Links

by Imagine

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asi/imagine/links.php
Summary: There is more linking Jack and Daniel together than the chains that bind them

They filled the village meeting hall with speed and efficiency, seeming to come from nowhere. Not even my Special Ops experience allowed me to hear a thing. There were guards outside too, not many and maybe they weren't exactly proficient in this supposedly safe place but I didn't even hear any sounds from them, of alarm or of their capture, or more likely of their death. I leapt to my feet only to stand as still as a statue, an obviously lethal, advanced weapon was raised directly in my face even as Daniel's yell of warning echoed in my ears.

I kept perfectly still, except for allowing my eyes to meet Daniel's across the thick colourfully woven mats that surrounded a huge fire pit in the centre of the hall, a reminder that nearly all the men of the village had crowded in here about an hour ago for the farewell celebration in honour of Daniel, the Speaker of the Tau'ri.

To them a Speaker was the most revered member of their society, speaking the truth of their desires as a people. Daniel had spent over three weeks with them and he had gained favour in their eyes, so much so that they were sorry to see him leave.

Me? I was glad to be able to take him home where I knew he would be safe. That was the Colonel speaking, he was a big part of my personality but he's not all that I am. The other part, the personal part missed him while I spent the better part of three weeks trapped in the infirmary back at the SGC. Now I was here to escort him back.

So how the hell did we get ourselves into this mess? It was supposed to be a nice little meet, greet and hopefully talk the nice folks of PS4-910 out of any of the nice minerals scattered about the deep rich soil. Instead here we were, just the two of us, trapped with the rest of the men of the village, unarmed and not even wearing our own clothes.

Before I was allowed to take my errant archaeologist home, we first had to attend this feast given in his honour and Daniel, being Daniel, agreed readily to don native clothing in their honour - and he agreed in my name too. I growled at him in mock anger but he knew me well enough to appreciate that my bark was usually worse than my bite when it came to him. True, things might have been different if their garb had consisted of one of those skirt type toga things the Greeks or Romans wore. At least these people were further along the evolutionary trail than that and their clothing was much more practical, even if their climate was pretty similar.

The clothing consisted of short length pants which fitted very snugly, reaching to just above the knee, leaving the lower leg bare. No way could anything be worn underneath that outfit, I realised. On their feet they wore sandals with criss-cross strapping up to mid calf. The top half of the outfit was a long sleeveless tunic in the same snug-fitting material. The outfits came in a variety of colours and shades, green, brown, grey, blue and a vibrant orange.

I was somewhat dubious about wearing this, mostly because the clingy material delineated every line and curve of the body and while I wasn't too bad in that department, some of the villagers were quite definitely an eyeful. Though when it dawned on me that I'd also get to see some of Daniel's curves similarly displayed I readily grabbed the outfit I was given. It was a mixture of dark and light grey and Daniel was given two shades of blue.

We got changed in the small house they'd originally lent the four of us for the duration of our visit and when he finally emerged I found it hard to take my eyes off him. He saw my perusal and glancing down at himself he asked if he looked okay. Okay? He looked positively edible. The clothing clung to him like a second skin showing every muscle, plane, hollow and curve of his body. It even showed off the uncovered limbs to perfection, particularly the muscular arms normally hidden by the unflattering uniform he usually wore. Unfortunately, the curves of his ass that I had particularly hoped to ogle were hidden by the long tunic, cut in such a way that it flared more loosely from the waist. Spoilsports was my first thought till I considered that if the ass was so clearly displayed so would the family jewels and while I had no compunction at all at having a look at Daniel's I had no wish for him to see mine. No, it was better this way, dammit!

I told him he looked fine and he said I looked good too and I have to admit I did notice an appreciative gleam in his eyes as he studied me that made me feel better at having to wear this stuff.

The feast had been prepared by the women of the village but they were not allowed to attend. So, as dusk approached, other than the few scattered guards and the old or the sick, every man of the village was in attendance sitting or reclining as they ate, drank and definitely made merry in honour of the favoured guest and his respected guard, the O'Neill. They didn't like the word Colonel, not quite sure why but based on the grin that graced Daniel's face when they explained it to him I guess it must have some odd connotation in their language. They insisted on calling me the O'Neill. Carter and Teal'c weren't saddled with the and I still had no idea when they insisted on calling me that. The best explanation I could get from Antell, the Patriarch of the Tribe, was that it gave my title weight. I gave up trying to tell him it wasn't my title it was my name and tried to get him to call me Jack but he said that was too informal and disrespectful and as he would not call the Speaker by his given name nor would he insult me. So I was the O'Neill

Squirming as I'd tried to get comfortable whilst squatting on the lumpy cushions that equated to chairs in this place, I caught his eye for a moment and Daniel grinned at me. I'd shrugged back at him and lifted my eyebrow in a good Teal'c impression before dropping my eyes to the plate in front of me. After a moment I risked another glance in his direction to see Daniel once again deep in conversation with Antell. The old man had been fascinated with Daniel from the moment we'd first arrived here three weeks earlier.

Can't say I blame him, I'd been fascinated with my archaeologist for far too long and I didn't even have the excuse of an in-depth discussion of the culture of these people as compared to their long lost cousins back on the homeworld and the changes wrought by their transplantation to this world in antiquity. My fascination was of a much more personal nature and not something I was able to discuss with him.

Daniel had remained here negotiating and generally having the cultural time of his life. Carter had stayed too, performing all the tests she wanted with her doohickeys and Teal'c stayed too, keeping a close eye on both of them. I, unfortunately, had fallen victim to a bite from some obscure - to us at least - insect and ended up spending most of the next three weeks in the infirmary under the less-than-tender care of Doc. Fraiser. True, Daniel had only been pried from my side and returned to PS4-910 when convinced that while I was flat on my back, I was in no danger whatsoever. Apparently I was particularly allergic to whatever the damned bug stuck me with and I ran a high fever for days which left me as weak as a new born babe and it took me almost ten days to get my strength back. According to Fraiser, for some reason I hadn't bothered to listen to as I was interested in the bottom line, I shouldn't be affected a second time.

I was finally cleared for Gate travel again by the Doc the day before and had come through to bring my kids home. Carter was excited over something or other she'd discovered and was pleased to be able to go home and subject it to various tests and computer models and Teal'c was quite happy to leave Daniel in my tender care. It seemed the bugs had taken a liking to him too and while he hadn't become sick as I had, he was quite happy to escape from their attention. It did seem odd that during the whole three weeks neither Daniel nor Carter had been bitten once.

These people had a fairly simple lifestyle, growing more than they needed, herding fat healthy animals, fishing in the thriving rivers and lakes. They also hunted a little and were pretty competent with spears, knives, bow and arrows and a pretty basic projectile firearm.

I could probably be quite happy here myself, providing I could ever persuade Daniel to stay here with me. We managed to get over the temporary blip in our relationship over the last few months and our friendship seemed back on an even keel again. However, I wondered how long that would last if he ever realised how I really felt about him, if he ever understood that those feelings had been what caused my erratic behaviour in the first place. I had been running from the depth of my feelings, being angry with him for being the object of a love I never knew I was capable of. Instead of being grateful to him for awakening such emotions I let my fear, my uncertainty push him away. Could I ever have been a greater fool? Now I accepted my feelings, embraced them but didn't know what to do about them. I wanted to tell him, he deserved to know what he meant to me but now I was afraid that I might lose him as surely as if I had pushed him away. Part of me believed I had no reason to fear, a more open and accepting personality I'd never met but my fear of losing him was greater than my belief in him. And wasn't that proof that I didn't deserve him anyway?

Watching him, beautiful, compassionate, so full of life, how could I take the risk of not telling him? As if he knew he was being watched, he suddenly turned and looked at me, a brilliant smile flashing across his features and lighting him up from within. I almost gasped at the vision, instead quickly smiling back at him. For a moment his smile faltered and I wondered if he'd seen more than I meant him to when suddenly, he smiled again. In that moment I decided I would tell him. As soon as we left here to walk back to the Gate I would tell him. I knew that even if he didn't return my feelings he would never treat my confession with anything less than understanding and acceptance as a more kind and compassionate man I'd never met. I suddenly realised I had no reason to fear for our friendship, he'd never turn his back on me. A weight lifted from my shoulders. At best, I could gain my heart's desire or at worst I could let my best friend know I cared more for him than he could ever have imagined. Either way, neither of us could lose.

The celebration was getting more boisterous now. The natives brewed a pretty potent beer and they kept everyone's mug full. I had purposely only drunk a little of it, I needed all my attention on my archaeologist, not because I had any reason to believe he was in any danger but because I wanted to get him home as soon as I could. I had no intention of staying another night unless I had no choice. I noticed that Daniel hadn't drunk too much of the stuff either. He'd eaten a lot of the fruit and some of the sweet bread that was a staple food of these people but he'd not drunk much at all. Perhaps he wanted to get home too.

I noticed quite a lot of movement up and down the table now as the atmosphere became decidedly more relaxed. One rather large well-built young man, Rubeo, who I had reason to remember from the first day of our arrival because he seemed intent on proving that he was a match for Teal'c, pushed in next to Daniel on the other side from Antell. The Patriarch was now involved in a heated discussion with the man on the other side of him and Rubeo leaned in to Daniel and began speaking very close to his ear. If he tried to get any closer he'd be sitting in Daniel's lap and I felt my temper rising mostly because of the obviously uncomfortable expression on Daniel's face. My archaeologist would go out of his way to avoid a disagreement but before too long he was sending out signals of annoyance. I was just about to get to my feet and inform Rubeo, politely or otherwise if he wouldn't take a hint, to get way out of my friend's personal space when the invaders stormed in.

