TITLE: Stalemate

AUTHOR: Jo R.

EMAIL: Jo@Ram32.freeserve.co.uk; CksGirl_MIA@hotmail.com

CATEGORY: Angst, SJR, Action/Adventure, Drama. *Season Six Spoiler Warning*, Possible Alternate Reality - please read 'Abyss' Disclaimer.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Angst and evilness - or so I'm told!

RATING: PG-13

SEASON / SEQUEL: Season 6 after 'Abyss'; indirect sequel to 'Queen Vs. Queen' and part of the 'More than a Game' series.

SPOILERS: Slight ones for 'Hathor', 'ItLoD', 'Entity', 'Desperate Measures', 'Proving Ground'. Definite ones for all Tok'ra/Goa'uld mythology episodes. Slight spoilers of season six story-arc rumours up to 'Abyss'.

SUMMARY: An old enemy, a new enemy and a few surprises create a stalemate situation for SG-1.

ARCHIVE: Random Ramblings, IB, Heliopolis, SJA. Anywhere else, please ask first.

STATUS: Started: May 15th, Completed: 09th July. Rewrite began: 03rd August.

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, Sci-Fi Channel US, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended and no money will be exchanged. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.

'ABYSS' DISCLAIMER: At the time of writing this story, I haven't seen 'Abyss'. I had the idea of using Baal as a lead villain before I knew he was the bad guy in that episode so I apologise if anything within this story jumps out as being in direct opposition with the events of the episode. With the help of some friends who have seen the episodes (see Dedications below), I've done my best to include certain issues brought up in the episode. It may, however, be best that those of you who have seen 'Abyss' read this story with the view that it is a slight AU.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Can be read as a follow-up to 'Queen Vs. Queen' but it can be a standalone - just know there was a change in Sam and Jack's relationship in that story. I started writing after the events of 'Meridian' and haven't seen much/any of season six. Despite that, the story is set after season six's 'Abyss' due to the supposed events of that episode that have ramifications in here. The character of Jonas Quinn doesn't appear much (if at all) even though I think he's a really great addition to the show - the reason for this is because I started the story after only seeing him once in 'Meridian' and didn't feel I knew enough to involve him as much as I'd like. The spelling of 'Baal' used in this story/series is taken from the season 5 DVD subtitles and all the mythology books/websites - I know this might have changed with season 6 but I'm going with the one I know.

DEDICATION: Ruthie AKA Jammy Evil Mole, as ALWAYS, for all of the support and encouragement and help with research. Ruthie, my fellow JJAddict, it's your turn: Write, FCOL, to make me COL. ;) Big thanks also, as usual, to Lynn for her encouragement and suggestions. Thanks also to MK for supplying me with answers and hints on how to write about an episode I haven't seen! Big thanks also to Maz for reading it through and giving me her opinion - another one who saw the episode and read the fic in the right order, unlike me, and did her best to try and talk me through it! Maz, we'll have to 'do lunch' again soon!

=*=

Going to sleep was the last thing she remembered. She'd said goodnight to her father and adjourned to the room that had been assigned to her during her stay with the Tok'ra, quickly falling asleep, dreaming of going home.

She was sure she hadn't moved during the night, sure she hadn't done anything to hurt herself so why was she in so much pain? And why did she feel cold? Her stomach, particularly, felt strange - it felt like it was on fire but at the same time, she could feel a cool breeze sweep over her bare skin.

Bare skin?

Trying to sit up, a low agonised groan escaped her lips moments before panic began to well up inside of her. She couldn't move. Why couldn't she move? She could feel her feet and her hands but she couldn't move.

" She is waking."

" It is too early! Quickly! Prepare the symbiote!"

" The symbiote has not yet left the old host.. Doing so will kill her.."

" The old host is damaged. She is unfit for a Goddess. Go, inform her of our progress.. Hurry!"

Symbiote? Goddess? Huh?

Her brow furrowing, she tried to sit up again, only to be pushed back down by strong hands. Opening her mouth to protest, she found the words didn't make it passed her lips as the sound of a zat blast filled the air.

Her eyes flying open, Sam sat up as those keeping her down were distracted. She saw various members of the Tok'ra exchanging weapons fire, surprised when she recognised most of them. Her eyes widened as she saw an obviously injured Anise go up against another female Tok'ra who was unfamiliar to her but obviously in a great deal of pain. Both had fire in their eyes and a zat gun in their hands.

She watched as they appeared to exchange words - she couldn't hear anything over the deafening blasts around her so she was working on assumption. She could see them moving towards her, both on edge and both firmly keeping their zats in plain view of the other.

They got closer to her and that was all she knew.

Her vision swam and her head pounded. With all the confusion rising up inside her, it was all she could do not to sigh contentedly as oblivion sunk in, making the pain momentarily stop.

=*=

Red lights flashed and the klaxons blared for several long minutes. They stopped when the base computers received and recognised the code being sent by those responsible for activating Earth's Stargate. General George Hammond waited in the Control Room for confirmation, heading for the Gateroom when he was told it was the Tok'ra.

He was hoping Major Samantha Carter had chose to return from visiting her father early, saving himself and everyone else from another twenty-four hours of having to put up with a Colonel who was willing to do anything to avoid paperwork and a Jaffa who was getting anxious due to having been on base, and in the company of said Colonel, for several days.

Feeling optimistic, the General made it to the bottom of the ramp just as the visitors stepped through. The Tok'ra Anise came through first, Freya - her host, limping a little as she preceded the others. The others were former General Jacob Carter, host to Selmac, and he was supporting his daughter, Major Carter, as she leaned against him, arms wrapped firmly around her waist on top of the dark cloak she wore.

Something was wrong.

The grave expression Jacob wore, the injuries Freya was suffering from and the shocked expression on Sam's all-too-pale face told him that.

" Jacob..? Major Carter?" His sense of alarm irked, General Hammond took a step closer to father and daughter. He'd only agreed to letting the Major visit her father on Aleris, the new Tok'ra home world, because Anise and Jacob had insisted it would be safe and pose no risk but since that obviously wasn't the case, he began to regret his decision. " What happened?"

" We should get to the infirmary, George. I promise to explain everything there." Wearily, Jacob tightened his hold on his daughter, glancing around at those watching with obvious interest. " Please, George." His eyes implored with his old friend as Sam leaned into him further. " It's important we get Sam there quickly."

" Okay." Unable to refuse despite his curiosity, the General ushered the three newcomers out of the Gateroom and towards the infirmary. With every step, he noticed the shock on the Major's face gave way to pained disbelief, her arms tightening around herself protectively.

Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.

=*=

Glancing from the board to his opponent, Teal'c realised something. Whatever move he made, he was confident it would go unnoticed and unchallenged by the man sitting opposite him.

Knowing that was, in a word, disturbing.

Colonel O'Neill usually made for an interesting, not to mention strong, opponent. He was a player full of strategies and skilful techniques, putting to use his years of experience within the US Air Force. Their matches were usually always interesting and never the same as a result of the Colonel's military mind working against Teal'c's experiences as a First Prime fighting against the enemy and as himself, fighting against the Goa'uld he'd served.

This time was different. Teal'c could see Jack's mind was focused elsewhere, his moves illogic and random. Moving his queen to take the Colonel's piece of the same importance, Teal'c sat back and waited for the other man to notice.

Several minutes passed. Teal'c noted O'Neill seemed to be more interested in studying the shape of the bottle of beer in his hand than in their game.

" O'Neill, it is your move." Eventually, his patience began to wear thin and he had to speak up and say something. " Your king is in check."

" It is?" Sounding surprised yet uninterested at the same time, Jack set the bottle down beside the pieces he'd claimed from Teal'c over the course of the game - three pawns and one knight - staring blankly at the board. " Oh, yeah." His queen was gone. When did that happened? " Umm.."

Watching him, Teal'c realised the Colonel had no intention of making his move anytime soon. " If you do not wish to continue our game, we can abandon it until another time."

" Huh?" Lifting his eyes to meet Teal'c's a few minutes after the words had been spoken, Jack managed a half-hearted shrug of apology in response to the raised eyebrow Teal'c wore. " Sorry, Teal'c. I'll concentrate, I promise." Turning his attention back to the game, he made his move, his only remaining rook moving closer to Teal'c's king.

His eyebrow rising higher, Teal'c wasted no time in moving his next piece. Sitting back, a small smug grin played on his lips. " Checkmate. You lose, O'Neill."

" What?" Staring at the board, Jack frowned when he saw his king was cornered by Teal'c's pieces. How hadn't he seen that coming? " Oh. Right." Shrugging again, he leaned back in his chair, picking up a new bottle of beer and twisting off the cap. " Good game, Teal'c."

" You appear most distracted, O'Neill. Is there something you wish to discuss?" Settling himself back in his own chair, Teal'c watched in concern as Jack started drinking his second beer in just under an hour. " You have been ill at ease since Major Carter departed to visit her father. Perhaps you miss her more than you thought?"

His eyes snapping to Teal'c's at the mention, Jack found he had to look away just as quickly. " Carter?" Taking another long swig of beer, he tried to appear nonchalant. " I don't miss Carter, Teal'c. I just wanna get back out there. Why Hammond couldn't get someone else to stand in for her.."

" O'Neill." The tone used, although serious, held a note of amusement. " I feel there is something I must share with you."

" Oh? Sounds interesting." Leaning forward slightly, Jack put the bottle next to the empty one on the table, knowing he'd fidget with it as long as he held it. " What's up, Teal'c?"

Pausing so he could study the other man before continuing, Teal'c decided to get straight to the point. " I have been aware of the true nature of your relationship with Samantha Carter for some time, O'Neill. Daniel Jackson and myself were both aware of the changes that took place."

His jaw agape, Jack stared at his teammate in a surprised stupor. " Wha..? When..?"

" Your relationship with Samantha Carter has been more than professional for several months now. I do not wish for either of you to feel you have to pretend otherwise in my company, especially now Daniel Jackson is no longer with us." In all truth, Teal'c had felt uncomfortable in the months after Daniel had ascended and the team had started spending more time together away from work. He'd always been aware that there was more between the Major and Colonel than they let on and when they pretended otherwise, it made him feel like an outsider. He did not wish for his friends to have to hide anything in his presence.

" How long have you known? I mean, is it that obvious?" Fidgeting with the cushion now the bottle was out of his reach, Jack's gaze flickered from resting on his friend to wandering around the room. He felt bad about having not told Teal'c the truth, and Daniel when he'd been around, but it was something he and Sam had agreed upon - their friends couldn't get into trouble if they didn't know what was going on. " I'm sorry we didn't tell you, Teal'c.. We.."

