to be in vain."

"I promise."

She then slipped into unconsciousness. Jack hoped it was just an exhausted sleep, but regardless, he was glad she was out. She couldn't feel any pain right now, he hoped.

As he scanned the body held in his arms, his heart sank. Sam had numerous injuries…bruises, lacerations, broken bones. 'What else had they done to her?' he wondered as he noted her state of undress…although he already knew the answer to that. He wasn't concerned with what the captors would do to him…but to her? Maybe they wouldn't do anything else to her, now that he was here. He could hope at least.

* * * * * * *

Suddenly Jack was ripped from sleep and from Sam. Before he could pull himself into full consciousness, he found himself being chained to the wall opposite Sam. He noticed that, unlike yesterday, the cell was fully illuminated. 'This is *not* good.' He mentally prepared himself for the brutal torture that lay ahead of him.

A torture that never came. He knew he could take whatever his captors could dish out…he'd been through it all before…beating, burning, even electrocution. But there was no way he could have prepared himself for the psychological torture he was about to endure.

Sam was being slapped awake. "Don't touch her!" Jack yelled. The rage that had been buried within him the day before began to surface.

The man slapping Sam stood up for a moment to stare at Jack, then bent back down towards his victim. "Oh"…'slap'…"you don't want"…'slap'…"us touching"…'punch'…"her?"…'kick'. With that last strike, Sam groaned loudly in pain. "Well?" another man continued, "Give us the code and he'll stop." The man set up for another kick to Sam's ribs.

"No. Wait." Jack's mind was racing.

"No, …sir." Sam pleaded softly. "Please…don't."

Jack was torn between having to watch Sam getting beaten or betraying the promise he made to her the night before. He knew which choice he had to make.

"Well, Colonel?"

He knew which choice he had to make, but it wasn't easy. He just lowered his gaze to the floor. He knew that giving the code would be easier on him…he wouldn't have to watch what was happening to Sam. But he also knew that that choice would be hardest on the major because she had endured so much.

"What? No code? Very well. Continue Mr. White."

Jack watched in horror as Sam's abuser punched her across the jaw…again and again. Jack tried to close his eyes, but every time he did, he heard the man nearest him tell one of the other men that they could 'have' the woman once their 'interview' was over, since the good colonel wouldn't keep his eyes open. Jack looked around the room and noticed that ten captors were present. He got the message and kept his eyes open, watching the torture released on Sam.

Every hit, strike, and kick that landed on Sam pierced Jack to the core. 'This is the woman I love and I am letting her get beaten to death.' Tears streamed down his face.

It seemed to go on for an eternity. Every once in a while a little 'scene' would play out. The man currently beating Sam would stop and step away. The man nearest Jack would then ask him for the code. Jack would remain silent. A new man would start hitting Sam again. 'Yeah, fresh blood…wouldn't want you guys to get too tired to beat her to death.'

The beating finally stopped. Most of the men left the cell as Jack was again asked for the iris code. After he stood there in silence, he was reminded that he could stop the inevitable rapes from happening if he would just give them the damn code.

Jack looked over at Sam. She was huddled on the floor…shivering, sobbing. He wanted to give in…but remained silent.

One of the men, overcome with frustration, pulled out his gun and pointed it directly at Sam's head. "Give us the damn code!"

Jack looked at Sam. She was lying still, staring at him. He knew what her eyes were telling him. 'Don't give them the code.' He wanted to die. He couldn't do this…allow her to die…cause her to die. He closed his eyes, trying to compose himself, when…

'bang, bang, bang'

"NO!" Jack cried out as he fell to his knees and sobbed. "You bastards! NO!"

An eternity passed by. Jack saw his life ahead of him…alone. No Sam. No love. Not ever having the opportunity to confess his love to her. He buried his head in his hands and sobbed.

"Jack. It's OK." He heard a man say as he was being shaken by his shoulders.

Jack just shook his head and continued to sob. He then felt the chain that had him attached to the wall move, and then…

'bang'

…an end of the chain fell to the ground. He was free?

"We don't have much time."

Jack looked up at the man. "Makepeace?"

The former 'Colonel' Makepeace just nodded at Jack and ran over to the other captive.

'bang'

Sam was now free from the wall as well. Jack stood up shakily and looked around the cell. The bodies of their former captors lay sprawled out in various positions around the room…dead.

"C'mon Jack. We *have* to go NOW!" Makepeace said as he placed Sam, now re-covered with his jacket, in Jack's arms. Jack quickly examined Sam…no bullet wounds. 'Thank god!'