Halfway to rising I froze for a moment, then with a fixed stare at Daniel I leapt to my feet. My intent had been to make for our weapons and packs that were stored just inside the main entrance but my up close and personal introduction to one of their weapons soon put a stop to that.

~~~~

I was pretty relieved that Jack was sitting on the other side of the room as this moron Rubeo, leaned in closer to me whispering a particularly crude suggestion that I was sure he would never express if he wasn't drunk. I was even more relieved that Jack hadn't been around during the last few weeks or I'd have probably had to drag him off Rubeo. Jack was always very protective of me but over the last couple of months he'd become particularly cave-man about it. I should've been angry but the truth was I was revelling in it. In quite a different language he'd made his feelings about me quite clear and I just wish he'd put it into words but the truth was I didn't know if he ever would.

I wasn't even sure if he realised, or perhaps accepted would be a better way of putting it, his feelings for me. As far as I was concerned his jealousy was obvious, though for his sake I hoped it wasn't so obvious to anyone else. Luckily it only seemed to rear its ugly head off world, somehow on base his increased glower was just accepted as yet another level of the O'Neill grouchiness. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Teal'c was aware of the undercurrent; that man saw so much more than anyone gave him credit for. I wasn't so sure about Sam though, she was so used to Jack's behaviour around me and she wasn't anywhere near as intuitive as Teal'c. Yet, even if she did know I don't think she'd ever betray Jack. She loved him deeply as a friend; the crush she'd had on him for a while had long since segued into respect and deep affection.

I'd been debating with myself whether I should challenge him, try and make him admit his feelings but I didn't quite know how to go about it. I considered simply confessing my own attachment to him but I couldn't help wonder if that would just push him into saying what I wanted to hear. I had to admit I was shallow enough to want him to admit the truth just because he wanted to. I was also honest to admit that he might just be having the same internal conversation with himself, wanting me to admit how I felt about him and having the same doubts as I was. Not about my own feelings but about his. The human mind - or was it the heart - was a very confused place.

Just then I caught Jack's eye and I knew from his forbidding expression that Rubeo was about to get a visit from a very pissed O'Neill. In that instant I decided as soon as we were out of here and back home I would invite Jack over and admit the truth - hoping I wasn't about to ruin a nicely mending and very important friendship.

And then in a split-second everything changed.

With no warning whatever we were surrounded by strange men carrying strange weapons. Strange and very powerful looking weapons. My attention had been drawn away from Jack and with a sense of foreboding I quickly looked back at him just as he began to launch himself to his feet. In the same instant I also saw one of the invaders bring up his ugly looking weapon and aim it directly at Jack and my heart was pounding in my chest.

"JACK!" I yelled, damned relieved when I saw him freeze, held by the threat of the weapon and perhaps the panic in my voice.

Then another voice cut across the many murmurs and questions flowing around the room.

"Silence! Who is in charge here?" The voice belonged to tall man about my age I would guess. He wore a slightly smarter version of the clothing worn by the invaders, charcoal grey trousers and jacket that fastened with two rows of very small buttons. It was unclear if it was a one-piece outfit because where there should be a waistband for the pants and a hem of the jacket there was a wide black belt. He had long black hair which he wore loosely and dark eyes that glittered coldly as he waited for an answer.

Stepping forward Antell spoke up, "I am Patriarch of the Tribe of the Seven Villages."

"Listen well! If you obey and cause us no problems we will take what we wish and leave you unharmed. If you disobey we will take what we wish and kill you. Choose!"

"What is it you want?" Antell asked in a weary voice.

He smiled but there was no humour in it. "The young, strong and healthy. We will choose those we wish."

~~~~

Oh God, Daniel. They would never pass him up. He looked too damned good and he never seemed his thirty-six years.

He must have realised the danger he was in too because he looked at me and with everything he was, without a word, just by the power of his personality, he told me not to interfere. He knew me so damned well but did he really think I could ever obey that silent demand. It wasn't in me; I'd die to protect him. Didn't he know that? Then with one more look at him I realised he knew exactly that. He didn't want me to risk my life for him.

I smiled at him.

At that moment one of the invaders grabbed him by the shoulder and swung him around to look him up and down. He also looked at Rubeo.

"These two," he called to someone behind him and I saw another of them move forward carrying a thick bar from which chains and manacles were hanging.

I watched in growing horror as one end of a chain was manacled to Rubeo's right ankle while the other was attached to Daniel's left.

"No! Let him be," I yelled, almost absently, my eyes fixed on the tableau across the room from me.

The leader who had been standing idly by at the head of the table swung around at the sound of my voice even as Antell stood up and said sharply, "O'Neill!" The first time he used my name properly and it was to admonish me. I glared at the man, understanding his position hoping he understood mine.

While my attention was on Antell the leader of the invaders had come up behind me and with a grip of iron on my shoulder turned me to face him.

"You have a spark of fire in your eyes. Your hair may be silver but your spirit is that of a warrior not a shepherd." Close up I saw for the first time he was quite an impressive specimen himself. He reached out and grasped my biceps and it took all my willpower to stand there and let him. I suddenly realised that if I didn't continue to impress him I would most certainly be left behind when they took Daniel away with them. I drew myself to my full height, flexed my muscles and met his gaze directly, with a challenging one of my own. "Nor a sheep," he continued. "Pair him with that one," he instructed indicating another younger villager.

I turned to look at Daniel only to see him and Rubeo being propelled towards the door at the other end of the hall. He was looking back at me over his shoulder and when he saw a manacle being placed on my ankle I saw a quick flash of relief in his eyes to be quickly replaced by consternation. Emotionally he wanted me there with him, logically he wanted me free. He didn't realise that my only freedom lay in his company.

~~~~

I tried to speak to Rubeo to find out if he knew what was happening, who these strangers were and where they had come from. Were they from somewhere on the planet and somehow our investigations hadn't discovered them? Or perhaps they came through the Stargate and if that were so, then were they regular visitors? Unfortunately either Rubeo really didn't know or he wasn't talking. He snarled at me to shut up and shoved me roughly away. I almost fell and it was only one of the two men chained together in the line behind us that stopped me from falling.

They made us walk in pairs chained together at our ankles and once we were outside they placed a thin chain around the waist of one of each pair, me in our case and then ran a chain through a large ring attached to the waist chain so each pair of prisoners was attached to all the others. I noticed the end of the long chain was secured to a thick belt worn by one of our captors who stood at the head of the line.

I knew Jack and his partner were somewhere towards the back of the line of captive men. I had also seen about a dozen young women chained together too and I assumed they were behind the men, either chained to us or in their own separate group.

I did my best to try and see where Jack was and I was relieved that due to his height I could distinguish his silver hair, though I couldn't see his face. I knew I should wish that Jack was still back inside the meeting hall, left behind in safety. It would allow him to launch a rescue party and hopefully be able to find me and release me but the truth was all I felt was relief at his presence.

I'd seen his determination not to let me out of his sight when he realised I might be one of those chosen by these strangers and while part of me wanted to scream at him another part was just so touched that he felt so strongly about me.

Still, we needed to get away and hopefully help the others to escape too if it was at all possible and I knew the first thing Jack would need would be Intel. I had to get Rubeo to talk, even if it was only to tell me he didn't know anything though in fact I found that hard to believe. Looking back at the scene in the meeting hall when they'd burst in, the men of the tribe had seemed immediately cowed by the attackers. There hadn't been the slightest attempt to fight back against them, not even to question the effectiveness of what to them should have been a strange weapon - unless of course they'd seen it before and knew exactly what it was capable of. They were afraid I realised. I also thought back to Antell's reaction when he spoke to the leader, he asked only one question - what do you want?

He didn't ask who they were, where they had come from, hadn't even acted outraged. He seemed....resigned. What do you want? Perhaps he really meant what do you want...this time? There had been no particular shock either when what they demanded was people, not items of value, not livestock.

Unless people were the items of value - the livestock. Oh god, they had come for slaves!

I twisted around again trying to see Jack, trying to catch his eye if it was at all possible. I could see his position but with the others between us and the guards walking up and down I couldn't get a clear line of sight and I doubted he could see me any clearer. Did he understand? Probably I realised, Jack's profession was based on threat assessment and if this wasn't a threat, what was? The odds were he knew what was going on from the moment the leader asked for - how did he word it? Oh yes, the young, strong and healthy.

Probably wanted strong workers. What about the women though? Servants maybe. Of course my mind then went on a trek through the times in history when slaves had many different uses, female and male and the ones that jumped most forcefully into the front of my mind were not workers or servants. Too many times in too many cultures slaves were used for breeding more slaves or even more insalubriously for sexual practices.

Damn this wasn't the time for that! To my consternation my body reacted to the unexpected but obviously not unwelcome vision that popped into my head of Jack shoved up against a tiled wall of the showers with me plastered all over him as water cascaded over our bodies. That was actually one of my less interesting fantasies involving my best friend and CO. I savagely shut out any others as my cock was uncomfortably constricted by these suddenly too tight excuse for trousers that I had agreed to wear just for the pleasure of seeing Jack in his.

I was brought back to my precarious situation by a bark of harsh laughter and turned to see Rubeo staring unashamedly at the evidence of my thoughts. He leaned over and said in that rough manner of his, "Share those thoughts when we are alone and I can make you scream as you come. You'll never have anybody better than me shoved up your backside."

I stared at him and then down at my now disappeared erection and smiled back at him. "Obviously that is patently untrue."

He snarled at me again and raised a hand. I raised an arm to block the blow I could see coming from the anger in his eyes but the arm never fell. One of the guards grabbed it.

"Punishment is my prerogative," said a sharp voice behind us and I turned to see the leader. He looked at me but his words were for Rubeo. "Touch my property and you will suffer for it. Especially this one," he added, his voice quieter, calmer.

He moved nearer to me and stared at my face for a moment before allowing his gaze to peruse my body. He looked so slowly allowing his eyes to trace the lines of my body clearly visible through the skin tight clothing. I felt hot and uncomfortable under his gaze and felt the heat fill my face.

"What is your name?" he asked, his voice low and silky and I swear I could feel the words stroking the skin of my arms. I shivered.

"Daniel," I said quietly.

He frowned a little, "Not a name I recognise," he said.

Suddenly I wondered if it would be wise or dangerous to reveal the truth of my history but I knew that my fate lay as much in Rubeo's hands as it did the leader of my captors. I decided to say nothing and see what happened. I just looked at him and suddenly, the words unbidden, I asked him, "What is your name?"

He laughed, "Why would you care? We Brascia take you at our whim, knowing my name cannot help you."

"Then it can't harm you to tell me, can it?"

He laughed again. "Perhaps you should have been paired with the silver one? You have his nerve I think."

My heart fluttered at the comment. I waited hoping he would put us together but he just stared at me. Then he frowned.

"You were the one," he said thoughtfully and I knew he'd realised that Jack had drawn attention to himself because of me. "I am Cuchelo. I might buy you myself," he added almost casually turning away.

As he left Rubeo grabbed my arm and said angrily, "Why would you want to know his name, you can only call him master now."

"I call no man master," I snapped back. "And if you'd answered my questions when I asked I wouldn't have to ask him. Do you want me to call him back and ask more questions? Like who are the Brascia and where do they come from?" I said sharply.

Rubeo shook off my arm and glared at me. "They come through what you call the Stargate, from where we never knew. They have been coming as long as any of the Tribe can remember, once maybe twice a year and they take what they want. Sometimes it may be crops, other times livestock and other times our young people. They attack a different village each time, we never know where they will raid."

"Does no one ever return?" I asked quietly, pretty sure I already knew the answer.

He laughed harshly, "Never!"

~~~~

We were heading for the Stargate. I'd already been pretty sure that was the direction we were taking but Nando, my companion, had been quite informative. Well, he told me as much as he knew which wasn't really all that much but no one else of the Tribe knew any more apparently.

We'd been damned unfortunate to be at the particular village that the Brascia chose to raid. Apparently they'd already raided another village not too far away about three months earlier and it was rare that they returned so soon. They had taken people that time too and they had obviously come again to capture a few more slaves. Not that Nando has used the word slaves, he's just said they take the young ones but as they never returned he wasn't really sure why they were taken. Maybe he closed his mind to the obvious; it was easier for him that way. Mind, he was one of those who, in the words of my grandmother, had grown too fast to allow room in his skull for his brain to develop properly. In other words he wasn't exactly very smart, though just as big and strong as they come. He wasn't all that tall, the Tribe on this world tended more to bulk than height. Other than Rubeo, Daniel and I were the tallest of the chosen slaves taken by the Brascia who themselves seemed fairly tall. In fact the leader was an inch or two taller than me.