" I believe I understand why you did not speak of it, O'Neill." Teal'c interrupted, halting the Colonel's rambling before it could begin. " The military frowns on interpersonal relationships between officers in the same chain of command, particularly when one is of a higher rank to the other."

" We were trying to protect you guys.. There's no point in getting you into trouble in case something goes wrong," Jack corrected him quickly. " Honestly, we wanted to tell you but we thought it was best.."

Teal'c lowered his head for a few moments, acknowledging his words. " Then thank you, for trying to protect me. However, I feel it will be best for all three of us if you no longer feel you have to hide the truth from me. I will not betray your confidence, O'Neill. I am very pleased for you and Major Carter."

" Thanks, Teal'c." A ghost of a grin gracing his face, Jack still couldn't contain his concern that perhaps someone else knew the truth. " I've got to ask you though, are we really that obvious? If you and Daniel knew.."

Teal'c allowed himself another small smile. " You are most discreet, you have nothing to fear. If Daniel Jackson and myself did not know you as we do, we would most likely be as oblivious to everyone else."

Shifting in his seat, uncomfortable with the conversation but unable to let it drop, Jack forced himself to meet Teal'c's eyes. " Was Daniel okay with it? He never said anything.."

" Daniel Jackson was as pleased as I am. He wished as I do for you both to be happy." The familiar sadness at the thought of their missing friend was ever constant but not as strong as it once had been. " As long as you are both happy, that is all that matters."

" I think we're happy, yeah." Smiling genuinely, Jack nodded, mostly to himself. " So when did you notice there was something.. different.. about things between Carter and me?"

Tilting his head to the side, Teal'c appeared to be deep in thought. " I believe Daniel Jackson began to think something had changed between you after the training exercise involving Lieutenants Haley and Elliot. I suspected something may have occurred before then but we were never certain."

" You'd be right," was all Jack said on the matter, a sly grin forming on his face.

Both were lost in their thoughts as they sat there in relaxed silence, Teal'c trying to pinpoint the exact time he'd sensed something different between the command team of SG-1 and Jack trying to console himself that even if he didn't get to tell his friends the news, they'd found out for themselves and were apparently happy - even if Teal'c had to say so on Daniel's behalf.

The ringing of the phone sliced through the peace and quietness of the house. Pushing himself up to his feet, Jack picked up the receiver, barely managing to get out a 'hello' before the person on the other side started talking.

Less than five minutes later, he hung up, turning to Teal'c with a concerned yet confused expression. " Better get going, Teal'c. We're needed on base. Some sort of emergency with the Tok'ra."

Without hesitation, Teal'c got to his feet and followed the Colonel outside. Several minutes later, they were on their way to the SGC, each wondering what could have happened in the four hours they'd been away from the base.

All they knew was that it involved the Tok'ra.

" O'Neill." Teal'c spoke up, clinging to the seat as Jack went round a particularly sharp bend a little faster than he needed to. " Major Carter will be well. You need not worry, Jacob Carter would not have let any harm come to her."

" I know, Teal'c." His eyes on the road, Jack kept driving as fast as he could get away with towards Cheyenne Mountain. " I know."

Wanting to believe the sentiment and actually believing it were two separate things. Something was wrong, the General had been the one to make the phone call when usually the job would go to someone else and there'd been something in his voice.. Something odd.

Something was definitely wrong.

=*=

On arriving at the SGC, Jack and Teal'c met Doctor Janet Fraiser, who'd also been paged as they had to return to base and report to General Hammond immediately. She hadn't been told anything more than the Colonel - only that there was some sort of emergency involving the Tok'ra.

" Sirs, Ma'am." Lieutenant Simmons stepped out of the elevator as they waited to get in. " General Hammond sent me to meet you."

When the Lieutenant said nothing more, Janet spoke up to encourage the young man into continuing. " And? What did he tell you to say?"

Simmons blushed and glanced down at his feet for a moment before looking up at them. " Sorry, Ma'am. He said you were all to report to the infirmary immediately. He didn't say why."

" Okay. Thank you, Lieutenant." Ushering Janet and Teal'c into the elevator, Jack managed to give the Lieutenant a small smile of thanks as the doors slowly closed. " So.. Any educated guesses as to what the Tok'ra need us for now?"

" If we're going to the infirmary, I'm guessing there's either some alien technology involved or someone's been injured and for some reason they couldn't stay on Aleris," Janet said after a long pause, needing to fill in the silence with an answer to keep her mind free of the worst case scenarios that she was imagining.

Teal'c gave her a small tilt of his head, acknowledging the idea while Colonel O'Neill remained quiet - and still, were it not for his fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides.

They continued the rest of their journey in silence, needing time to think for themselves and make their own guesses on what was wrong, in some cases preparing for the worst. Had the Goa'uld found the new Tok'ra home world and attacked? Had something happened to Jacob and Sam? Or had the Tok'ra discovered a new threat, one that could destroy them as well as Earth and come with a warning?

Glancing around the infirmary briefly gave them no clues or answers. They could hear General Hammond speaking in low tones but couldn't make out what he was saying or whom he was saying it to. Following the sound of the voice to a curtained area of the infirmary, the three exchanged glances before Jack raised his hand to the curtain, tentatively putting it back.

" Reporting as ordered, General." Jack looked straight at the General as he spoke rather than allowing his eyes to stray, half-afraid of what - or who- he'd see.

" Colonel, Doctor, Teal'c. Thank you all for coming so quickly." General Hammond nodded a greeting to them, his attention slipping back to the woman on the bed. " Thank you for helping shed some light on the matter, Anise." Turning back to the newcomers, he motioned to another bed, this one separated by yet another drawn curtain. " Why don't we leave Anise to rest? I'm sure you're all anxious to know why I brought you here."

Leading them to the curtained area, the General seemed to hesitate. With an obvious intake of breath, he pulled back the curtain a little. After a few seconds, he seemed to get the signal he was waiting for and drew the curtain all the way.

" Jack, Teal'c, Doctor Fraiser." Jacob greeted them from his place seated next to Sam on the bed, his hand clasping his daughters firmly. " Nice of you to come."

" What's going on?" Confused, Jack stared from the two General's to the Major who appeared to be sound asleep on the bed. Both of the older men stared back at him solemnly, Jacob breaking eye contact only to stare at his daughter again. " What's up with Carter?"

Nothing appeared wrong. The only thing that could be classed as being odd was that she was in the infirmary in the first place and that she seemed to be wearing some weird, Tok'ra-influenced clothes, a dark cloak draped over her, unsuccessfully hiding the gauzy blue and purple material.

Bowing his head, Jacob's eyes flashed. When he raised his gaze, Selmac was in control, the host too disturbed to explain. " It is with regret that I have to inform you there were several spies amongst the Tok'ra. We do not know who they serve but we know for certain they are responsible for Major Carter's condition."

" What condition?" Janet took a step forward, walking around the bed to peer at Sam's face. There were no machines connected to her, no drip, nothing that would suggest the woman was in any condition other than sleeping peacefully.

Sighing wearily, Jacob took control and tightened his hold on Sam's hand, leaning over her. " Sam? Sammie.. Wake up, Sweetheart."

Seconds later, she stirred, eyelids fluttering and opening, tired eyes meeting the concerned gaze of her father. " Hi, Dad.." She yawned mid-sentence, closing her eyes again briefly only for them to open a split-second later. " It's real, isn't it?" There was fear in her voice, fear that was rarely heard coming from her. " I hoped.."

" It's gonna be okay, Sam, I promise." As encouragingly as he could, Jacob smiled down on her, bringing a hand up to tenderly touch her face. " We'll make it better, okay?"

Sam's answer was a small, tired smile. Her eyes left her fathers face and she realised they weren't alone any more. Pushing herself up, she managed to sit up with Jacob's help, the cloak slipping down but her hands caught it and kept it at waist level. " General Hammond."

" At ease, Major." His voice soft, the General gave the young woman a sympathetic smile, noticing her discomfort. " I.. ah.. I don't know the best way to explain what's happened here.."

" It's probably easier to show them, George." Swallowing hard, Jacob squeezed Sam's hand reassuringly. " Sam..?"

" If I have to." Shifting, Sam loosened the cloak around her waist and slowly pulled it away from her midriff, trying to decide what she should be most embarrassed about - the outfit she'd been dressed in or the actual problem. Taking a deep breath, she revealed what her father had difficulty believing and what the General had trouble putting into words: a large, round circle of gold coloured metal with a glowing blue crystal-like jewel in the centre.

" Isn't that..?" Jack's voice trailed off as he stared at the object in place of her navel. " Didn't Hathor have one of those.. things..?"

Covering herself back up, Sam sighed as she let her father adjust the pillows behind her so she was more comfortable. Jacob turned to Jack and Teal'c, his eyes full of regret as he answered the question. " It's the same device Hathor had fitted to her stomach, yes. All Queen Goa'uld's have them. It enables them to create new Jaffa.. and new symbiotes."

" How did such a device come to be attached to Major Carter?" Teal'c frowned as he watched the woman in question place a hand over her stomach, her face lined with pain and discomfort. He had heard of these devices but only seen one once - the one the Goa'uld Hathor had worn. Queen Goa'uld were few and far between, only a tiny proportion of all Goa'uld's were capable of creating symbiotes.

" That's a good question, Teal'c." General Hammond answered to save Jacob the trouble, knowing how much trouble his friend was having trying to come to terms with the situation, and the betrayal. " It seems the Tok'ra spies took advantage of Major Carter's wish to visit her father. They planned to prepare her to be a Queen Goa'uld and implant her with a symbiote before escaping the Tok'ra and joining whomever it is they follow. From what I've heard, Major Carter was taken from her room and rendered unconscious while they performed this.. ah.. surgery. Fortunately Jacob and the other Tok'ra learnt of their intentions before the symbiote could be implanted. There was a small fight; several Tok'ra were injured such as Anise, the Tok'ra spies were either killed or detained."

" It's unlikely they'll confess who was giving them their orders," Jacob continued grimly. " We believe the symbiote they planned to give Sam already had a host and it's possible both symbiote and host were killed or detained. Anise witnessed what she thought was a fellow Tok'ra about to give Sam her symbiote so she killed her, a Tok'ra named Laveda, only to be injured herself by another spy. If it were not for Anise, Sam would probably be a host right now."

Slipping easily into her role as Doctor, Janet checked Sam's pulse and frowned when she realised it wasn't as regular as it should have been. " Is there any way we can remove the device?"