* * * * * * *

It was still dark, but fortunately, there was a full moon out. Jack followed Makepeace as he led them away from the camp, towards the gate. They had walked in silence for a few hours, when Makepeace finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I had no idea that they were planning all that. I had been…away…for a couple weeks. I only just returned." Jack didn't respond. Sure, the former marine had helped them escape, but he was obviously associated with those bastards. "So who are those guys? NID?"

Makepeace nodded. "Yeah. The second gate was active for quite a while before it was shut down again. I guess those guys didn't like being cut off from their lives on earth."

Jack stopped in his tracks. "You mean they wanted the iris codes for no other reason than to get back to earth? No devious plans of earth's destruction? They were just homesick?" He had pretty much reached the point of yelling.

Makepeace nodded again.

"Sam went through hell just so those…" Jack's voice trailed off as he began to think. "…what were they thinking? They would only get as far as the gate room, then they'd be captured."

"I guess they were going to use one or both of you to make their way out of the mountain. Now come on, Jack. I may have killed three of them, but there's a lot more. You don't want to go back there…"

"No. No, I don't…for her sake." They continued walking...in silence.

Finally, Jack spoke up. "What about you, Robert? You can't go back there. Come back to the SGC. You saved Sam and me…that'll count towards something."

"No, I wouldn't be safe on earth. I know too many of Maybourne's secrets. I'd end up at the bottom of a lake, I'm sure."

"Then where will you go?"

"We're about an hour away from the gate." Makepeace stated, trying to change the subject.

"Where will…" Jack was interrupted.

"It hurt's, sir. It hurts." Sam was whimpering in his arms.

"Let's stop a minute." Jack placed Sam on the ground and looked her over. It wasn't good. Her face was almost unrecognizable. She was covered in bruises and blood, had broken ribs, probably internal bleeding…

"I wish I had some painkillers for her, Jack."

"Let's just get going again." He said as he picked up the now unconscious Sam, again. "You never said where you will go."

"That's because I don't know. I was kinda hoping you could help me with that one."

"I'm not good with addresses. That's Daniel's and Sam's thing. There's only a few that I know…besides earth's."

"I'm not picky."

Jack thought about it and gave Makepeace an address. "They're not very advanced, but it's a nice place. But don't eat any cake if a woman offers it to you."

Makepeace looked puzzled and was about to ask what Jack meant, but they were both startled by the sound of people in the distance.

'Shit!' was all Jack could think. He would rather kill Sam and himself before he would allow them to be taken back to that camp. But then he heard something…something familiar.

"I think I heard Teal'c's voice. Sounds like he was talking to someone…but I'm not sure."

"I thought that, too. It couldn't be the NID guys. The sound came from the wrong direction. Must be the cavalry riding in to save the day." Makepeace joked, but then became more serious. "They're not far off."

Jack and Makepeace continued looking at each other, both assessing the situation. "Looks like you two will be OK. I need to leave now." Makepeace decided. Jack nodded in agreement as he gently placed Sam on the ground again. The former leader of SG-3 turned to leave, but paused when Jack called out to him.

"Robert? Thanks." The marine nodded. "I'm sure you had your reasons for working for Maybourne."

"Yeah…but not very good ones." He said flatly and disappeared into the darkness.

* * * * * * *

Jack gently stroked Sam's hair as he waited for 'the cavalry'. "Don't worry, Sam," he quietly told her as he placed a whisper-soft kiss on her injured forehead, "help is on the way." Jack hoped the 'help' would arrive quickly…which it did…thanks to those wonderful little tracking devices. 'I guess those are a good idea,' Jack thought as he saw 'the cavalry ride in to save the day.'

* * * * * * *

SG-4, Teal'c, and Jack, carrying Sam, descended the ramp back at the SGC.

"Medical team to the embarkation room!" someone yelled.

Within moments, Jack was placing Sam on a gurney to be whisked away to the infirmary. The general looked at his injured soldier and then back at Jack, questioningly.

"They wanted the iris code, sir. She wouldn't give it to them." Jack shook his head remembering the horror he had witnessed, " You don't want to know the details."

"Jack, come to my office in an hour for a full briefing. And son, relax, you got her out of there."

"No, I didn't...Makepeace did." The general stared at him. "I'll explain in the debriefing, sir. Permission to go to the infirmary to check on…"

"Granted."

With that, Jack left to be near the woman he loved. He knew she would need him there during her recovery...and he realized he would need her close by for his recovery.

But they would both recover. They would.

END