Then I saw some commotion farther down the line and I recognised that dumb fuck, Rubeo right in the middle of it, which meant, of course, that Daniel was involved. Bloody obvious really, a trouble-magnet, my archaeologist. Damn, why had they chained me at the end of the line? I had tried to get nearer to Daniel but they just dragged Nando and me to the end of the line and chained us there.

I managed to drag Nando out of the side of the line as far as the chains would allow and I could see one of the guards having words with Rubeo when the leader strode down the line. I couldn't hear what was said but I saw him, the good-looking tall guy with the long flowing dark hair, standing very close to Daniel and they were talking pretty animatedly.

I got a really bad feeling about this. He was doing it again, ingratiating himself with the locals; only that guy was no fucking local. He was a slaver and knowing my Daniel the guy had the hots for him already. Rubeo had a rival. Hah! Damn, damn, damn.

Daniel, you'll be the death of me. Wouldn't mind that if you had your cock shoved up inside me at the time and you were fucking my brains out. Don't want to die saving your virtue from some other bastard though. I'm enough of a bastard for you Danny, if only you knew it and I wanna live to show you.

I had this sudden vision of Daniel in his BDU's pushed up against the wall in one of the store rooms on base. I'd grabbed him and shoved him in there 'cause I couldn't wait another minute to get my hands on him. I imagined he was as desperate for me and held me tight against him as he kissed me with such passion I forgot how to breathe. I pulled away gasping and almost tore his shirt from his body to touch him before falling to my knees and unfastening his pants to rub my face into his groin. I needed to feel his skin against mine and inhale his aroma deep inside me. Daniel, I needed Daniel so much.

I literally had to shake my head to clear the erotic vision from my mind's eye, wishing it was a reality, a memory rather than a fantasy. It was true that I desired his body but I needed his heart and soul, it was the only way I could be complete.

Concentrating on the here and now I looked along the line and whatever the disagreement had been about it was over now. Mr. tall-and-good-looking was moving off and the line was moving again. Hang in there, Daniel. I'll get us out of here somehow. Be a damned sight easier, of course if we weren't going through the Gate. We were due back at the SGC in about an hour and when we didn't show Teal'c and Carter would come back looking for us. However, according to Nando no-one here knew the address - or little diagrams as he called them - to where the Brascia came from. How the hell would they track us down? Once through the Gate we would be on our own.

Time was running out, the Gate was in view now. Once they dialled out we'd be lost to the SGC unless we could find a way of escaping. Damn we didn't even have a GDO, let alone any weapons. Everything was still in our packs in the meeting hall. There was only one saving grace to this impossible situation; Daniel wasn't alone. I wasn't sure how I would be able to protect him but at least I wasn't half a galaxy away.

~~~~

The Gate was dialling and I knew now that Jack and I were really on our own. From what I could gather once we stepped through no one would know where we were. Guiltily I thanked the universe that I wasn't alone, that Jack was with me. I could face anything if Jack was there too.

Cuchelo strode through first never even looking back as the guard holding our lead chain tugged to indicate we should move up the steps to the Gate and he then stepped through. Some of the native villagers were nervous of the glittering horizon; the guards had to prod the first pair through as the chain went taut. Then each pair followed through almost dragged by the preceding pair. Rubeo was obviously nervous too but with dumb bravado he stuck his chin out and marched through.

We emerged inside a huge circular room with a vaulted ceiling painted in a variety of shades of greys and blues fading to a dove grey at the apex. Once everyone was through - I watched carefully to see Jack emerge - we were led out through a large archway and into the bright sunshine outside. We walked along wide paved streets of what appeared to be a large city. While looking around indulging my natural cultural curiosity searching out clues that would help me to determine what kind of society we had been dragged into, I also tried to see it with the eyes of a soldier threat-assessing.

The first thing I realised was the surroundings did not seem to equate with the apparently advanced weaponry the raiding party had been carrying. I thought back then and realised that other than those weapons there had been no other sign of advanced technology. I had been fooled by that one item into thinking of them as more advanced than they now seemed to be. I really hadn't been doing my job properly, though I suppose I could admit to being somewhat distracted.

The wide streets which were edged with low buildings, none more than two stories, built with stone blocks and tiled roofs, did not seem very busy, just a few people walking or riding horses and once I saw a wagon down a side street. No one seemed to take any notice of the long line of chained men and women and obviously slavery was an accepted concept on this world.

Looking skyward I checked for signs of any kind of industry trying to get an idea of what kind of society we had been brought to. However I saw nothing but bright blue sky with a few scattered clouds. It was pretty warm and I was relieved not to be wearing the heavy BDU's, a thought that brought a grimace to my face.

Just as I was wondering how much farther we would have to walk we were led off the main thoroughfare down a narrow side street which ended in a pair of very heavy wooden gates about three metres high.

Cuchelo called out and a man leaned over from the top of the gate, presumably on a walkway up there, patrolling perhaps. The man called down to someone below and there was the distinct sound of a lock being turned, a large lock by the sound. Then the gates swung freely open and we were led inside.

At each side of the gates, the walls of the stone buildings provided the interior wall of what I could only think of as a compound, roughly hexagonal in shape. Where the buildings ended the walls continued at the same height at the gate, slightly lower than the height of the buildings. I was surprised to see three further gates like points on a compass.

I supposed this was some kind of holding pen for the slaves before sale took place. I felt a frisson of fear wondering what kind of future we were facing here. I looked around trying to find Jack and I saw the guards pushing him and his companion back to maintain a line across the centre of the compound. It was only then I realised the women were continuing to be led to the gate opposite and they were taken through, the exit closing behind them.

Jack had managed to stand slightly ahead of the line so he could see me and we traded a glance before he was forced to step back.

~~~~

If I was allowed to say anything I'd have been speechless! Mr. tall-good-looking had stood there and calmly told us that we'd be sold only after we'd been trained. This place where we were imprisoned was the training arena and we'd be schooled to fight with a variety of weapons and in unarmed combat. When he considered we were ready we'd be sent to the market where patrons would bid against each other to purchase the best combatants.

God, I felt like I was an extra in the gladiator movie, Spartacus! Where the hell were we? I half expected someone to walk in wearing a toga but they looked almost ordinary in their dark grey uniforms. This whole place seemed a contradiction. The weapons they carried seemed to belong to another place and time. The surroundings we found ourselves in, well Daniel could probably go into great detail but it was obvious even to me that this was no industrial technological society. There was no sign of engineered transport and though we hadn't be allowed to see very much of the surrounding area there was no visible sign of any factories. The only transport I had seen were horses and wagons. Nothing seemed to make sense.

Now this, people taken into slavery for little more than some kind of barbaric entertainment. No wonder they'd only wanted the young and strong and I thanked my lucky stars that for whatever reason the leader of this group had decided to bring me along too. I was easily the oldest; even Daniel was older than any of the others though it wasn't so obvious in his case.

I wasn't worried about the training we were supposed to undergo, there wasn't a weapon made that I couldn't use but I was worried about Daniel. He would fight if he had to protect his team mates, any innocent person he happened to meet and at a push, himself. He was actually quite competent in self-defence and I had taught him some pretty good unarmed combat moves, as had Teal'c. He could handle a Beretta and a P90 now. He knew which end of a knife to hold and he could throw one and hit the target somewhere but no way could you call him an expert in bladed weapons.

Our host had at last decided to introduce himself, odd name though it was. Cuchelo; I supposed Daniel could tell me what kind of name that was if ever I could get near enough to talk with him. Damn, why had fate chained him to the most obnoxious man we met on PS4-910?

Cuchelo was explaining that we would be divided into groups for the training. Fuck! He also said we would remain chained to each other as an added precaution against escape. He drummed into us that there was no chance of escape from the arena and even if we accomplished the impossible there was nowhere for us to go. He said that outside the city, beyond the growing area there was only desert. Don't know of course if he was lying or telling the truth. It was interesting though that he made no reference to the Stargate in the domed building in the middle of town. Probably thought no one but his own people had any idea of how to make it work. That was at least one piece of good luck on our side. I hoped Daniel had enough sense to keep quiet about that to our captors. Though of course we also needed to be able to rely on the silence of the other captives.

The guards moved among us again then, removing the long chain linking us all together and removing the waist chains too, leaving only the manacles on our ankles linking us in pairs.

"Your training will begin in earnest tomorrow, you will be allowed to bathe, eat and rest tonight. You will split into two sections, one section will take the left hall the others the right."

This was my chance, if only I get in the same section as Daniel. I began to drag Nando towards the other end of the line when suddenly Cuchelo blocked my path.

"Ah, the silver one. You intrigue me, I see a wolf among the sheep. You will bear watching. I also think I want to keep you from..." he smiled and glanced in Daniel's direction. I could see him attempting to hang back but he was being pushed towards the left hall by the guards. Turning back to me, he continued. "That one interests me too." His eyes narrowed as he considered me and I felt a chill creep up my spine; for whatever reason he knew there was something different about Daniel and me and that made him dangerous.

He raised his chin at one of guards and indicated with a nod of his head that Nando and I should be taken to the right hall and with a prod of the guard's weapon I turned away from Daniel.

I glanced back over my shoulder and Daniel was walking with his back turned to me, head dipped. Rubeo turned, saw me watching and he grinned and licked his lips.