" Unfortunately, there is no safe way to do that." Lowering his gaze, Jacob felt Sam squeeze his hand, his guilt at being unable to prevent what had happened to his daughter palatable. " I don't understand exactly how the device works but I know it's attached to both Sam's womb and central nervous system. It has, essentially, become another vital organ in her body."

" And like most vital organs, it can't be removed without proper knowledge because of risk of complication," Janet finished the thought for him. " What happens if we just leave it where it is?"

" I'll die anyway." Her voice quiet but serious, Sam met each of their gazes in turn. " From what Dad's said, the human body alone can't support this.. thing. To create proper balance and make sure it's accepted as being part of the host, a symbiote is needed to complete the procedure. I've already declined the Tok'ra's offer of becoming one of them."

Not for the first time, Jacob tried talk to her around. " It could be the only way.."

" I know, Dad, but no offence, I don't exactly trust the Tok'ra right now. They did this to me in the first place." Taking a deep breath, Sam exhaled slowly, a small wave of pain going through her. " My body's started rejecting it and because of the way it's linked to my brain, it's killing me."

Stunned into silence, Jack could only gape at her. Teal'c stared but couldn't find it in himself to object. He respected her wishes and understood her reasons. If nothing else, the Jaffa felt a surge of anger towards the Tok'ra spies and the Goa'uld they served for doing this to her, vowing to himself that no matter what happened, he would seek retribution for Major Carter.

Feeling his own anger towards the Tok'ra come into play, Jack shut his mouth with an audible snap. Unlike Teal'c, he couldn't separate the spies from the Tok'ra in his mind - he even felt a small twinge of hatred towards Jacob despite knowing how bad the older man was feeling.

" There has to be something.." Looking from the father and daughter on the bed to his Commanding Officer, Jack struggled to keep his feelings in check and hide them behind his well-practised military mask. " You're not suggesting we sit back and watch Carter die, are you?"

No one answered. Sam opened her eyes and gave him a small, understanding smile, knowing how hard it was for him to stand by and do nothing. He hated it, watching someone he cared about slowly slip away and being helpless to prevent it. It had been the same when Daniel was dying and eventually chose to go. Having been through that so recently made it worse; for both Jack and Teal'c, they were losing another friend so soon after losing Daniel.

" There might be a way." Freya surprised them all by speaking, having eased herself from her own bed. Her symbiote was recuperating from healing the host's injuries so Freya had a chance to talk. " We recently came to occupy a planet that was once ruled by the Goa'uld Baal and created a second Tok'ra base. While exploring, we found a sarcophagus that must have been abandoned by Baal. We could take Major Carter there and perform the operation to remove the device. If anything goes wrong, we can revive her.. The sarcophagus should also be able to help in place of a symbiote in repairing the damage once the device has been removed."

" Now that sounds like a plan.." Jack couldn't stop himself from agreeing with the idea, despite the risks and even though he held a deep distrust for the Tok'ra - especially the one standing next to him - but if there was a chance they could save Sam. " Why weren't we told about the sarcophagus before?"

A troubled frown crossed Jacob's face. " I didn't tell you, Jack, because I didn't know. Neither did Selmac. Freya, when did the Tok'ra come into possession of a sarcophagus and why weren't we told about it?"

" We thought you were aware of it, Jacob. The High Council decided not to share the information with too many operatives for fear it would fall into the wrong hands. Perhaps they were going to inform you soon," Freya answered softly. " If you wish, we can depart for Kadia immediately. I know of the coordinates. However, I would need to use the long range communication device to tell them we are coming so they can prepare themselves and so we can be sure that it is safe for us to go to them."

General Hammond nodded at the request, already distracted like everyone else. Feeling their expectant gazes on her face, feeling them burn into her, Sam squirmed a little, averting her gaze to rest on her hands. It was a big decision, one she wasn't sure she could make.. Not without thinking about it and it didn't look like she was going to get the chance to do that.

" Sam?" Jacob looked to his daughter, eyes hopeful. " It's your choice. The removal procedure is risky but the chances of survival dramatically increase with the availability of a sarcophagus."

Hesitating, Sam thought over her options. She could either die because of the incomplete transformation into a Queen Goa'uld, she could agree to a symbiote or she could agree to hazardous surgery that could still result in death. None of the three options appealed to her but looking at her father, at her friends.. They weren't giving up on her so she couldn't give up on them.

" Okay." Smiling weakly, Sam nodded, her fingers entwining tightly with her fathers. " If you're sure it can be done.. or at least attempted.. let's go."

" With your permission, I will send a message to the Tok'ra telling them to expect us," Freya said, expectantly turning to the General.

Nodding, General Hammond motioned to Teal'c. " Teal'c will accompany you to the surface, Freya. Thank you again for your help." He watched Teal'c lead Freya away, watching the young woman limp as she tried to keep up with the Jaffa's long strides. " I thought Anise was supposed to heal all of Freya's injuries from the attack?"

" She did. Freya was injured on another mission several weeks ago." It was Selmac who answered, taking them a little by surprise. " Anise was unable to heal all of her injuries so the damage is unfortunately permanent."

" I thought the symbiote was supposed to be able to heal everything in a host?"

" Not everything, Doctor Fraiser." Selmac responded without reproach. " As a host grows older, the symbiote cannot heal as effectively as before. It is unusual for such damage to occur in one so young but not unheard of. Anise did all she could but there were other injuries that needed repairing, ones that were too serious to leave that took up her strength. By the time she regained enough strength to heal the others injuries, it was too late." His eyes flashed, signalling Jacob was back. " Sam will need her strength for the procedure. You should get some sleep, Sweetheart."

" Right back at you, Dad." Accepting his hug, Sam looked down at herself when he pulled back. " Before I go to sleep, is there any chance I could change my clothes? Again, no offence to the Tok'ra but.. this isn't really my style."

Smiling, General Hammond nodded at the request. " I'm sure Doctor Fraiser can find you something more appropriate. In the meantime, SG-1, I suggest you get some rest. Jacob, I'll show you to the guest quarters."

When her father started to protest Sam spoke up, giving him a reproving look similar to the ones he'd given her when she was small and refused to go to bed. " I'll be fine, Dad. Go get some sleep."

Dropping a kiss on her forehead, Jacob reluctantly let himself be ushered out of the room. Teal'c followed a few moments later but Jack lingered, exchanging a long glance with Sam hoping she knew how he felt even though he couldn't say anything. At her nod, he eventually allowed himself to walk on automatic pilot to his quarters, fighting with himself to keep from going back.

Helping Sam into one of the infirmary gowns, Janet watched in concern as her friend's resolve crumpled and her true exhaustion seeped through the strong façade. She sat by the bed until her patient was sleeping soundly with the occasional grimace flittering across her face as she slept, only retreating to her office to call her daughter to let her know she wouldn't be home before returning to her friend's bedside.

It was going to be a long night, and an even longer day.

=*=

It was always quiet at night. The lights in the corridors were dimmed, there were only a few officers on duty as part of the skeleton crew and those who weren't working usually went home unless they were part of one of the units on stand-by, in which case they slept in their quarters on base.

Night at the SGC was a peaceful time, to Jack anyway. If he couldn't sleep, he could do whatever he wanted. He could go to the commissary and get something to eat without having to endure much - if any - gossip. He could go up to the surface and stargaze if he wanted. He'd taken to checking on his teammates, too, when they were staying on base at night. Teal'c was always in his quarters meditating so Jack did his best to avoid disturbing him. When both Daniel and Sam were there, he'd often go and check they weren't working through the night. On more than one occasion, Jack had had to order them to get some sleep. Recently, it was only Sam he checked on and, more often than not, he'd end up staying with her in the lab, keeping her company until she was ready to call it a night.

Restlessly, Jack found himself wandering through the empty corridors, unsure of where he was going. He ended up in her lab, half-expecting to see her hard at work, studying some notes or a piece of technology he wasn't interested in trying to understand. Instead the lab was empty, dark in places that didn't have a small piece of machinery emitting a small, eerie glow.

Without reaching for the light switch, he walked inside and sat down, staring blankly at the place where she should have been.

He'd tried telling himself it was going to work, that they were going to go to the Tok'ra base and remove the device from Carter with no problems. He couldn't stop himself from worrying, though, that it wasn't going to be easy. What if there were complications with the surgery and the sarcophagus didn't work when they needed it to?

The more he thought about it, the more he didn't like the idea of going ahead with the operation. The only problem was he couldn't think of an alternative source of action to save her. There was the possibility of a Tok'ra symbiote but.. he liked that idea even less than she did.

For starters, she was right: she'd been with the Tok'ra when it had happened to her; in his opinion, they should have paid more attention to her. He wouldn't have let it happen if he'd been there. Then there were the memories of the last time she'd been blended; sure, Jolinar was desperate and turned out to be one of the good guys so-to-speak but knowing that didn't make what she'd gone through any easier to accept. Thirdly, for him, there was the concern that becoming a host would bring a third and maybe fourth party into their still relatively new relationship. The last thing he wanted was for a damn snake to influence and possibly change how she felt. It didn't always happen, he was proof of that, but he knew it was a possibility.

And then there were his own memories of being blended with a Tok'ra. Sure, he'd made that decision mainly to appease Sam, because she'd asked him with that look in her eyes.. The one that told him she needed him to live even if he was ready to die. It wasn't her fault things hadn't gone to plan. It had taken them both a while to realise and agree on it, but they had both eventually come to the conclusion that what had happened had in some way been for the best. If it weren't for Kanan, Jack would've died. Fair enough he almost *did* die.. but she couldn't have known Kanan was going to be inspired by the Colonel's own high moral standard. She couldn't have known asking him to chose a symbiote over death for her would also mean opening up a chapter in his life he was still doing his best to forget.

Pushing himself up he left the lab, his mind racing, the feelings of helplessness threatening to consume him. Once again, he had no set destination in mind. He thought about going to the gym and maybe wearing himself out so he couldn't fight the need to sleep anymore but instead of finding himself outside of the gym, he found himself standing in the still infirmary.

Anise had requested a private room as soon as she'd regained her strength and done all she could for Freya so Sam was the only occupant of the infirmary - in the patient capacity, anyway. Doctor Fraiser was slumped in the chair by her side, her features disturbed even as she slept.

" Doc." Putting a hand on her shoulder, Jack gently shook her awake. He grinned at the befuddled expression on her face, keeping his voice soft so not to disturb Sam. " Why don't you go get some sleep? I'll take over for a while."

" Colonel." Half-yawning, raising a hand to wipe her mouth, it took a few moments for his words to sink into her sleep-addled brain. " You should be sleeping, you've got a mission first thing tomorrow morning.."