If that bastard as much as laid one hand on Daniel ...but what the hell could I do locked behind another door across this huge compound?

~~~~

Well that was interesting; Cuchelo really was quite clever. Telling us we were chained together to prevent escape which, while true, was not the only reason. It was a distinct reminder that we were prisoners, captive to someone else's whims. Not exactly subtle but very effective.

Just wished I wasn't captive to Rubeo's whims too, because I had the distinct feeling his whims were generally very selfish and mostly unpleasant, at least for me. He'd been making crude suggestions ever since I met him and now we were chained in such close proximity he was even more disgusting.

I saw the looks Jack gave him and I was grateful that nobody else here knew him as well as I do. I doubt that anyone else would find them as blatant as I did. Jack was always much more perceptive than he wanted others to realise and in those few hours he'd known Rubeo he had threat assessed him to the proverbial 'T' and now he was shooting daggers at my companion because of his latent feelings for me.

While I wished Jack was gonna be sent into this hall with us...God I wish I was chained to him - damn I've got to stop letting my libido take over my higher brain function! I never even knew I was remotely wired that way. What the hell had I been thinking about? Oh yes, Jack and that weasel Rubeo. Jack had been furious enough at the looks Rubeo was giving me and if he'd been in there with us, I'd have to drag Jack off him if he heard even one of Rubeo's more imaginative suggestions.

The guard directed us inside the hall and it was much larger than I expected. It was effectively divided into sections by six thick columns supporting the roof and as there were eight pairs of slaves we split up, each pair finding a comfortable bit of the hall to call their own. Most had migrated towards one of the columns, as had Rubeo and me.

On the way in, we had each been given a blanket and a rough piece of cloth which I assumed was their idea of a towel. I looked around and at the far end of the hall I saw the toilet facilities - in the most generous use of the term. I walked over to inspect them and Rubeo was forced, somewhat reluctantly, to accompany me. Nearby I discovered the pool in which I supposed we were to bathe. It was a large roughly tiled rectangle sunk about a metre below floor level, one of the narrow ends abutting the outside wall. I was intrigued to see the simple yet ingenious method of supplying fresh water to both the pool and the toilet facilities. In the end of the rectangular pool where it joined the outside wall there were a series of small holes drilled through which water continuously flowed. At the opposite end was another series of holes, fractionally smaller that allowed the water to flow out and continually flush the narrow waste channel below the hole in the plank toilet system, which flowed out under another section of the outside wall. It was a permanent system of fresh running water. It was nowhere near as efficient for waste removal as a modern flushing toilet but in the circumstances it was reasonably efficient. I trailed my hand in the pool expecting the water to be cold and was surprised to find it pleasantly lukewarm.

Lost in what Jack called my culture mode, I'd forgotten for a moment that Rubeo was with me until his voice close to my ear reminded me.

"I can help clean that ...hard body of yours," he rasped, his hot breath brushing my ear and making me pull back. "Rub the soft skin, pass my hands over every inch of you," he finished, slowly licking his lower lip.

My stomach roiled and in a voice I think Jack would've been proud of, I snarled, "You lay one finger on me and I'll take pleasure in breaking it!"

He smirked at me and took a step back, pulling on the chain as he did so and I had to quickly regain control of my balance or I would've fallen into the pool.

"I don't suppose our new master would look too kindly on you if you tried to damage one of his new slaves," he mocked me. "They chained us together," he said as he moved back into my face, "I ain't got no problem with that. I've been telling you for weeks now what I'd like to do to you. You ain't got that big guy looking out for you any more and the O'Neill," he said the name with disdain, "is a loooong way away. It's just you and me ...just you and me."

The leer he gave me was so suggestive I thought I'd throw up! Pulling on the ankle chain myself, I said angrily, "Chains won't make me any more available to you. As you said, they won't like one of the new slaves damaged but I'd rather be punished by them than touched by you. You try and touch me and I'll prove it."

He laughed at me. "You are a Speaker not a Guardian," he said with derision

His opinion of me was clear. I needed looking after and now I had no guard I was fair game. Well I had no qualms at all about disillusioning him. Jack and, to a lesser degree Teal'c, had taught me quite a lot over the years. While I might not be anywhere near their level of competence, I knew I could look after myself.

I smiled at him, not my usual smile at all but the one I used against false gods. What Jack referred to as my snake-baiting smile, feral and challenging. Jack told me once the reason he thought this smile had the effect it did was because my eyes glittered like chips of ice. I remember that, not because I know if it was true or not but because of the huskiness in Jack's voice when he said it and because it was one of the few times I ever remember him being poetic.

I watched now as Rubeo's smile of derision faded and for the first time I saw a look of uncertainty cross his face.

The gate to the hall suddenly opened and half a dozen guards came in. Two of them covered us with their weapons while the other four moved among us. They were carrying more chains and manacles. What next?

"You will stand quietly," one of the armed guards announced to the room at large.

They began attaching manacles to the wrists of the slaves in the same configuration as the ankle manacles and linking chains between them. Then they removed the ankle chains. When they had finished each pair was now linked by the wrists and our ankles were free. I couldn't decide if this was better or worse, or even why the change.

I soon found out.

~~~~

Oh this was fucking wonderful. They came in and changed the ankle restraints to wrist ones and I was just trying to figure out why, assuming it must have something to do with the training we're to begin in the morning. Then they brought in a few women carrying new clothing for us to all to wear and that's when the fun started.

A couple of the older women approach us with a sharp blade and unceremoniously cut the tunics from our bodies and when we are all naked from the waist up the women were shooed out. We were then ordered to remove the remainder of our 'barbaric clothing' and to immerse ourselves in the sunken pool at the other end of the room. When we'd all bathed and rubbed ourselves dry we got to put on a new set of clothing.

I struggled to keep a rein on my emotions as I had visions of Daniel going through this same rigmarole in the other hall across the compound. This sort of thing doesn't bother me at all after over twenty years in the Air Force but Daniel was never as comfortable with the open nudity in the locker room and showers. Even after all these years he was still not at ease, he still wore a towel while most of us unconsciously parade around buck naked without a second thought. That shy attitude has been both a joy and a torture to my fantasies.

Just now the idea of him stripping under the licentious leer of Rubeo was making my blood boil and my stomach rebel. I knew, of course that Daniel was much stronger morally and mentally than most people realise but emotionally he still felt far too much for my comfort.

The only relief I felt was that the guards stayed on the periphery of the room while we took off our clothes and took a dip in the surprisingly warm water. There was no such thing as soap provided but there were a few flat slightly rough stones passed between us and a few small squares of linen that we scrubbed ourselves with before drying ourselves off with the sheets of rough cloth they gave us when they provided the blankets.

The guards shoved us back to where our new clothing was left in piles and told us to get dressed. We pulled on pants that were similar to those worn by the guards, down even to the dark grey colour, except the material was obviously cheaper, rougher. I was just wondering how the hell I could put on a shirt or whatever with my wrist chained to Nando's when one of the guards showed us. It now became clear why our wrists were linked. We were given a pale grey tunic that simply slipped over the head and was then fastened down the side seams by a couple of small bars pushed through loops. It was easier if the partner in chains helped with the fastenings and when Nando slipped the bars through my tunic I couldn't help but feel his fingers brush my naked flesh underneath and I was assailed with images of Rubeo's clumsy fingers enjoying the touch of Daniel's silken skin. If I could have got my hands on him then I would've killed him. Not for touching Daniel; in such circumstances that may have been impossible to avoid, I understood that and, if say Nando had been linked to Daniel, I wouldn't have felt like this, but Rubeo was no Nando. He would abuse his proximity to Daniel with zeal; it would be like a gift from the gods for him.

"You are concerned for Daniel, yes?" Nando's voice broke into my thoughts. He didn't speak very often unless I asked him questions. Whenever he volunteered something it had been important. This casual question wasn't like him.

"Er, yes. I don't trust Rubeo," I said quickly, unsure how he would react to that. He hadn't mentioned the other man to me but I had seen him watching carefully.

"I was unhappy when they linked Daniel to him. Rubeo is a bully and thinks highly of himself because he is the nephew of Antell. I heard Antell speak sharply to Rubeo about his attitude to our honoured guest, the Speaker," he smiled at me. "I like Daniel; he never acted any different, never expected anything other than a wish to talk to us, ask questions and learn from us."

I smiled at that, "Oh yeah that's Daniel all right."

"That I think was Rubeo's problem. I think he expected something more, something special."

"Daniel is special," I muttered under my breath but Nando heard me. He smiled.

"Yes he is, too special for such a selfish one as Rubeo to see. It made him angry and I think a little jealous, he couldn't understand why everyone flocked around Daniel."

"You said he was jealous but he seems ...interested in Daniel," I asked cautiously. Wasn't too sure how their society reacted to sexual attraction between the same gender.

"I know. Another aspect of his character that Antell had cause to reprimand him for..."

"You mean homosexual tendencies are not acceptable," I interrupted.

"No, no. We are as the gods made us. No, Rubeo was a bully in every sense of the word. He ...wanted a young man who wasn't so inclined and he tried to use his family connections as ...pressure. His family complained and Antell intervened though I wonder how many others he did this to," he finished thoughtfully.

"Thanks for telling me but I'm not sure you've done me any favours," I said acerbically.

He ducked his head and mumbled an apology, unconsciously reminding me so much of Daniel in the early days before he learned to give back as good as he got.

"No, I'm sorry," I sighed, "you were only trying to help. I just wish I could do something about it," I said unhappily. "If he were to ...try something would any of the others interfere?"

He frowned and said slowly, "I don't think so. Most of them," he grinned deprecatingly, "most of us have experienced his bullying at some time and I also think that as Daniel is ...different, a Speaker, they may not think he needs interference."

I had to trust that Daniel could look out for himself but that didn't stop me torturing myself with a myriad of images.

~~~~

Well that certainly played right into Rubeo's hands - almost literally as I far as I was concerned. The guards had stayed in the room as the women came to drop off our new clothing and then moved among us cutting our tunics from us. Then the women left taking the scraps of our old clothes with them as the guards told us to take everything else off. Even though I had been expecting this it was no less unwelcome to hear the actual words.

With a sigh I began to pull off the clingy pants waiting for his first comment. It didn't take long.

"My, my, it was worth waiting for. You've certainly got a nice backside, like nothing better than to shove this in deep," he taunted. He hesitated, waiting I suppose for me to turn and look at his cock but I had no intention of pandering to him. "Come on, you gotta want to know what's waiting for you," he insisted.

He didn't like to be ignored and simply walked directly in front of me. "Not bad, not bad at all," he said looking pointedly at my cock which lay limply between my legs before lifting his gaze to my face, saying with a smirk, "Mine though, that's something different."

Damn the man and damn my innate curiosity because my eyes flicked down to look at him and privately I had to admit that his erection, standing out proudly from his body, was pretty damned impressive. I lifted my eyes to his face again and let my disdain show, unutterably grateful that my own cock didn't react at all.

"If you like that kind of thing," I said, wishing I had Jack's gift for instantaneous sarcastic come-backs 'cause I couldn't think of anything better to say. "And remember what I said about fingers? It goes double for cocks." I smiled at him and not in a good way. "You'd be surprised what I know. You say I'm a Speaker and that is true and why do you suppose my people trusted me with such a responsibility?" He frowned, puzzled where I was going with this I supposed but he didn't say anything, which was a good thing as I wasn't exactly sure where I was headed myself. A little exaggeration wouldn't go amiss right now, I thought. "I've spent my whole life studying and though I say so myself, the depth of my knowledge is extraordinary. You know, it's quite remarkable what secrets one can discover in ancient texts. There was a society on my world which prided themselves on their stoicism, their ability to withstand anything, any form of torture, physical or mental. To them the ultimate torture was what they could stand being done to their private parts. God some of the stories I could tell you..."

I was interrupted then by the guards ordering us to move over to the pool and I think, judging by his expression, that Rubeo was relieved that I shut up.

We were ordered into the pool to wash ourselves and I kept myself as far from Rubeo as our chained wrists would allow. Some of the others washed their partners using the flat stones and the rough cloths provided while others saw to their own needs.

Rubeo made a snide remark about washing my back and I turned just as his chained hand reached out to touch my buttocks. Without thinking I grabbed his wrist and twisted sharply and Rubeo had to twist and turn to avoid it being broken, then when his back was to me I lifted my free hand to a point between his neck and shoulder.

"I tried to tell you but you wouldn't listen," I said calmly. He snarled and tried to twist out of my grip. I twisted his wrist a fraction more and he stiffened. "You think your wrist is in the most danger, yes? But you see if I press just here," and I demonstrated by pressing the pressure point between neck and shoulder that Jack had shown me. "You feel that tingling, now if I press harder...you feel that? It hurts huh? I'm in a reasonably good mood considering I'm chained to you otherwise I could press harder still and you would lose the use of your arm and not just your wrist."

"Release him!"

I looked up into the face of a guard and the muzzle of a weapon. I let go of Rubeo and lifted my hands clear so there could be no mistake of my intentions.

Rubeo swung round angrily and for a second I thought he really would attempt to strike me, he only got control of himself at the command of the guard.

"Keep your anger for the training, you will need it," he added as he turned away.

Rubeo stalked out of the pool dragging me with him. I grabbed up my towel as I passed. He finally stopped at our spot in the hall and dropped to his knees, stark naked and making no attempt to either dry himself or get dressed.

The chain between us was not very long and I was forced to drop down beside him. I attempted to dry myself as best as I could. Then I attempted to pull on the clothes they had given us. I was virtually one-handed as I had little control over my left arm, Rubeo resolutely keeping his right hand resting on his thigh and it was difficult to pull the pants on but I managed. Then I wondered how the hell I was supposed to put the tunic on over our joined wrists until I noticed another pair nearby helping to fasten each other's along the side seams. I dropped the tunic over my head and then struggled one-handed to fasten the right side by shoving the short bars into the loops.

Suddenly I felt fingers fiddling with the other seam and looked over to find Rubeo had edged closer to me and was now trying to slide one of the bars into the loop. I quickly pulled away as his fingers brushed my skin causing me to shiver in revulsion at the contact.

Giving me a grin that I could only interpret as lewd, he said, "Only trying to help could see how much of a struggle it was for you."

"Thanks," I said snidely, "I'd rather struggle."

He let out of a bark of laughter and replied, "Oh, yeah, I'd rather watch you struggle too!"

Bastard! I was faced with spending the night attempting to sleep alongside this Neanderthal. God, I hoped they would leave a couple of guards inside with us; he may just behave then, maybe. Otherwise, I thought I might have to spend the night protecting my 'virtue' - oh joy!

~~~~

I had just spent one god-awful night trying not to worry about Daniel and getting some sleep only I didn't get much sleep for worrying about Daniel. If he knew he'd probably be furious with me, telling me he was fine. Fine! That must be the most used word in my archaeologist's vocabulary, which was saying quite a lot. Point is, he's never liked my mother-henning him and in recent times I have to admit he really can look after himself, mostly because I insisted that he learn to handle all the weapons we use and that he get down and dirty with hand-to-hand combat. I can testify to that seeing as most of his practice was done with me, which I gotta admit I thoroughly enjoyed. True, not in the way I was supposed to, I just enjoyed getting my hands on his body without any awkward questions. Usually needed a cold shower right afterward though but boy was it worth it! Not really a substitute for what I really wanted to do to and with Daniel and that wasn't as crass as it sounded. I love the guy, was it so wrong to wanna show him?

Just prayed to God that bastard hadn't tried to show Daniel what he wanted to do to him.

Looked as if I would soon get to find out anyway as the guards were herding us outside after our so-called breakfast. That consisted of some kind of sweet bread with a strip of dried meat and a bowl of thick oatmeal-like stuff that tasted remarkably like burnt toast, all washed down with a drink of what I assumed was some type of fruit juice. Forced the lot down, it was important to keep my strength up, never knew when an opportunity to escape might present itself. Told Nando to eat up too, which he did grudgingly. He wasn't keen on helping Cuchelo turn him into a fighter and I sympathised with his point of view, without actually mentioning my hope for escape. I said it was wise to keep oneself in the best condition 'cause one never knew what the future might hold. He smiled at me, gave a slight bow à la Teal'c and said that he'd forgotten I was the O'Neill, for crying out loud!

At long last we were back in the arena under the hot sun of this unknown world and the guards made us get into a line again. I manoeuvred it so that Nando and I were on the end of the line nearest the centre of the arena so that I would be as near to Daniel as I could possibly get. The gate to his hall hadn't opened yet and I waited with growing impatience for him to be brought out. Just as I was really getting worried that something must be wrong to cause the delay, maybe involving Daniel and the slimy bastard, the gate swung open and out they came.

Relief washed through me to see Daniel looking perfectly fine, striding out like he owned the place. Then I had to squash the desire to laugh out loud as I noticed the distinctly awkward gait of Rubeo. Obviously I need not have worried at all; clearly Daniel knew precisely how to look after himself; Teal'c and I had done our job well. I caught his eye, cocked my head at Rubeo's obvious delicate condition and grinned. He raised an eyebrow and then bit his lower lip in an effort not to laugh. Oh God, if only he knew what that did to me, and he did it on purpose! Dropped off into fantasy land for a moment there.

His group was pushed into line alongside ours and Daniel made sure he was at the end of his line so that he was only standing a couple of meters away from me.

In the confusion as the guards shoved the rest of his group into place I quietly called over to him.

"Everything okay then?"

"Eventually, when he learned his lesson," he grinned.

"Oh, I'm so proud," I laughed.

"Should be, I used your techniques. The pressure points were quite useful."

"Yeah, I don't remember teaching you a pressure point in that particular place though."

"Ah, no that was something I learned quite a long time ago on a dig in Egypt. Tariq taught me a method to prolong pleasure, of course too much pleasure..."

"Ouch!"

Just then, from the gate at the far end where the women had been taken yesterday, Cuchelo entered the arena and the guards demanded obedience and silence. I noticed then a lot more guards than I had seen before all armed with the advanced weapons that we'd learned were called lienda and running along the platform set up high inside the high surrounding wall. I assumed our training was going to begin, presumably with weapons of some kind for all the precautions they seemed to be taking.

Cuchelo took up a position in front of us nicely lined up slaves and started talking but I tuned out Mr. tall-good-looking as I mulled over what Daniel had casually thrown into the conversation. Did he mean what I thought he meant, was I reading more into his comment because of what I wanted it to mean? Tariq had taught him while on a dig. Who the hell was Tariq and what had he taught the young Daniel Jackson?

God was it possible, could Daniel be ...bi, after all he certainly had loved Sha're. Had it been innocent talk between two young men, bravado over a camp fire? Could it have been much more? Was there a message for me in that oh-so-casual remark?

Was Jack O'Neill being more of a stupid bastard than usual?

Damn damn damn! I just don't know. I'd already decided to tell him how I felt before everything had gone to hell in a hand-basket. I'd been trying to convince myself for a while that I'd seen something in his eyes too, in his attitude recently but I wasn't certain. Could it be that he'd seen something of my ...attitude too? Maybe he decided to send me a signal, perhaps he thought we might be stuck here - and seeing as we didn't know where the fuck here was I had to admit that was a distinct possibility - and he needed me to know? I could see that 'cause if we were stuck here I'd want him to know how I felt. Stupid as that might sound but we could be separated and never allowed to see each other again, it was suddenly damned important to me that he knew I cared. Yet how the hell could I let him know? No way could I say it out loud. Why the hell had that bastard separated us in the first place!

Almost as if he knew I was thinking about him, Cuchelo came over and stood directly in front of me. I'd not heard a damned thing he said since he got here and had the distinct impression I'd missed something important.

"Perhaps we should start with you," he said to me quietly. "You have some experience I think. Now who should we pair you with?" Ah, so I was to fight. Well, so be it, I could look after myself.

One of the guards came forward and removed my manacle separating me from Nando. I looked down at my wrist for a second, surprised to find myself free. Then I realised it would be somewhat difficult to train us chained as closely as we were, not impossible maybe but why make things harder than they need be. After all they had enough guards to watch over us.

He glanced over at Daniel and I was torn between wanting Cuchelo to choose Daniel for me to fight with, it might give us a chance to talk and not wanting it to be Daniel just in case it wasn't to be a simple demonstration.

Cuchelo also looked over Rubeo until one of the guards came and whispered something into Cuchelo's ear, at which he laughed and then said to Daniel, "I knew there was more to you than just that pretty face and that ...body." He leaned very close to Daniel as he spoke and I could only just hear the words but the tone was unmistakable.

I saw Daniel's expression of distaste as he pulled back slightly and Cuchelo laughed as he moved on. Then Daniel flicked his eyes in my direction. I sucked in a breath for suddenly it was all there, there in those so very expressive eyes and he was letting me see it. He was telling me with everything but words. Everything I'd ever wanted, hoped, dreamed of and prayed for, was mine for the taking. I met his gaze with one of my own trying to let him see inside my soul, letting him know everything I was, everything I ever wanted to be was just for him. I knew he understood when just the ghost of a smile touched his lips.

~~~~

I thought for a moment I'd blown it when I carelessly mentioned Tariq but all I saw in Jack's eyes was curiosity, followed closely by Jack's detailed dissection of my statement. I didn't know if he was even aware of the fact anymore but he threat assessed everything and a slip like that would be looked at from every angle and even a few that didn't compute. I saw the frustration as Cuchelo interrupted his deliberation. I doubt if he'd heard a single word that Cuchelo had just said. I suspected that Cuchelo was suspicious too and that was the reason he picked Jack out as his first 'victim' in his little demonstration. Not that I was worried about him having to fight without any warning, the man could fight in his sleep, dammit there were times in the past when we've been off-world sharing a tent and I've had to duck when he was having a particularly vivid dream.

I think I might owe Cuchelo for what he did next though, perfect timing after my little gaff. That look he gave me, those words he spoke so close to my ear - I could swear I actually saw smoke coming out of Jack's ears! I decided - no, that wasn't true I never made a decision at all it was just ...time, the natural progression of what I felt and what I saw in Jack. I opened up my heart and soul and I just knew he would understand. And oh boy, didn't he just. If I'd had the slightest doubt for how he felt about me it'd just been ground into the dust. He let me see everything, in the blink of eye I saw the truth and it warmed my heart. Whatever the future held at least I had that, close to my heart I held that truth; the man I loved, loved me.

I felt the smile tug at my mouth but I quickly quashed it as I saw Cuchelo moving back down the line and I knew it would be a mistake to add to the suspicions he already had about Jack and me. Not that I believed for a moment that he had any idea of our attachment for one another but it was clear he suspected there was some link between us. I wondered how long it would be before he came to understand we weren't native to PS4-910 and what would happen to us if he knew we had knowledge of the Stargate.

Behind him I saw the guards unlocking the chains of another of the natives from PS4-910, couldn't remember his name just then. Guess he was gonna be Jack's opponent. I could see why Cuchelo had chosen him though; he was shorter than Jack but had more bulk. I almost laughed, if Cuchelo thought size mattered he had a lot to learn or maybe he just wanted to see if he could psyche Jack out.

The rest of us were ordered back to the periphery of the arena and then Jack and the other guy were given swords - I was a bit surprised to see they were wooden until I realised they couldn't have the slaves getting too hurt till the time was right, could they? Feeling decidedly trapped I put it out of my mind and forced myself to relax and watch the display.

At first Jack and his opponent just circled each other making the odd movement, testing each other out but Cuchelo soon got fed up with that and ordered them to get on with it or he threatened to use the whip on them. As he spoke one of the guards that had accompanied him stepped forward and unhooked what looked remarkably like a bull-whip from his belt. Cuchelo had threatened punishments before but this was the first time we had seen the guards carrying anything other than the liendas. I then took a careful look at the guards standing at regular intervals with us in the arena and I noticed a couple of them sporting whips and the others had short thick sticks in holsters on their belts. Only the guards high up on the platform were carrying the weapons.

The fight started in earnest then, Jack seemingly quite happy brandishing the sword. I hadn't seen him use one before but I had seen him use various hand-held weapons. He was an expert with a knife but that was obviously a more close-combat weapon but he was also well versed using a staff. Lexal - I learned his name because quite a few of his fellows were shouting for him to defeat the O'Neill - seemed less sure of the weapon but what he lacked in finesse he made up for in sheer bravado. He also seemed to think his extra weight was an advantage but Jack just ducked and weaved and struck hit after hit, just glancing blows but enough to prove who was winning.

I saw the moment Jack decided enough was enough and he allowed Lexal's wooden blade to seemingly get inside his defence then he twisted his wrist deflecting his own blade down sharply onto Lexal's, knocking the weapon from his hand and in a continuing movement Jack's blade finished up pressed into the hollow of Lexal's throat.

"Enough," Cuchelo declared.

Jack quickly backed off giving a quick salute with his sword to Lexal, though I doubt if anyone other than we two understood the gesture.

Cuchelo was nodding, obviously pleased. "Yes, yes, I knew I was right about you. Kano," he called to the guard who had unchained Jack and he and another guard came forward. Kano prodded Jack back towards his partner in chains and the other took Lexal back.

While that was being arranged, Cuchelo approached me. I guess it was gonna be my turn next, to see if I was as skilled with a weapon as Jack was.

"I understand you two," he said indicating Rubeo and me, "have not been getting along very well," he grinned very broadly and looked Rubeo up and down. "I have to admit I cannot blame you for your ...interest but that ends now," he said harshly. "He is not for you," he added glancing at me and I didn't like the proprietary gleam in his eye. He turned back to Rubeo and said, "Let's see how you get along with a sword in your hand."

He moved off and the guard unchained our wrists and glancing up at Rubeo as he did so, I tried to gauge his attitude to fighting with a sword. He met my gaze with a decided grin, confident obviously. I kept my expression blank.

Using his short stick the guard prodded us forward to the centre of the arena where Kano was waiting to hand us each a wooden sword.