He waved away her concerned scolding, his gaze straying to the still woman on the bed. " Can't sleep. Figured I'd come and see how Carter is, maybe sit with her for a while."

" She's sleeping, like you should be." Taking the opportunity to chide him again, Janet got up from the chair despite her words, knowing he wasn't going to leave no matter what she said. " If she wakes up in any pain, or it sounds like there's something wrong, page me okay?"

" Will do." He didn't look at her as she left, didn't notice the way she hesitated in the doorway, too preoccupied with thinking how pale Carter was.

Casting him a speculative glance, Janet's brow creased as she watched him timidly reach out and cover Sam's hand with his. Was it possible there was more going on between her friends that she'd realised? They couldn't be involved, could they? Shaking herself mentally, Janet banished the idea as she left the two alone. If something were going on, she'd know about it. It was her over-active, sleep-demanding imagination that saw more affection behind the gesture than there should be. Still, it wouldn't surprise her..

For a long while, Jack sat in silence, listening to her breathe and watching her sleep. He was close to almost sleeping himself when she stirred, waking under the intensity of his gaze.

" Hey." A sweet smile spread slowly across her face as her fingers tightened around his. Shifting slightly so she could look at him without holding her head at an awkward angle, the smile turned teasing. " Did you forget to bring the chessboard?"

Her grin was matched by one of his own. " Didn't think you'd feel up to it, sorry. I'll remember next time."

" There might not be a next time." Although it was said quietly, there was an underlying tension that wiped the smile from his face.

" There'll always be a next time." Swallowing hard, his voice sounded strained. " As long as you're a member of SG-1, there'll be a next time in the infirmary. Hopefully not so serious but one of us is always gonna end up in here.. every other mission or so. Or maybe the next time we play, we'll be at the cabin, sitting by the fire with a bottle of wine.."

" Jack." Flexing her fingers, the one softly spoken word demanded that he look at her, his eyes finding hers and holding. " We have to face the facts on this one. This is serious.. It's not something that's going to get better and heal with time."

Letting go of her hand, he crossed his arms across his chest defensively, wanting to deny what she was saying, wishing he could refuse to believe what she was saying. " You're going to be fine."

" Hopefully, yes. But you have to accept the possibility that it won't work, that removing this thing won't be a success." Sam reached her hand out to him, hoping he'd take it, relieved when he eventually did. " If something goes wrong.." His hand tightened reflexively around hers, momentarily distracting her.

" You could give the Tok'ra a chance," Jack interrupted quickly, not wanting to know where her current line of thought would take them. " If a symbiote could help, it might be worth giving it a try."

Shaking her head, Sam gave his hand a slightly squeeze. " I've thought about it, Jack, but with everything that's happened recently.. I don't think that's an option. It *isn't* an option. I won't do it."

" Not even if I asked you to?" Their eyes met. He saw guilt flare in her eyes, knowing what she was remembering. It was a valid question, though. He'd agreed to it because she'd asked. Why couldn't she do the same? " It would be quick. Jump in, heal you, jump out. Easy."

" Do you want me to take the risk?" When she spoke, her voice trembled a little, her grip on his hand unconsciously tightening as she awaited his answer. " What if the symbiote they give me doesn't want to leave?"

Understanding her fear more keenly than he wanted to be able to, he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. " I'd stay with you," he promised quietly, seriously. " I'd stay with you when they put it in and I wouldn't leave until after they took it out. I swear, Sam, I wouldn't let it or them do anything else to you."

Silence fell over them for a few moments. Sam stared into his deep eyes, torn between following her head and agreeing to it, or following her heart and saying no. Eventually, she found she had to look away from his pleading gaze, speaking so quietly he almost missed her words. " Anise said there's a good chance it wouldn't work, that it would result in the symbiotes death. My body might reject it because of this thing.. Apparently only a Queen Goa'uld or Tok'ra would be able to guarantee a successful blending."

A part of him wasn't happy with the answer. A part thought she was possibly making it up to spare herself from going through what he went through. That part, however, was quashed by the bigger part of him that saw the fear and honesty in her eyes. " Okay. So we go for the operation."

" We do." She rewarded him with a small, grateful smile, appearing a little more relaxed but still very much on edge. Her smile faded as seriousness once again set in. " *If* something goes wrong, promise me you'll take care of my father. He already blames himself.."

" Maybe he should."

Wordlessly, Sam stared at him with her mouth agape, disbelief written all over her face. " I can't believe you just said that! This is my father we're talking about.."

" He shouldn't have let it happen in the first place," Jack replied begrudgingly. " He's your father, he's supposed to look after you, make sure stuff like this doesn't happen.."

" Yeah, he did that when I was twelve." Rolling her eyes, she let go of his hand to wrap her arms around herself. " No one knew what was going to happen. No one knew there were spies working among the Tok'ra. Dad had nothing to do with this and it isn't fair of you to blame him when he feels guilty already.. He couldn't have stopped it, Jack. If he'd known and tried, he'd probably be dead right about now."

" Anise went to help and lived to tell the tale." Refusing to budge an inch, he stared at her resolutely. " Besides, I've *always* said the Tok'ra shouldn't be completely trusted, haven't I? I told you before you left to watch out and Dad did promise to take care of you.."

" So now you're blaming me? Do you think you could have done any differently? That you could have stopped it?"

He stared at her in silence, thinking about the question. Was there anything he could have done? If her own father couldn't protect her, what made him think he could? " I don't know.. but I'd have done everything I could to get to you."

" And you would've got yourself killed in the process." Closing her eyes, Sam let her head fall back against the pillows with a sigh. " Not to mention giving everyone the evidence they need that there's something going on. We agreed you wouldn't treat me any differently."

" I'm not treating you differently, I'd do the same for Teal'c and any other member of my team!" Working hard to keep his frustration in check, Jack found he had to purposely lower his voice so their conversation wouldn't be carried out into the hallway. " Speaking of Teal'c, apparently we're not so good at keeping secrets as we thought. He knows about us, and Daniel apparently knew, too."

" What?" Eyes snapping open, Sam stared at him in horror. " Daniel knew? Teal'c knows?" Allowing her eyes to flutter shut again, she swallowed hard, her jaw clenching. " How? I mean, I thought.. No one else knows, right?"

Shrugging, he reached out and covered her hands with his where they rested over her stomach. " I don't think so but that's not what we need to be talking about." He waited until she looked at him before continuing, keeping his eyes locked with hers. " I've been thinking about the operation-thing.. It's going to be dangerous, are you sure you want to risk it?"

" I don't really have a choice, do I? If I don't, I'll die anyway." Her fingers stroked his as she tried to muster a smile. " It'll be okay. There's the sarcophagus in case anything goes wrong and Freya seems to think it'll work fine so there's no point in worrying about it."

" But you are worrying. I can see it in your face." True enough, there was a line of anxiety across her forehead. " If you're sure you're okay with it, why are you frowning?"

Squirming under his gaze, she bit down on her bottom lip and sighed softly. " I'm not worried about what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm.. I think.. I don't think we should keep seeing each other. For a while, anyway."

His expression mirrored the one she'd worn only minutes earlier. " Am I hearing you right? What the..?"

" We've put Teal'c in a position he shouldn't be in. If anyone else finds out, if we're not as discreet as we thought we were, he'd be in almost as much trouble as we would be for not reporting it. And it bothers me that you'd risk your life for mine, I can't pretend it doesn't. Sure, you might do the same thing for anyone else but there are some people who won't see it that way and if they say something to the General.."

" I can't believe you're saying this. Especially now when.."

" When I might die tomorrow." Moving her hands when she felt him trying to move his, she gazed at him as he stood up and took one step away from her. " Please, Jack. When this is over, when Dad's forgiven himself and gone back to the Tok'ra, we'll talk. And this time, we'll talk to Teal'c and give him a chance to have his say. It involves him now, almost as much as it involves us."

Shrugging, a mask of indifference in place to hide the hurt and surprise he was feeling, Jack took another step away from her. " Fine. We'll talk then." Turning, his back to her, he started out of the infirmary, bewildered by her behaviour. They'd been together for several months and she'd not once hinted that maybe they were in danger of coming to an end so soon. They'd gone through a rough patch when Daniel had left because she'd wanted to help him grieve and he'd wanted to deal with it in his own way but he thought that was behind them. " Night, Major. Sleep well."

He left before she could repeat the sentiment.

Inhaling slowly, Sam let her head drop back down to the pillow, a grimace of pain arranging her features. She didn't want to hurt him and she knew she had. The idea of anyone else knowing about their relationship set her on edge, even if it was Teal'c. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, it was as she said - she didn't want to get him in trouble over a decision he had no say in. And if he knew, there was no guarantee that someone else hasn't picked up on it and was just waiting for the right time to let them know, maybe her father. If Jacob Carter was going to find out about them, she wanted to be the one to tell him. Their relationship had always been rocky at best but ever since his blending with Selmac, it'd been improving and she didn't want it to change, especially not now when she had the feeling he'd need her to help him accept what had happened.

As for Jack.. the Colonel.. If something bad were to happen, it might be easier to accept if the relationship was already over. And if the relationship was over, or on hold, Sam was hopeful it might be enough to stop him from doing anything stupid.

Hopeful, but not convinced.

Lying back, breathing slowly as her body fought a painful battle with the device at her stomach, Sam closed her eyes tightly and prayed for the oblivion of slumber to come.

Her nerves felt like they were on fire, the device felt like it was burning her stomach, burying further into her. She couldn't open her eyes; she couldn't open her mouth to call for help.

She couldn't do anything but let it happen.

Ten minutes later, Janet returned to the infirmary. She was surprised to find the Colonel gone. Checking on Sam, she smiled to herself in relief at the way the woman was seemingly at peace, her pulse still uneven but just as strong as before, her breathing calm and deep. Dimming the lights, she left her friend sleeping, waiting for morning to come.

=*=

Blurry-eyed and harbouring a headache the size of a small country, Jack stumbled into the infirmary, surprised to find the room wasn't as empty as he'd expected or hoped. After a never-ending sleepless night, he'd decided he and Sam needed to talk before anything else went wrong. He'd been planning on a quiet, maybe not-so-nice-at-first conversation before they left for the Tok'ra base.

Instead, when he got there, he found she wasn't alone and knew they weren't going to get the chance to put things right before leaving. Anise and Teal'c were standing to one side, both ready to leave immediately. Jacob was sat on Sam's bed, clinging almost desperately to her hand as Janet stood with bright eyes, talking quietly to the two Generals.

" What's goin' on? Thought we weren't leaving for another.." Sparing a quick glance at his watch, Jack frowned. " Two hours?"