~~~~

I knew this was coming but I had hoped he wouldn't be pitted against Rubeo. Anyone would have to be better than that bastard who already had a bone to pick with Daniel. I just hoped Daniel could keep his cool because surely Rubeo would be no more used to using a sword than Daniel was. Even a wooden sword handled harshly could inflict injury. If he could keep control of his emotions while Rubeo lost control of his then Daniel should be able to take him. If he remembered the lessons both Teal'c and I had drummed into him that in a fight, emotions were dangerous...

Talking of dangerous emotions, I needed to keep my own in check. I was suddenly aware of being watched and without looking I knew it was Cuchelo. That man puzzled me. He had honed in on me from the beginning, taking me when I was so much older than any of the others. He kept making comments about recognising the warrior in me, which while it was true, I had never given him reason to believe until fifteen minutes earlier. He also seemed to have a thing for Daniel; that was much more understandable on the surface but I was damned sure it went deeper than just the obvious and I was glad about that on a purely selfish level. We needed to keep an eye on him which was gonna be damned difficult because besides the fact that we were his prisoners, Daniel and I had little if any chance to talk and plan. So far the only opportunity seemed to be during the training, if this morning was an example.

The sound of wood on wood drew my attention away from Cuchelo and back to Daniel and Rubeo. Daniel was in a defensive stance and Rubeo had made the first attack, a swinging stroke from the look of his wide stance. I watched as Daniel made small movements both of feet and wrist, moving just enough to keep clear without over-exerting himself, flicking his wrist so the sword made small arcs keeping Rubeo moving to avoid the swiftly moving sword. Rubeo was wearing himself out moving swiftly and swinging his sword almost like a club.

The concentration on Daniel's face was a carbon copy of his focus when working on a translation or the study of some precious artefact. I fantasised the day he would look at me like that; trace my contours with his long, long fingers. I looked at those fingers now, one hand gripping the sword firmly but not too tightly, the other hand slightly held away from his body to keep his balance even. I smiled a little; I should have known he didn't have the swords at his place just for show. Daniel never did anything by half; he knew exactly how to use them. He probably knew the different fighting style for each different weapon too. Could even show me a thing or two, especially with the katana, never used one of those. That boy and I are gonna have a nice long talk one of these days.

It wasn't long before Cuchelo called a halt to the contest. Already six times Rubeo had been hit - in the loosest sense of the word, more like counting coup the way the Native Americans used to do, just making contact with the enemy to prove you could make the kill if you wanted - and Rubeo hadn't managed to hit Daniel once.

Daniel was standing fairly close to me by this time and catching his eye I lifted my eyebrow. He gave a slight shrug which he turned into a shoulder roll when he saw Cuchelo approaching.

Taking the sword from Daniel, I heard Cuchelo say, "I just knew there was something about you and that you were worth watching. Yet one more reason to buy you for myself when the time comes."

He gave Daniel a smile that I wanted to wipe off his face with my fist. Damn, I'd had my suspicions about him but this.... Hang on? He might buy Daniel when the time comes. What the hell did that mean? Surely we were already his property and he was going to sell us to the highest bidder when we were trained.

As Cuchelo made his way back to the centre of the arena, I glanced over at Daniel and frowned. I was pretty sure he would guess what question I was silently asking. He lifted an eyebrow, an extremely good impersonation of Teal'c and I knew he was as puzzled as I was. There seemed to be only one explanation, he was some kind of collector. He raided through the Stargate, maybe only to the one planet, maybe to many different worlds. He trained the slaves he collected and then they were sold to the highest bidder but the proceeds did not go to Cuchelo, at least not all of them. He must be acting as an ...an agent. The question was for whom. Could it actually be a government position, filling an accepted need within the society of this world?

~~~~

Cuchelo called us all back to the centre of the arena and gave us another talk about what was expected of us, how we were going to be trained to use a variety of weapons and also in wrestling and other forms of unarmed combat. He also said that after today when we were training in the arena our wrist chains would be removed but the guards on the perimeter and on the platform had permission to use whatever force necessary to make sure we obeyed the rules. We would be trained in groups and during the training we would be paired off at random so we would each face a variety of opponents and practice a variety of fighting styles.

As someone used to multi-tasking it was easy to listen to him while at the same time considering his earlier words and Jack's unspoken question. It was the second time he'd mentioned buying me but the first time it didn't really register as I was still in some shock after my set-to with Rubeo.

Now though I began to wonder exactly what he meant. I had a pretty good idea of his ...interest in me, he'd hardly hidden it and to be honest I wondered why he hadn't separated me from the others and made some ...overture to me. Hadn't given it a lot of thought, too scared to pursue the options or my lack thereof, I suppose. Just been grateful it hadn't happened, had enough on my plate with Rubeo. Now though I began to see a different picture. If he didn't actually own me by their standards, if I ...we were only in his control on behalf of some other organisation then he was only biding his time. If ever he did actually own me he could demand my body as his right.

Trying to put that disturbing thought out of my mind, I wondered if the system of collecting slaves was some kind of State policy on this world. We knew nothing beyond the confines of this compound; our walk here from the Stargate had revealed very little to me of this culture. All we knew came from whatever we were told or overheard in this place and the lack of knowledge was really unnerving me. Jack liked to threat assess which in my way was exactly what I did by understanding the culture and here I had no reference points.

Cuchelo's words drew my attention back. "...it is not acceptable for one slave to attack another as happened in the hall last evening between these two," he indicated Rubeo and me. "The guards were lenient as it was the first night..." he looked at me and smiled, "...and the victim was more than able to protect himself but such behaviour will not be tolerated. Only in this arena under instruction are you allowed physical contact. Understand this, any further breach of discipline and there will be punishment." As Cuchelo finished speaking Kano stepped forward, flicking his whip casually, the meaning very clear and he let his gaze travel from face to face making his point understood.

The rear gate opened again and four men entered. They were dressed a little differently from Cuchelo and his guards. They wore the same style pants but they were brown and they were similar loose tunics to ours. As the men approached who I assumed were going to be our trainers, the guards released our chains then and divided us into four groups. I tried to edge towards Daniel again, Nando moving with me without comment but one of guards shoved us back while Daniel and Rubeo was pushed into another group.

"These are the Guides, each is a specialist and you will learn from them all so when the next auction is due you will fetch the highest price possible."

"Is a question permissible?" I asked hoping I hadn't just earned a beating.

"You may ask ...this time."

I nodded, understanding both the threat and the favour. "The auction, when will that take place?" I wanted to ask more about what we might expect but I knew that would be a mistake.

He cocked his head considering me and then he glanced around the congregated men, his glance resting on Jack for a moment before he brought his gaze back to me.

"They are held four times a year; the next one is due in about three weeks." He shifted his gaze to encompass everyone. "You will work hard every day, no slacking will be permitted. Any breach will be punished. You will obey each command of the Guides or the guards. Any breach will be punished. You will be provided three meals a day, the food is balanced for optimum conditioning so no waste is permitted. Any breach will be punished. You will look after your bodies as instructed, take exercise, perform the cleansing ritual and take rest as instructed. Any breach will be punished."

~~~~

Any breach will be punished! He made it sound like a damned mantra. And trust Daniel to wanna ask a question; he's never gonna learn to keep his mouth shut is he? Have to keep something handy to stick in there. Oh boy, the picture that threw up, got hard just thinking about it, lucky I'm not wearing those tight pants any longer!

Concentrate dammit! What did he say, three meals a day. Right breakfast and dinner presumably in our respective halls but I guess that lunch would be served out here in the arena. I would just have to hope I could get to Daniel then.

The group I was with were going to be taught how to use a pilum. It was a similar to a javelin in design except the shaft was not round but square and thicker. It was made from a solid piece of metal with one end sharpened to a lethal point and the weapon was consequentially heavier than a spear. However, the training version was made from a solid piece of wood. Our Guide, Longin explained that beside the obvious use as a javelin and a stabbing spear it was also an extremely effective staff. He demonstrated how to thrust with it the way one would a spear but advised us not to throw it unless the fight was otherwise lost. Rather apparent really but then I noticed the looks on one or two of the others and realised they had been considering doing just that. Longin then demonstrated some moves using it as a staff and if it hadn't been for the size of the man and his skin colour I could easily have imagined it was Teal'c or Brat'ak I was watching, especially when he finished his move with a twirl of the staff ending up with it aligned along one arm. It was the exact same move Brat'ak used; all that was lacking was the rather smug expression that old Jaffa tended to wear.

I don't think there was much I could learn about this particular weapon so I took the opportunity to check on what Daniel's group was learning about. From what I could see I guessed they were being taught wrestling. Something else I didn't think either Daniel or I needed many lessons in, unless of course the rules here were much different. In fact, now I come to think of it, did they have any rules? That one would bear investigation.

It wasn't much longer after that the lunchtime meal was wheeled in on a large cart pushed by four women. The guard accompanying them hit a square of metal attached to the wagon with his stick and a dull twang sounded throughout the arena. The Guides stopped their lectures and our guard pointed us in the direction of the wagon. After a long tiring morning in the hot sun I was hungry and marched over there without a second thought.

There was a large container; I think cauldron would be quite accurate, containing a thick broth of meat and vegetables. A platter was covered by a huge pile of dark bread that proved to have a nutty flavour. Two huge bowls were filled with fruit, one like a crispy orange, another reminiscent of the texture of an apple with a flavour nearer to a sweet grapefruit and the other a long thin green fruit that tasted like melon.

Last, but not least there was another bowl filled with a thick paste which I had no idea what to do with at first, until Daniel walked up and without further ado stuck a finger in and tasted the contents. At first I was just delighted he was there and no one was pulling him away from me and then my eyes bugged as I watched him pull his finger out of his mouth and lick off the remains of the stuff. I just hoped no one could hear the pounding of my heart as my imagination conjured up the image of him doing that to my cock. Oh, God, I had to stop these fantasies, I enjoyed them too damned much for safety in my present circumstances. He looked at me and with a flash of realisation blushed for second before dropping his eyes.

"Well then," I asked, grateful that my voice sounded normal, "what does it taste like?"

"It's a bit like cream cheese with a sharp tang of lemon. Pretty refreshing." He took a spoon and put a dollop on his plate and another spoonful on mine. "Let's take our food and sit and talk, might be the only chance we get to do so."

"Yeahsureyabetcha!" I grinned.

We sat with our backs to the wall near the rear gate and other large or small groups of prisoners made themselves comfortable around the food wagon and near the back wall but we were pretty much on our own.

"You're keeping that bastard Rubeo off balance, I gather," I said with a grin.

"Yeah, he was demanding, trying to teach me my place, dominate me but after all my years with you he didn't stand a chance," he smiled, a definite twinkle in his eye. "If I don't let you ...dominate me why the hell should I let anyone else?"

"I have no desire to dominate you, Daniel," I said softly, keeping my eyes on my plate, "I'm into equal partners. I have never really been able to show you that being your C.O. but we're friends first and foremost aren't we?"

He didn't look at me either as he studied the orange apple-like fruit and spoke to me quietly. "Best friends for a long time, Jack and now I think maybe more?"

"Whatever you want, Daniel, anything." My voice was huskier than I intended but I couldn't help it. So far it had all been in my mind, my interpretation of what I thought I was seeing in his eyes. Those few softly spoken words had made it all so wonderfully real.

"Oh God, why now? Why now?" he whispered. "God I so want to touch you and I can't, I daren't even look at you in case he's watching."

The heat of his words washed over me and I never wanted him more. "Cuchelo?" I whispered harshly. "I see the way he looks at you."

"I know. I...I think..."

He was interrupted by the loud twang of metal being struck indicating the end of our food break. One of the guards grasped his upper arm and dragged him to his feet telling us to put our utensils back on the wagon and get back to our sections.

I was frustrated not knowing what he was going to say about Cuchelo. I could guess, having overheard his reference to buying Daniel. He might be able to fight Rubeo off but no way would he be allowed to do that if he was bought and officially owned by the man in charge. We had to find a way of escaping before the three weeks were up. Even if Cuchelo wasn't the one to finally buy Daniel somebody else would and who knows what kind of future he would be facing then. The probability of ending up as some kind of gladiator-like slave was bad enough but I couldn't let him become some bastard's sexual plaything.

I suspected he was strong enough to take the physical abuse, I'd never met a braver person in my life than Daniel but I wasn't sure if he could take any more psychological abuse. His life was already a train-wreck; I didn't think he could take anything more.

~~~~

Two Weeks Later...

Being able to sit with Jack every day for a few minutes and eat our food together has made my life in this place more bearable. Some days we can't really talk because there are others sitting too close, or occasionally a guard will eat his meal near us. Somehow, just sitting close eating the same food is a comfort, knowing for certain how he feels it's enough but the days we can actually talk...

We've been here for two weeks now and I know Jack's feeling desperate. He's told me we have to escape before the auction but the execution of it seems impossible. He didn't say it, he didn't have to but it was me he was really worried about. I loved it that he was concerned about me but he doesn't seem to understand that I'm just as worried about him. He has this inflated view of my sexual attraction and what he calls my innocent sensuality; thinks it draws all the 'unwarranted attention' I get. What the hell is innocent sensuality? I'm thirty-six years old; I haven't been innocent for a long, long time. Okay so I wasn't one for throwing myself at anyone in the SGC but then it was hardly possible was it?

First off, for most of the time I was still married and while I'm no angel I did try and be faithful to Sha're. One desperate weekend, not long after she gave birth, I went on a bender in Denver and slept with someone, literally a one-night stand. After she died, I went crazy for while, Kera was an example of that. I had other offers, both male and female but I hadn't taken up any of them. I thought I wasn't ready but the truth was I'd already fallen for Jack even though I was too busy not seeing the wood for the trees.

I so want to speak to him but today was a case in point, he was sitting alongside me, our shoulders touching but unable to talk as a few of the others had joined us and they were asking Jack's advice. This had become quite common over the last couple of weeks; his expertise was proven to be about as good as our Guides.

As time passed the guards had relaxed and we'd learned some pointers from them too. The better a fighter you were the better 'stable' would make a purchase and therefore you would receive better treatment. Jack and I were clearly the only ones with any real experience and when I mentioned that he'd taught me virtually everything I knew Jack became the one everyone wanted advice from.

The last time we'd spoken privately two days ago, I'd told him of my concern for him. I knew he feared what would happen when the auction took place, feared for my safety in the arena and in my bed - or rather someone else's bed - but he'd brushed off my qualms for his safety. The idea of being forced into someone's bed was horrifying I couldn't deny it, especially now when all I wanted was to be in Jack's. It might have been easier if I didn't love someone, if I didn't want only Jack to touch me and take me with love. Yet, as I told him that day, there were worse fears such as being separated and never seeing him again. Even worse than that was the possibility that one day we may be pitted against each other in the arena. I saw the shock in his eyes but he never had chance to answer me as he was dragged away then for the afternoon session.

They'd given me cause to worry about that the afternoon before. Cuchelo had visited with a couple of guests in tow. He never introduced them so I can only guess why they were there and I presumed it was to show off his wares to future prospective buyers. Anyhow Cuchelo wanted to put on a show and he ordered the training to stop and all the slaves re-linked to their partners while a display match took place. And surprise, surprise he chose Jack and me to participate. Not once before this had he pitted us against each other, in fact he always kept the two groups separate.

The other slaves were sent back to their respective halls and we were positioned in the centre of the arena, a tipped sword each. It had only been three days previously that all the training weapons had been changed. No more wooden swords or pilums, now we had the real thing. The explanation Cuchelo gave was that the weight distribution with the real weapons was different and we needed to get used to the actual thing. The training weapons were as near as possible and I had to agree while that was true with the sword it still felt very different in actual use. The Guides put us through exercises to get used to the different weights and we were required to practice a set of movements mirroring a partner. Yet when it came to actual combat practice the weapons were tipped for protection.

Cuchelo couldn't afford for any of us to receive serious injury at this stage of the game.

We had only been fighting for a few minutes; I suppose a fairer description would be sparring because even though this was the first time we had ever crossed swords the moves seemed almost choreographed. It was probably because we knew each other's moves in hand to hand combat and we had sparred with staffs in the SGC gym.

It couldn't have been violent enough for them though because one of the guests walked forward ordering us to stop the fight. Cuchelo followed close behind obviously continuing an argument they'd been having. The guest pulled out his own sword, a fine weapon by all appearances, waved it in our direction and it became obvious then that he wanted us to fight with untipped blades and Cuchelo was arguing.

"I'll be damned if I will risk my prize combatants just to put on a display for you!" he said.

To settle the argument he demanded that if untipped weapons were to be used and either of us was injured or killed - God forbid - then the guest would have to pay the expected price at auction, which Cuchelo said would be very high due to our skill. In the end and much to my utter relief, the guest backed down. He was not happy at losing his entertainment but Cuchelo said that he was responsible for us and fully within his rights. I didn't give a damn about his so-called rights I couldn't bear the thought of really fighting Jack.

However, as the guest returned to his position Cuchelo moved closer and looked from Jack to me and said sharply, "You will put on a proper display of swordsmanship. I want to see near misses, I want to see hits, I want it to be clear who scores and how. I want a winner, not a draw. Let me make this clear, you don't make me happy, you won't be happy. I can punish you without the lash. I don't have to mark your skin for you to feel pain."

As he stalked back Jack turned to me and whispered, "Go for it Danny, we can make it look good."

I nodded knowing what he meant and we both let our control drop enough that we gave them a real good show and we both had the bruises to prove it. In the end, as Jack planned, I won when my sword slipped past his guard and the tipped point pressed against his throat.

I relaxed then thinking it was over but it wasn't. Next they brought out the pilums and compared to the wooden ones we'd been using these were much more lethal as the whole thing was metal and perfectly weighted so it could be swung with ease. When I first held it I was reminded of the twirling cheer leaders who could do remarkable tricks with their batons. Of course it was a false impression as it was weighted to fly true in a horizontal line not thrown in the air. The only twirling one could do with a pilum was between one's hands to plan or block moves or around one's body to throw an opponent off balance and made a killing move.

It took a couple of days to get used to the new weapon but now both Jack and I felt as comfortable with it as the wooden version.

What worried me now was if they expected us to fight with them as they were presented to us because they weren't tipped. The pilum Guide had explained that they were so finely balanced that tipping them threw them off for infighting and they were impossible to throw. We trained throwing them against targets and fought with them under the strictly watchful eye of the Guide. Did Cuchelo expect us to fight all out with these?

I looked at Jack and clearly he had the same thoughts. He stepped forward, to ask the question I expected but it wasn't necessary as Kano came to us then and informed us we were not permitted to throw the weapon and we were to demonstrate our skill with infighting and the first hit would be considered as final. In other words one visible hit would be enough. This we could do. It would be like staff weapon fighting under the instruction of Teal'c. He taught us many choreographed moves to help us to learn control of his weapon. The moves were automatic now.

As Jack moved to get into position he mouthed 'Teal'c' to me and I gave an infinitesimal nod. We really were on the same wavelength.

We set up moves, drove forward, feinted and then blocked. Jack feinted left and then swung behind me and I had to twist half sideways to block his weapon. He ducked and came up at my side and I moved my pilum across my body, blocked and slid my weapon up against his to force him aside. I carried on with the move, swinging the pilum towards his right shoulder and he twisted to avoid the blow and in doing so got behind and swung his against the back of my knees knocking my legs from under me. I landed on my back, my pilum still in my hand already beginning to raise my weapon only to find Jack's pressed lightly against my chest, over my heart. He looked down at me the expression in his eyes vastly at odds with the action of his body. I had to fight not to grin at him.

Cuchelo seemed well pleased with our display and it was finally over.

I still had a nightmare that night in which the sword had been real and the point kept moving straight through his neck. I woke up gasping to hear Rubeo's husky voice asking if it was a good one. I just felt nauseous.

Today I was desperate to speak to Jack, if only for a minute. I just wanted to hear him say a few words to me, it didn't really matter what the words were just so they were for me. I needed it, perhaps I was weak but I needed it though I couldn't have my wish.

The metallic twang came to signal the end of food break and everyone began to scatter, we'd learned early the guards didn't like us to linger. So with a sigh I got to my feet. Jack rose too and he leaned towards me as he gained his balance 'accidentally' brushing his arm against mine. I reached out to steady him and just that touch of skin on skin sent shivers tumbling down my spine. My eyes flicked to his face and I saw the words he could not say in the depths of his eyes. My heart fluttered in my chest.

"We would both die that day," he whispered suddenly and then turned away as the guard escorted him back to his section.

His words should have shocked or scared me but instead I was relieved. He understood. I should have known he would. If my fear ever came true and we were forced to face each other in the arena, he could no more harm me than I could him. We knew from what the guards had told us that if a fighter lost in the arena his fate was judged by his performance but if two fighters failed to perform then they would both be killed on the spot. That was Jack's message. That would be our final victory.

It didn't mean he was giving up, not be any means, he wanted me to know that he understood and that he accepted that would be the final straw. I knew he was still trying to find a way to escape but time was running out.

As I turned away I almost walked into Rubeo who was leaning against the wagon. I'd not had any trouble from him since that first night; in fact he'd hardly spoken to me which suited me just fine. I made to step to one side and pass him but he moved as I did and blocked my path. Frowning I looked at him.

He smiled, like a wolf baring his teeth. "Now I understand." He smirked and walked away.

He knew, I don't know how but he knew. I wasn't sure what he intended to do. I mean what could he do, really? Damn - Cuchelo!

I felt a tug on my arm and realised I was the only one left at the food wagon and the guard dragged me back to the training admonishing me for lingering.

I was supposed to spend that afternoon practicing the use of the pilum but my mind was not on the training and I made a few glaring errors that earned me a dressing down and the threat of punishment if I didn't pay attention. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rubeo grinning at me and realised I was letting him win. I had to pull myself together and put this out of my mind until the training was over. One of our group, Canto, had been punished two days earlier.

They had stripped him, spread-eagled him against the main gate and Kano whipped him. Cuchelo told us he'd been lucky to get away with a light punishment, only receiving a dozen lashes. Those dozen lashes had cut his back badly as Kano had purposely struck him six times from each side so the lash marks cut across each other. Canto was still in pain and could hardly function during the training. The guards taunted that only a poor stable would bother to buy him and he wouldn't last long in the main arena. I had to get a grip; I didn't want to end up on the end of Kano's whip.

Longin called me out and made me attack him and I had to concentrate to defend myself and make acceptable attacking moves against him. After a few minutes he called a halt and nodded. That was better. He called everyone in and paired them. He paired me with Rubeo.

The bastard mocked me, trying to make me look bad so Longin would punish me but I tuned him out. Years of concentration came to my aid and I channelled all my energies into beating him, jabbing with the point, blocking with the stave, using it to knock him off balance and finally body-blocking him and while he was trying to recover, twisting behind to come up on his blind side and knocking his pilum from his hands, I pressed my own point to his heart. I looked up into his eyes and with an expression I knew was cold and hard I stared him down. Had it been a real fight he would be dead and he knew it, I saw the fear flicker in his eyes.

"Good, good. Well done Daniel, you have learned well after all," Longin declared.

My point was still pressed against his heart and my own heart was beating fast in my chest, my breath panting past my lips, anger still rolling through me.

"Retire, Daniel," said Longin pressing gently on my extended right arm which was locked with tension.

I released my breath with a gasp and stepped back, pulling my pilum into my side, its tip pointing up in the rest position as we'd been taught. Rubeo copied me and purposely moved to stand at my side as Longin moved off to instruct another pair.

He spoke very quietly so only I could hear. "I've been watching you for days, watching as you always sit together, watched as you talk quietly, secretly when you thought were on your own. Other days when you couldn't have your secret talks I watched your little touches, glances, smiles. Oh you were so careful but you didn't know I was watching did you?"

"So, what does it matter?" I growled back at him.

"Oh, it explains much," he smiled that calculating smile. "I wonder if Cuchelo knows," he asked walking away.