" There's been a change in plan, Colonel. Get ready, you're leaving in ten minutes." General Hammond's voice was gruff, prompting him to take a step closer and peer at the bed.

He'd expected to see Sam looking up at the ceiling, bored with being confined to the bed, or getting herself ready to move but her eyes remained closed and the only movement was her chest slowly rising and falling as she breathed. " What's going on?"

" Sam's condition deteriorated through the night." Doctor Fraiser looked at him through sympathetic eyes, her voice soft and calming. " Last night, when I checked on her, I thought she was just sleeping. It appears she's lapsed into a coma, however, as this morning, when I tried to wake her, nothing happened. Her temperature is slightly elevated and her pulse is thready." Glancing at General Hammond, she continued on solemnly. " Sir, I'd recommend she be taken to the Tok'ra as soon as possible. Without knowing more about the technology involved, there's nothing more I can do for her."

" She was fine last night.." Battling to grasp and accept the new information, Jack moved closer to the bed, his eyes focused solely on Sam as he willed her to open her eyes. " She was fine."

Standing, Jacob traded a long look with General Hammond. " You talked to Sam last night? When?"

" Ah.. It was near 0100 hours, I think." Nervously, realising he'd said the wrong thing to the wrong people, he attempted a casual shrug. " I couldn't sleep so I came to check on her and she was fine."

" What did you talk about?" Reining in his suspicion, Jacob quashed the feeling that there was something going on between his daughter and her CO. He'd noticed when she was staying with him that she was easily distracted and had caught her with a wistful expression on her face on more than one occasion but had dismissed the thought that maybe she was involved with someone. Surely she would have said something.. And she wasn't stupid; she knew a relationship with her CO could ruin her career, he couldn't see her risking that so..

Uncomfortable at the direction the conversation was taking - and at the answer that sprung immediately to mind, Jack shoved his hands into his pockets and shuffled on the spot. " We talked about removing that thing from her stomach. She'd decided she wanted to go through with it despite the risks.. Hey, Jacob, can't you try using the healing device? See if it brings her around?"

" We could try it, I suppose.." He both appeared and sounded defeated, shrugging his shoulders as he took a step away from his daughter's prone form. " George, you do have a healing device around here, don't you?"

" Of course. I'll arrange for it to be brought to the infirmary." With a curt nod, the General motioned to the Lieutenant he'd assigned to keep guard over the infirmary, one of his methods of keeping the situation under control. He knew the Major would want to keep her condition between as few people as possible, understanding her fear that were the NID to find out, it would give them another reason to use her as a lab rat in their single-minded exploits. The guard at the door knew only what he had to - that he was to stop anyone from going near Major Carter unless they were authorised to do so by either himself or Doctor Fraiser. " Lieutenant, please bring the Goa'uld healing device to the infirmary."

" Yes, Sir."

" Colonel, you should go and get ready." General Hammond's tone left no room for arguments.

Almost reluctantly, Jack left the infirmary, resisting the need to glance back over his shoulder as he did so. Teal'c followed the Colonel without so much as a word to anyone, determined to show his support of his team in some way even if not verbally.

" I do not believe your attempts will be successful," Anise said suddenly, her voice that of the symbiote and not of the host. " I believe the best thing for Major Carter would be to take her to the Tok'ra immediately."

" There's no harm in trying, Anise." It was Selmac who spoke, firmly but at the same time calmly. " And there is time; we cannot move Samantha until Colonel O'Neill has prepared himself to leave."

" If you say so, Selmac. But I do not want anyone to get their hopes up in case using the healing device does nothing for her condition." Bowing her head, Anise relinquished control to Freya, the young woman swaying a little on her feet. " Forgive Anise for her impatience. Her anxiety to help Major Carter stems partly from her inability to help me."

Selmac approached her and helped Freya take a seat on one of the empty beds, gratitude, concern and sympathy visible in the expression on Jacob's face. " You are still in a great deal of pain and discomfort."

" I am well, Selmac. Anise controls the pain and lessens it for me." Freya smiled weakly, her features pale as her hands shook.

" Still, I can't thank you enough for what you did to help Sam." Jacob was in control once more, the affection in his eyes that of a father. " I know it wasn't easy for either of you to confront and fight those you thought of as friends."

Lowering her head to hide the flush in her cheeks and the coy smile on her lips, Freya kept her gaze averted even as she raised her head. " Thank you, Jacob. But please, know it was not easy but also was not something we had to question. They didn't just betray you, they betrayed all true Tok'ra, Anise and myself included. I still cannot believe they would betray us to the Goa'uld. Laveda was a friend, or so I thought."

" I'm sorry, Freya. I didn't know you knew Laveda personally." Taking hold of her hand, Jacob saw the regret in the young woman's eyes and felt his heart ache for her. He wasn't the only one having a hard time accepting the situation.

" She came from my home planet. We joined the Tok'ra together." The confession was softly said as she glanced away, unable to meet his eyes. " I regret losing my friend but I do not regret doing all I could do for Samantha. She has been a great help to the Tok'ra in the past, it is only fair we return her help when she needed it."

No more was said between the two of them as the Lieutenant returned, healing device in hand. He eagerly surrendered the device to Jacob, the gadget unfamiliar to him and therefore more than a little scary.

Inhaling deeply to steady his own nerves, Jacob slid it onto his hand, moving to stand by Janet and General Hammond where they were stood talking quietly beside Sam.

" Let's hope this works." He held his hand over Sam, closing his eyes as both he and Selmac concentrated, his hand moving in a slow circular motion in the air above her as the device glowed softly.

He was about to give up when a groan escaped her lips. Shutting the device off, he got closer to her side as Sam's eyelids began to open, a grimace on her face. " Sam?"

" Dad?" Barely managing to croak the word, Sam felt a bead of cold sweat break out on her hairline and run down her face. Agony didn't come close to describing how she felt. Every nerve was screaming out, burning, feeling as if they could explode at any moment. " God.." She couldn't lift a hand to her temple to wipe her brow, her limbs ached and refused to co-operate. " *Dad*."

" I'm here, Honey." He tenderly stroked her face, pushing the hair from her eyes. " I know you're probably in a lot of pain right now but it's going to be over soon. We're going through the Stargate to Kadia and you're going to have that thing removed."

" Kadia?"

" The planet Baal used to rule, the one the Tok'ra control now." Gratefully taking the offered cup of water from Doctor Fraiser, Jacob eased Sam up so she could sip it, smiling encouragingly at her as she struggled. " They replied to Anise's message so everything should be ready by the time we get there."

The only response she could manage was a nod, her whole body trembling with the effort it took to stay conscious. She bit down on her lip, hard, attempting to hold back a whimper as slivers of sharp pain travelled up and down her body, all either heading from or going to the jewel at her stomach.

" General Carter." Quietly, Janet moved to stand at his side, putting a gentle hand on his arm. " If Sam's going to be leaving soon, I should help her get ready."

" Yeah, okay." He leaned in to press a kiss to his daughter's forehead, guilt making itself known as he looked down on her, feeling responsible for her condition. " I'll be back soon, Sam, I promise."

Closing her eyes, Sam forced a small smile as he left her, the mask cracking as Janet pulled the curtains around the bed. Not knowing what words to say, Janet chose to say none. Instead, she did her duty as a doctor and friend, helping Sam to sit up and change from the infirmary gown to loose fitting fatigues.

After the change was complete, Sam slumped back down onto the bed, exhaustion clear in her face. Reaching out, Janet took her friend's hand and squeezed it lightly, staying that way for a few moments, silently sharing her strength as Sam shared her pain.

=*=

Five minutes later, her father and Teal'c were escorting Sam to the Gateroom. She noticed the Colonel was keeping his distance physically although he walked slower than usual, leading the way, glancing back every now and then to make sure they were following him.

The Stargate was already active by the time they got there and on seeing so many people in the Control Room watching, Sam turned to her father and insisted that she was going to walk up the ramp and through the Gate on her own. " I don't want everyone to know there's something wrong, Dad. They're expecting me to be able to walk on my own.."

" Does it matter what anyone else thinks or expects?" Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Jacob stood at the base of the ramp, staring at her in disbelief. " Won't it look stranger if you get halfway and fall over?"

" I won't fall over." She eyed the distance between where she was standing and the top of the ramp, briefly wondering if she could do it by herself. " Please, Dad, I need to do this."

Pleading blue eyes met his and Jacob knew he had to admit defeat. " Fine, you win. But I'm walking right beside you the whole time."

" Thanks, Dad." Breathing in deeply, Sam chewed on her bottom lip as her father let go of her and Teal'c backed off.

" Let's go, Campers." Exchanging a look with General Hammond, Jack started up the ramp with Teal'c behind him, both deliberately keeping their pace slow and steady. Jacob and Sam followed, every step painful and challenging but Sam was determined to do it.

Reaching to top of the ramp as Jack and Teal'c stepped through, Sam breathed a sign of relief and reached out for her father, wishing she didn't feel so pleased when he took her arm, supporting her as they walked through the Event Horizon, Freya following without hesitation.

General Hammond watched with Doctor Fraiser from the control room. They both wore identical expressions and were both thinking the same thing, hoping all of their friends would make it back.

Feeling helpless and tired, Janet excused herself and headed to her office for some time to reflect, relax and hope. After a while, the General followed her lead, heading to his office to be alone, to sit and to wait.

=*=

On the other side of the Stargate, there was no time to sit or wait for anything. Sam and Jacob stumbled through and tripped over the two prone bodies at the base of the Gate, prompting them to groan and wake up as father and daughter fell to their knees.

" Jack? What the..?" Jacob couldn't finish his sentence as he, too, suffered the same fate Teal'c and the Colonel had done and was hit by a zat blast.

" Dad!" Pushing herself up, her eyes blurring, Sam touched her father's face blindly as he slowly began to stir. She looked quickly to Jack and Teal'c, about to ask what was going on when she realised.

They were surrounded by Jaffa. And they weren't on a planet, they were on a ship.

Roughly dragged to their feet, the five of them stood unsteadily in front of the Jaffa, standing close. Freya's eyes flashed and Anise took over, the Tok'ra staring in what seemed to be confusion at the Jaffa aiming staff weapons and zat guns at them.

" Move aside!" A loud, unmistakeably Goa'uld voice ordered. The Jaffa parted and the Goa'uld walked through them, grinning slyly at his captives. " Welcome to Kadia, I am most pleased you could join us." His grin widened as his eyes fell on Sam, the woman struggling to stay upright. " And I see you brought my new Queen with you. How thoughtful."

" You're not going anywhere near her." Jacob wrapped his arms around his daughter protectively as Teal'c and Jack stepped in front of her, both men glaring at the Goa'uld as his smirk turned into a cackle. Jack found himself struggling to hold his ground, the sight of the Goa'uld he'd hoped was dead causing dozens of memories he'd rather not have or acknowledge to crash over him. He was relieved to have Teal'c standing beside him, taking comfort in not being alone with Baal.

Shaking his head, Baal's eyes glowed. " I think you'll find you're mistaken about that, Jacob Carter." He tilted his head to the side. " Or should I call you Selmac?" Laughing at the surprised look on Jacob's face, Baal motioned to his Jaffa to come closer. " You, take our guests to the holding cells, I want them alive for now. And you, bring the woman to my chambers. I think it's time my Queen and I got acquainted."

" Which woman, my Lord?" The Jaffa who spoke bowed his head as though he were expecting to be punished for not knowing.

Instead, to his surprise, Baal chuckled and lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug. " Bring them both to me. I'm sure between the two of them they can amuse me for a while."

The Jaffa approached. Teal'c and Jack protested and tried to fight, only to be knocked unconscious by being hit over the head with the blunt end of a Staff. Sam was pried from her father's arms, too weak to really do anything but make it difficult for the Jaffa who grabbed her to carry her away.

Two other Jaffa led Anise after her and the three men were taken in the other direction. Managing to look back, Sam's eyes met the worried ones of her father as he struggled and tried to free himself to get to her.

Their eyes locked and time slowed. She pleaded with him not to fight, trying to tell him she would be okay.

Unfortunately, the message didn't get through.

As Jacob fought with the Jaffa holding him back, another approached him from behind and struck his head with a zat gun, rendering him unconscious.

Hope fading, the last thing Sam saw before she was taken around a corner and led down a separate corridor was her father falling unconscious, joining Teal'c and Jack in oblivion.

She knew as she was pushed roughly into a room, the private chambers of Baal, that she had lied to her father when she'd tried to communicate silently with him.

She wasn't going to be okay.

She was going to be far from okay.

=*=

They were pushed roughly to their knees as Baal entered, Anise going down with as much grace as she could muster and Sam half-gratefully sinking to the floor as Baal took his seat - one of two - in front of them.

" You were chosen wisely." His voice grated on her nerves but Sam managed to raise her head to defiantly meet his eyes. The act only succeeded in making him chuckle. " Do not think you will escape, Samantha. Do not think I can be convinced to let you go. Our plan has taken a long time to come to fruition, I will not allow anything to prevent its completion."

" You've been planning this?" Her hands clenching at her sides, Sam fought the urge to double over and wrap her arms around her waist, the pain and burning sensation increasing with every passing minute. She wouldn't be surprised if he had been planning it, she'd seen first hand what he did to others he captured - Jack included. That was another reason she hated the man sitting in front of her. The *main* reason. " To do *this* to me?"

Baal stood, a pleased grin curving his lips. " Do not sound so surprised, my Queen. You are the perfect host for my beloved. Many, many System Lords have said so but none of them have thus far succeeded. Now, we will."

" Perfect?" The word came out through gritted teeth as she leaned heavily on one shaking arm, the hand resting against the floor white.

" Why, of course." He approached her, pulling her up by the arm she was leaning on. He stared at her intensely, the sly grin on his face making her stomach churn. " You are a beautiful woman, your intelligence and courage and strength has made you well known among the Goa'uld. You have the memories of the Tok'ra Jolinar and you have the ability to destroy the Tau'ri with the knowledge you have of their technology and strategies.."

" You've had spies within the Tok'ra for God knows how long.. Why would Jolinar's memories be important?" Trying to pull her arm out from his hold, Sam only succeeded in almost falling over. It if hadn't been for his strong grip, she would've collapsed to the floor.

" They're not so important to me as they will be to the other System Lords," Baal smiled evilly, his eyes gleaming. " They will not know how my love came to control you so they shall not know how much knowledge we possess of the Tok'ra. We plan to offer to share the information, in exchange for increasing our standing among the System Lords." He moved closer still, his breath warm and heavy on her face even as she tried to twist away. " Using the knowledge of the Tok'ra is only one small benefit of your future blending. Personally, there are many, many benefits we can look forward to exploring together.."

Narrowing her eyes, Sam tried again to pull away. " I will never be your Queen and I will never help you destroy Earth."

Grabbing her jaw with a bruising hand, Baal held her still as he kissed her roughly, grinning sadistically at the expression of disgusted horror she wore when he moved away. " You will have no say in the matter, I assure you." He headed back to his throne, smiling as he sat down and addressed two of the Jaffa in the room. " Take my Queen-to-be to the pit and leave her there over night." Addressing Sam, his smile turned sickly sweet. " You will learn to respect and obey your Lord, Samantha. Just as you will learn to submit to my love when she possesses you."

Keeping her silence, Sam barely had the strength to attempt a protest as she was carried away. She was quickly losing her will to stay conscious but as soon as she was thrown into the pit of ice-cold water, consciousness flooded back full-force.

Gasping for breath, she struggled and fought to break the surface of the murky water as the lid above her was sealed. Spluttering and choking, her arms flailed wildly as she attempted to catch hold of something to keep her afloat. Finally, her grasping hands came into contact with a metal bar a few feet above her head and her hands held onto it for all she was worth.

The cool water was at first a welcome balm to the searing heat emanating from her stomach but it rapidly became just as unwelcome as the warmth itself. Shivering form head to toe, she closed her eyes tightly, praying for the ability to hold on.

Praying help would come.

=*=

In the dimly lit holding cell, Teal'c sat with his back to the wall, waiting for the others to wake up. He had explored the small room and had been disheartened to find neither Anise nor Samantha Carter had joined them while he had been unconscious.

He didn't want to think about what that meant but he couldn't help himself from fearing the worst. Samantha Carter would die if the device was not removed - unless she was give a symbiote as was Baal's obvious intention. The thought sickened him for more than one reason. He feared for his companions if she was turned into a host, knowing how distraught Jacob would be at losing his daughter to the enemy, knowing how the Colonel would feel at losing the woman he loved to the Goa'uld - and being unable to tell people what she meant to him.

He feared for Samantha. She had gone through so much over the years with SG-1 and he knew from their late night chats while off world that she still viewed her experience with Jolinar to be the most traumatic. If she was made a Goa'uld, if she survived, he couldn't imagine how she would deal with the violation of her being once more.

Teal'c feared also for his friendships and wondered how it would affect him. He didn't want to lose another friend, especially not to the Goa'uld. He knew he would do all he could to free her of her symbiote, even if he had to use the same method he'd used on Sha're and that scared him. He didn't want to be responsible for killing her but at the same time, he'd be saving her. He remembered the guilt he'd felt at killing Sha're and knew it would be increased ten-fold if he had to do the same to Samantha.

Then there was O'Neill. It had taken Teal'c a long time to accept that Daniel Jackson no longer blamed him and resented him for Sha're's death, it had taken him a long time to believe he'd been forgiven by his friend.. If he had to do the same thing with Major Carter, would O'Neill be as forgiving and understanding? Would Jacob Carter or Doctor Fraiser or Cassandra or General Hammond?

If he destroyed her at the same time as her symbiote, could he forgive himself?

Closing his eyes, Teal'c tried to slip into the state of Kel'No'Reem and failed, for the third time. Sighing to himself, he was going to try it again but a groan from one direction and a muttered curse from another alerted him to the fact his companions were awake.

" O'Neill, Jacob Carter." Standing, Teal'c checked first on the Colonel before moving to assist Jacob.

" Hey, Teal'c." Rubbing the back of his head, Jack frowned as he looked around, trying to remember how they'd got there. " Where's Carter?" He was proud that only a marginal amount of the panic he felt was visible in his voice. " And Anise?"

Groaning, Jacob gave in willingly to Selmac's insistence that he should rest and let himself calm down. Selmac was concerned he was getting too worked up, and was struggling to regulate Jacob's heartbeat. " Samantha and Anise were taken to Baal's private chambers."

" Baal.. Oh how I hoped I'd never see him again." Struggling to sit up and keep his eyes open, Jack eventually settled for leaning against the wall with his eyes shut. Thinking of Baal brought back nothing but painful recollections. Memories of being tortured repeatedly, of being so close to death and dying more than once only to be brought back again for another round of agony.. Thoughts of never seeing home, of never seeing Sam.. Memories of being broken down by the Goa'uld Jack hated and feared the most.

" He has become one of the more powerful System Lords who joined Osiris in obeying Anubis. However, he has his own agenda and Tok'ra intelligence suggests he has been gathering his forces in secret, perhaps in order to take up the position as Anubis' right hand man." Selmac continued speaking even as Jacob fought the symbiote's attempts at getting him to calm down. " It is the belief of the Tok'ra that Baal wishes to defeat the other System Lords so that he and Anubis share the power and control throughout the universe. If he did succeeded, he would be a strong ally to Anubis as their forces would be equal and together, they would be invincible."

" Tok'ra intelligence, right." Scowling, Jack opened his eyes to half-glare at the Tok'ra. " I don't really feel like trusting Tok'ra intelligence right now. How much of what you know is fact and how much is make believe?"

Reluctantly, Selmac let Jacob answer the question, both symbiote and host of the opinion that the retired General had more chance of soothing the other man. " I understand your anger, Jack, but our gathered intelligence is all we have to go on concerning Baal and his plans."

" If the Tok'ra are so good at gathering intelligence, why didn't they know what Baal or whoever was planning for Sa-Carter?"

" I know how you feel but the Tok'ra had no idea what as going on.. We didn't know there were undercover operatives.." Jacob was cut off by a disproving snort from the Colonel's direction.

" You have no idea how I feel." For once, the words weren't drenched in sarcasm although Teal'c thought he heard a note of defeat in Jack's voice as he answered.

Hands clenching into fists at his side, Jacob fought with Selmac as the Tok'ra tried to control his reaction. " She's my daughter, Jack. Do you really think I'd let something like this happen to her?"

Jack shrugged, opening his eyes so he could match Jacob's even stare. " I honestly don't know. Guess it depends what kind of mood you're in, whether you're feeling more Tok'ra than Tau'ri, doesn't it?"

" What does that mean?" Jacob was as surprised as Teal'c was at the Colonel's outburst, his eyes wide and round.

" It means the longer you spend with the Tok'ra without coming to visit Carter, the more like them you get. The more condescending, self-centred, self-serving, single-minded you become." His gaze unflinching, Jack dealt the final blow, too caught up in his own emotions to spare a thought for what Jacob was going through. " Sam said it herself. The longer she goes without seeing you, the more unfamiliar you get and because you keep changing and act more like a stranger, the more she thinks the Tok'ra maybe aren't so different to the Goa'uld."

" Sam said that?" Silence was Jack's only answer but it was all Jacob needed. It was true, she'd said it at some point and it hurt. God, it hurt so badly.. Closing his eyes tightly, Jacob tried to shut out the pain and concentrated instead on the anger. Just who the hell was Jack to be prying into his relationship with Sam? What business of Jack's was it that maybe there *were* some problems that needed to be sorted out that he hadn't noticed? Why had Sam told Jack and not him?

He was her father - Jack was just her CO, for crying out loud! A sudden thought struck him abruptly. He knew Sam, she was his daughter, and he couldn't see her ever admitting how she felt to someone easily, especially not her CO so.. " When did she tell you that? *Why* would she tell you?"

It was either the dangerously calm voice Jacob used or Jack had realised what he'd actually said because the Colonel's eyes started flittering around the room, never settling in one place for long. " Why wouldn't she tell me? I'm her friend, friends talk about stuff.."

" Why did she tell you and not Doctor Fraiser?" He refused to back down despite Selmac encouraging him to do so. " And *when* did she tell you?"

" You'll have to ask her that.." Jack wasn't about to answer those questions, knowing the answers would only prompt more questions. Such as - what was Sam doing with him at his cabin in the first place - and that was one question he was sure Jacob would be better off not knowing the answer to. " Oh, wait. You can't ask her because she's not here, is she? No, she's not. She's probably being made into some Snakehead's prized possession as we speak because of what *you* and your precious Tok'ra did to her!"

" O'Neill, Jacob Carter!" Raising his voice louder than necessary, Teal'c silenced them both. " Arguing will not change the situation nor will it help Major Carter." They looked to him in startled surprise. " We must concentrate on freeing ourselves from this place and find Major Carter and Anise before Baal can do as he plans."

Neither Jacob nor Jack would meet Teal'c's gaze, nor could they look away from their hands and the walls respectively. As Selmac soothed Jacob, Jack was left to calm himself, eventually bringing his eyes to rest on the Jaffa's stern expression.

" You're right, Teal'c. Sorry."

" Me too."

Satisfied, Teal'c accepted the apologies with a nod. He got to his feet and began pacing the length of the small cell, trying to think of a plan to get out of the prison and save their absent friends before it was too late.

" Do not worry for Samantha," Selmac broke the somewhat awkward silence that had fallen over them. " I know it is hard not to but she is with Anise. She will be safe, Anise will do all she can to protect her."

" Like I trust a Tok'ra.." The muttered comment wasn't quiet enough. Selmac scowled in his direction but Jack's only response was a casual shrug. " Especially knowing what Baal is capable of, knowing some so-called Tok'ra were working for him." There was a small pause as Selmac kept Jacob from making a retort. " So anyone know how we can get out of here? I don't see an exit sign anywhere.."

Still on his feet, Teal'c wandered closer to the door area, the slight difference in shade and shape the only thing separating this wall from the other walls. The door panel was a lighter shade of gold with darker gold trimmings at the edges. He started pushing at the panels around the door in random places. He wasn't expecting anything to happen but the door suddenly opened, sliding to the side with a loud metallic groan.

" What'd you press?" Jack started getting to his feet, Jacob starting to do the same thing as the door opened fully and came to a stop.

" I do not think I pressed anything, O'Neill."

Teal'c's suspicions were confirmed as another person entered the cell, pushed roughly by a Jaffa. Fortunately for Anise, Teal'c was there to steady her. Gaining her balance, she managed to glare at the Jaffa who'd pushed her before the doors slid shut, the scowl still present on her face as the others approached, questions in their eyes.

" Anise? Where's Sam? What's happening?" Jacob got to her first, Selmac busily trying to tone down his frantic movements. " Where's my daughter?"

" Major Carter has been chosen by Baal to be his Queen." Anise answered matter-of-factly, her arms crossed over her chest as she continued scowling. " Implantation of the symbiote will take place first thing in the morning."

" Where is she now? Why didn't they bring her here with you?" It was Jack's turn to ask questions - or demand answers - and for the first time in what seemed like a long time, Jacob agreed with him.

Her eyes flashed before she answered. " I am sorry, Colonel O'Neill. Samantha is being punished for disrespecting Baal. He has ordered her to be taken to the pit, where she will be left until morning." Freya seemed sympathetic and Jack backed off, remembering another experience with the woman, realising she knew the real reason behind his concern for Carter.

" The pit?" Resuming Teal'c's early position of pacing, Jack couldn't decide what to do with his hands. At first he shoved them into his pockets, then he took them out and swung them a little at his sides. " Tell me that's not what I think it is."

" It's a deep pit of freezing cold water with a sealed top." Jacob replied, obviously sickened. " It's used to weaken prisoners to make them more susceptible to interrogation techniques."

" That's what I thought it was." Jack sighed heavily, briefly contemplating the idea of testing the thickness of the wall with his fist.

Easing himself to the ground, Jacob couldn't keep the look of surprise from flitting across his face. " You've had experience with them before?"

" The first mission to Abydos. Ra used one.. Spent a very uncomfortable night in there with the surviving members of my team." He said it with a shrug, as though it wasn't a big deal. " Wouldn't recommend the place, room service was terrible."

Closing his eyes, Jacob clenched his jaw, fighting the mental images conjured by his imagination. " And now Sam's going through the same thing. Alone."

" Major Carter cannot be expected to survive the night." Teal'c voiced his own concern as he took his seat near the door, studying both Jacob and Jack as they absorbed the information Anise had brought with her. " Her condition is worsening, is it not?"

" That won't concern Baal," Jacob grimly predicted. " If she doesn't survive the night he'll use his sarcophagus to revive her in the morning."

All grudgingly admitting to themselves that Jacob spoke the truth, silence descended over them. Anise joined Teal'c and Jacob in sitting but Jack stayed on his feet, needing to keep moving, needing to do something to keep his mind off what was happening to Sam.

His attempts were unsuccessful even as he started thinking of a way to help her. He couldn't break out and rescue her; they didn't have the resources or the manpower for that.

So what else was left?

=*=

Moving around would help to keep her warm but her limbs refused to cooperate. They felt heavy and detached, quickly growing numb as the water seemed to get colder and colder as the minutes dragged on. The muscles in her arms were protesting at the dead weight they had to support and she'd long since lost all feeling in her fingers.

Her skin above the water stung where the cold air hit. Her lips were blue and bloodless, her eyelashes feeling unusually heavy on her eyelids as she fought to stay awake.

It was an unending struggle. God, she was cold.

In Antarctica, she remembered, it hadn't been so bad. She'd had thick fatigues on and the blankets from their packs, and of course the Colonel was there to cuddle up to and share body heat with.

God, she was using memories of *Antarctica* in an attempt at keeping herself warm. There was something wrong with that.

The Colonel. Jack.

She wondered where he was, whether he was okay. Whether he was with her father and Teal'c.. Whether they were all alive.. Closing her eyes tightly, she brought that line of thought to an end. She didn't want to think like that, she needed to be positive.. Anything else would make holding on even harder.

" Think.. of something.. good.." Her breath escaped her mouth as a cloud of cold air. Her arms shook with the exertion of holding her head above the water. Was it her imagination or was the water level rising?

Even breathing was becoming difficult. All she really wanted to do was give in and go to sleep.. dream of being at home.. safe and warm.. feeling the gentle heat of the suns warmth on her skin..

" No!" Eyes snapping open, Sam inwardly scolded herself for almost falling asleep. Falling asleep would result in death, she knew that. There was no way she could hold on and try to tread water if she gave in to the exhaustion, she'd end up slipping beneath the surface and drowning before she could even think about reacting.

No. She had to stay awake. She had to think of something nice; something pleasant that would help the time go by just a little bit faster.

Minnesota sprang immediately to mind. Her first trip to the cabin where the fishing was renowned for being nonexistent. It was near the beginning of their relationship so they were both nervous about going away together. Somehow, Jack had talked Daniel and Teal'c into going for the weekend, telling them she needed a break and the only way she'd go to the cabin was if they had a chaperone or two. Daniel had been the one to decide that after the weekend was over, he and Teal'c would leave them alone. She didn't know if it was because he knew about them, or he was attempting to play matchmaker but whatever his motives, she and Jack were both grateful to him for it.

It had been perfect; she remembered thinking the cabin was a pleasant surprise with a beautiful view all around. He hadn't exaggerated when he said she'd love it. She'd fallen in love with it almost immediately and as the week wore on, the cabin became just as special to her as it was to Jack.

After Teal'c and Daniel left, Jack had taken her around the area surrounding the cabin on day trips. They spent their days walking in the woodlands and fishing, sunbathing in Sam's case as she watched him through her sunglasses, and swimming.

A fond smile curled up her lips even as the water around her continued to freeze her skin. She remembered the surprised look on his face when he actually succeeded in catching something. It was the first time he'd caught anything in all the years he'd been going to the cabin and the memory of his reaction never failed to bring a smile to her face.

Later that same day, he decided he'd put up with enough of her teasing. They'd been sitting on the dock, waiting for it to get dark enough to stargaze. She'd said something - she couldn't remember what - and he'd retaliated by tickling her and chasing her and eventually 'treating' her to an early not-so-warm bath.

Opening her eyes again, she wished she were back in the lake with his arms holding her up. It had been cold but not as freezing as the water she was in now. And Jack had been there, to hold her and support her and make her smile.

Unlike now.

Her legs were refusing to participate in helping her stay upright. Her grip on the bar above her head was weakening and her entire body was wracked with violent shivers.

She couldn't hold on any longer. God, she wanted so badly for Jack to be with her again. Being alone and drowning was a thousand times worse in some ways than drowning with someone special at her side. In other ways, it was better, but right there and then, it was worse.

She was so cold and so tired and the pain was reasserting itself and spreading relentlessly throughout her body.

One hand came free, the arm dropping down, heavily slapping the water and stinging with the harsh contact. The second hand slipped a little and although she tried to dig her fingernails in, it hurt too much and she had to let the inevitable happen. The second arm made contact with the water moments before she went under.

Using what little strength she had left, Sam pushed herself up to the surface, managing to fill her lungs with air one last time before sinking beneath without putting up any sort of struggle.

She couldn't do it anymore; she couldn't fight. She just wanted to sleep.

As the bitter water consumed her whole, she allowed her eyes to drift shut, a blanket of icy calm embracing her, silence her only companion.

=*=

The night brought them no rest or comfort. At least he assumed it was night - there were no windows to the outside world but even if there had been, they probably wouldn't have helped. They were on a Goa'uld ship after all, and there was no way of knowing where the ship was: in space, or on the planet they should have arrived on.

It didn't matter, anyway. The Stargate was on board and that was the important thing.

The second most important thing.

" How long do you think Carter's been..?" Grinding his teeth together, Jack resumed his pacing. He was as exhausted as everyone else but he refused to rest and stay still for long. That wasn't his style. He was beyond tired, too tired to sleep, and that was how he liked it. Moving made it feel like he was doing something, as if he could get somewhere by pacing restlessly.

" We have been in here for several hours, O'Neill." Teal'c chose to fill the silence when no one else did, knowing the Colonel better than anyone and understanding his behaviour.

Scowling, Jack kicked at the wall. " You think she'll be okay? With that thing in her stomach.."

" She was weak.. It was killing her, Jack." Without opening his eyes, Jacob spoke solemnly, grief lining his face. " She.. She probably lost consciousness a while ago.. She's probably already.."

'Dead.'

The word hung unsaid in the air between them. Jacob grimaced, his brow furrowed. He knew in all likelihood that she wouldn't have been able to last long, that although she was strong she had been dying before Baal had decided to punish her. But like any father, he didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to have to say aloud and be forced to acknowledge the fact that his daughter was more than likely..

" Why would he go to so much trouble?" Still thinking aloud, Jack was only half aware that he voiced his thoughts. " Baal. What's so special about Sam that he'd plan all of this..?"

" She's a valuable member of SG-1, of the Tau'ri," Anise said quietly, her eyes closed as she tried to gather her strength. " Major Carter is well known amongst the System Lords, as are you all, because she is a threat. You all are, you've defeated various Goa'uld and that makes them fear you. Baal is trying to strengthen his position therefore it makes sense to impress Anubis by taking Major Carter as a host and offering the rest of us as gifts."

Lifting one shoulder in response, Jack continued to frown. " There has to be more to it than that. No one else has thought to take Carter before now so why is Baal so determined? He can't be the only one who's thought of it.."

" He isn't, Jack." Reluctantly opening his eyes, Jacob prepared himself for the accusation he was sure to find in the Colonel's face. " The Tok'ra have been monitoring the Goa'uld carefully as you know. Baal isn't the only one to voice the opinion. Apophis thought about it when Ammonet was killed." In his corner of the room, Teal'c flinched. " Sokar was another who had said Sam could be used in battle against Earth. Fortunately none of them were given the chance.."

" And you don't think it was worth mentioning that your daughter's on the Goa'uld most wanted for Christmas list?" The anger was there as expected, his voice low and dangerous.

" The Tok'ra saw no point in mentioning it, Colonel." Anise opened her eyes and stared evenly at him as she came to Jacob and Selmac's defence. " We did not believe the risk was high enough to warrant such a warning. Although SG-1 has a reputation for finding yourselves in the presence of the Goa'uld, your reputation for escaping unscathed is formidable. And, as Jacob said, very few Goa'uld have had the opportunity to do such a thing. Were we aware that there were special spies among the Tok'ra who could get close to Major Carter, we could have informed you immediately."

Grudgingly biting back a retort, Jack reminded himself anger wouldn't help them improve their situation. Instead, he took a deep breath and reluctantly stopped pacing, sliding to the floor. " But why go to all this trouble to make Carter a host and not another member of a unit? There are other women working for the SGC and there's plenty of men so.."

" Not all of them can offer what Major Carter can," Anise sighed as she spoke, her host's exhaustion catching up with her. " She has the knowledge of the Tau'ri, and that of the Tok'ra."

" Because she was Jolinar's host? You think Baal wants her memories?" Jack's voice took on a thoughtful note. " Even though he's had the Tok'ra - some of the Tok'ra -working for him?"

" Jolinar was a well-known member of the Tok'ra. She was one of our best operatives." Selmac answered sadly, memories of the Tok'ra in question coming back to her with startling clarity. " Her knowledge of the Tok'ra was far greater than many of our existing operatives."

" What about Kanan? How long had he been a Tok'ra?" Frowning again, Jack struggled to remember what he knew about his symbiote of a short period of time. He'd tried on more than one occasion to access the part of his mind that Kanan had occupied but it seemed he'd been left with very little to go on. The Tok'ra hadn't died inside him, hadn't left him the memories of his long life. All Jack had were the things he'd learnt himself by prying into Kanan's mind and the things the symbiote had been willing to share. " I vaguely remembering Kanan telling me he knew Jolinar and Martouf."

" Kanan worked with them on more than one occasion. They were friends as well as colleagues.." Selmac trailed off mid-sentence.

" Don't get any ideas, Jack." Jacob warned him quietly. " The only way you can help Sam is by concentrating on getting out of here alive, on all of us getting out of here alive."

Shrugging casually, Jack refused to answer. His mind whirled as he pushed himself up onto his feet, heading over to the door. Hesitating for only a fraction of a second, he raised his fist and started pounding on the door. " Hey, guards?! Jaffa! Kree!"

Concerned and a little worried, Teal'c stood and walked over to him quickly, raising an eyebrow at the sound of approaching Jaffa. " What are you doing, O'Neill?"

" What I have to do." Muttering grimly, Jack took a step backwards as the door began to move. " Making a deal with the devil." His shoulders squared as two Jaffa glared at him menacingly, clasping staff weapons pointed in his direction. " Take me to Baal. I have some information for him, I want to make a deal."

The Jaffa exchanged glances. One of them took a step back; the other reached out for Jack and grabbed him viciously, dragging him out of the cell.

All they could do was watch as the door slid shut. Jacob closed his eyes with a resigned sigh, Anise failed to react at all as she gave into her hosts demands to rest. Teal'c stood at the door, staring at it intently as his fists clenched at his sides.

He stood, and waited.

There was little else he could do.

=*=

Death was only a hairbreadth away. She could feel it. She could practically taste and smell it. Yet something kept her back, something inside her held on and refused to let her submit to it.

There was something else there, too. She could sense the presence of something.

She wasn't alone.

Her eyes still shut, her lungs straining for air, Sam found herself floating back to the surface. Inhaling took a great deal of effort, her ribs aching at the pressure.

She wasn't alone, and she wasn't dead.

Slipping back under the water, Sam was too numb to move. Her limbs felt like heavy rocks, pulling her down, further down.. She was sinking right to the bottom and knew she'd taken her last breath.

Her mind refused to shut down like the rest of her body. It conjured the most disturbing images; giving the presence she sensed a physical form.

Maybe it was a new method of torture. Maybe in the darkest, deepest depths of the pit there was something lurking, some vile creature just waiting for her to approach its lair. Maybe some creature out of a trashy b-movie, some indescribably disgusting sea creature with viciously sharp teeth and long, spiky tentacles. Or maybe it was more like a shark, smooth and agile with powerful jaws that would hungrily devour her, severing limb from limb.

She probably wouldn't feel anything, anyway. Her arms and legs hung motionless, suspended by the liquid as she continued her journey down.

It was unlikely there'd be anything so destructive waiting to meet her at the bottom. She distantly realised that as her thoughts slowed along with every other function of her body. With some regret, she knew Baal would want her in one piece. She couldn't be his Goddess if she'd been chewed up and spat out.

Rapidly losing the ability to care, Sam didn't know which she'd prefer.

Something moved at the side of her. The pressure of water against her stomach increased as if she'd been hit by a small wave and she found she couldn't hold her breath anymore.

Choking, her arms flailed futilely at her sides as water filled her mouth, her body instinctively launching a desperate battle to keep it from filling her lungs as well. Reluctantly, refusing to give into the panic threatening to overwhelm her and sensing the presence of *something* yet again, she allowed her eyes to flutter open.

For a few seconds, her vision was painfully blurred, her eyes stinging. Then it cleared and she could see through the water surrounding her.

Nothing.

Through the murky darkness, she could see the walls of the pit but her perception of distance failed her and she couldn't hazard a guess as to whether she was anywhere near them. She couldn't bring herself to move and find out, either. It would take too much effort and she needed what little strength she had left to twist her head to the side and look around.

Still nothing.

It looked like she was alone but she definitely sensed something.

Closing her eyes again as a wave of dizziness swept over her, Sam felt her lungs suddenly fill with oxygen, her body beginning to rise back to the surface.

Startling, and odd.

She hadn't done anything to encourage or initiate the movement. She couldn't kick her legs because she couldn't feel them.

But still, she had somehow changed direction and was going upwards.

Back to the surface.

=*=

Without hesitation, the guards took him through the maze of corridors, pushing him down before Baal as soon as they reached the Goa'uld. Hands clenching at the sides, Jack glared up at Baal, his memories of their last encounter fuelling his determination to prevent the monster in front of him from doing what he wished to Sam. His fear tried to hold him back, the voice inside his head telling him he was being stupid and should have stayed in the relative safety of the cell with the others but he ruthlessly quashed his fear. If confronting Baal for Sam's sake didn't conquer his fear of the Goa'uld, nothing ever would.

" Colonel O'Neill." Baal grinned with mock sincerity, a devious gleam in his eyes as he stared down at the scowling human. " How nice of you to join us again. I understand you wish to make a deal?"

" That's right." Jack made an attempt at getting to his feet, only to be stopped when a Jaffa put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a shove. He turned his head to glare at the guard in question, a small twinge of satisfaction going through him as Baal motioned it was okay for him to stand. " You want the knowledge of the Tok'ra, right? That's why you want Carter?"

Tilting his head to the side, Baal's grin turned sly. " It is one of the reasons I believe she would make an excellent Queen, yes."

" What if there was another way you could get the information?" Jack moved from one foot to the other, needing to move but unwilling to risk aggravating either Baal or the guard behind him - at least not more than he usually did. " Without using Carter?"

" You would be willing to impart this information in order to save Samantha?" There was something in Baal's tone that told Jack it was more than just common sense not to trust anything the Goa'uld said. At his silent answer and obvious displeasure at the use of Sam's given name, Baal's grin widened. " Very well. I will entertain the idea. Jaffa, kree!" Speaking quietly to the guard he had summoned, Baal stood as the Jaffa left hurriedly. " If you provide us with what we need, I will decide whether Major Carter will be spared."

Even as early as then, Jack started to get the feeling he'd made a mistake.

Several minutes later, Jack found himself hooked up to what he recognised as a Tok'ra memory recall device. Squirming uncomfortably, Jack watched as the Jaffa set up the screen and connected it to the metal implant embedded in his temple.

" What's this for?" Touching the implant, Jack frowned as the screen flickered. " Why use this?"

" To ensure what you