~~~~

Something was wrong. Daniel was distracted and Longin was obviously upset with him. It couldn't be what I said to him, surely. No, I saw his face and I knew it was what he'd wanted to hear, there was no fear in his face, only acceptance. Whatever it was, it must have happened after the food break. Damn it was my turn in the wrestling square and my opponent was Nando. He was good, wrestling was his best discipline.

We made a few good moves and neither of us was gaining any advantage which considering I was doing my best to see what was going on with Daniel was quite remarkable really. I could hear raised voices, cheering I think.

In desperation, I murmured to Nando. "You gotta take me, use the left shoulder roll and I'll let you pin me."

"Daniel," he mouthed at me and I nodded. He did as I asked and I went with it, put on a bit of show of struggling and let him hold me down, his arm resting lightly across my throat. If he had wanted he could lean all his weight on my exposed throat and crush my trachea, a killing move.

Our trainer, Englo praised him and asked Nando to take on another opponent while I slipped to the edge of our group in a good position to watch Daniel without it being too obvious. Whatever was going on it involved Rubeo who presently was standing like a statue with Daniel's pilum pressed against his chest. Even at this distance I could see the tension in Daniel's stance and as I watched Longin pushed his pilum down. What the hell had happened now? Rubeo hadn't even been a blip on the horizon since that first night. Daniel had told me that despite being chained together every night, the man ignored him. Something must have occurred and I needed to know what but the odds against me getting anywhere near enough to him to speak were infinitesimal. Once the afternoon session was over we were sent back to our halls to bathe, eat the evening meal and then rest.

I'd have to wait until the food break the next day and I had the feeling Daniel was going to have a difficult night. Not that I doubted he could take care of himself. I just wish he didn't have to and that I could take care of him myself. In the biblical sense too.

Fuck, this is so not the time for me to get hard, Englo wants me back in the wrestling square. Think of something, quick. Janet Fraiser and her biggest needle! Not enough, Fraiser snapping on her white glove preparing to... Yeah that's working.

~~~~

Rubeo has been watching me every second since they locked us in our hall. Seeing as we were chained together, what the hell did I expect but the point was every other night he had purposely kept his gaze away from me. Sitting on the lip of the pool after taking his bath and waiting for me to finish mine, his staring was making me very uncomfortable which was his intention I'm sure. I could feel his eyes assessing me, running up and down my body, lingering on my genitals and butt. I couldn't let him know it was working so I plastered a blank expression on my face; running over the alphabet in a variety of languages to keep my mind occupied while I washed my body.

When I was finished I made to move over to the bundles of fresh clothing that was left for us every evening after our bath but suddenly I was yanked back by my wrist chain. I turned to see Rubeo still sitting on the pool wall; one foot placed on the wall the other on the floor, exposing himself for my gaze. Instead I lifted my gaze to stare at his free hand gripping his chain as he grinned at me.

I lifted my eyebrows and simply said, "Clothes."

He lifted the chain and gave it a little shake. The bastard wanted me to try and pull him knowing the odds were his greater bulk would make that very difficult. I had no intention of falling for his stupid mind game.

Keeping my eyes on him I lifted my voice, "Clothes!"

One of the guards stood from his leaning position against the back wall, took in our little tableau and yelled in a bored voice, "Rubeo!"

Rubeo wasn't stupid enough to buck the guards, especially after seeing what happened to Canto so he made a pantomime of dropping the chain, rising to his feet and giving me a scornful bow. Then he marched over grabbed a handful of clothing and I had to hurry to grab my clothes before he tugged me to our usual place near one of the columns.

I turned my back on him and using the column for support began to pull my clothes on; I'd gotten quite efficient at it now, even one-handed.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my back and I froze for a second before I pulled away not bothering to hide my shudder. "Take your hands off me!"

"Hush now Daniel, don't make a fuss, just want to talk quietly," his voice hissed in my ear. "I know your secret and if you want it to stay secret then you gotta pay my price," he said with a decided smirk.

"And what secret is that?" I asked, buying time to think.

"O'Neill. You and O'Neill. Don't think Cuchelo would like that."

"But you think he won't mind about you?"

"He ain't gonna know about me. You won't tell him and I sure won't."

"I won't?" I smiled. "I don't think you've thought this through. You're only threat to me is that Cuchelo will be angry, upset, whatever because of my ...relationship with O'Neill so why would I give in to you when the only result would be Cuchelo would be angry, upset, whatever because of you. I don't think that's a very good argument, do you?"

"You won't tell him for your sake," he said confidently. "He wants you, he will treat you good."

"Ah but I would," I moved into his personal space until our noses were almost touching. "Treat me good? Fuck that! Cuchelo might want me but I don't want him any more than I want you. Why the hell do I care what he thinks when he's already told me he's gonna buy me, own me." I placed a hand against his chest, "Understand this ...I will never ...ever give it up to anyone without a fight. Haven't you had enough yet?" I shoved him away and he crashed into the column behind.

I struggled into my tunic, hand shaking a little with the adrenaline rush. He had slid to the ground still leaning back against the column, still totally naked. I lay down as far from him as the chain would allow, turned my back to him and wrapped myself in my blanket.

The only time I was really at peace, except for those few precious minutes during the food break, was when I lay quiet at night. I allowed my mind to wander, always about Jack. Sometimes it was remembering missions, even those when we'd argued because I saw that tension now as sexually based. It had always been there, we poor fools had just been too blind to see it. Sometimes I remembered the good times at Jack's house, the parties, the team nights, the hockey and pizza nights when it had just been the two of us and we'd imagined ourselves just best friends. I saw now we'd been flirting, God we'd been courting! I grinned at the idea of Jack bringing me flowers and chocolates. He could keep the flowers, I'd have the chocolates.

It always started in memory but ended in fantasy. I don't know why but I think Jack would be a wonderful kisser and I do so love to kiss. I think it's so intimate. He knows how fond I am of Belgian chocolate so he brought me some and fed it to me and then he leaned in to taste it on my tongue. It was wonderfully erotic as he licked behind my teeth and the roof of my mouth before finally wrapping his tongue around mine and sucking it into his mouth.

We were lying on the rug in front of his fire and he'd removed all my clothes and then his. He took one of the chocolates that were already beginning to melt because of the heat of the fire and the heat of our bodies. He stroked it around my nipples and then drew it down my sternum leaving a trail of melted chocolate, he circled my belly button until it had all melted. I took hold of his wrist and pulled his hand up to my mouth and sucked his sticky fingers in one by one and cleaned them with my tongue. He moaned softly and I finished with a quick kiss to each fingertip. He took my mouth in a passionate kiss before pulling away with a gasp. He smiled and then leaned down to lick the chocolate off my nipples, sucking and laving first one then the other until I was writhing under his ministrations.

He put one hand on a hip to hold me steady as he licked his way down my chest, nipping my skin gently between licks. Finally he reached my belly button and licked and sucked away the chocolate until his tongue was stabbing in and out of me and I was moaning in anticipation of being taken for the first time by the man I love.

He took another chocolate and I was begging for him to take me.

"Patience, patience," he murmured, stroking the chocolate along my rock hard cock and I was thrashing my head from side to side and moaning his name as he licked the thick sweet substance off before taking me deep into his mouth. I 'd never experienced anything like it as waves of sensation rolled through me and just when I thought I couldn't take any more I felt his fingers slide underneath me and a finger circle my entrance pushing against the muscle. I bucked up into his mouth crying out as my orgasm tore through me.

He took it all, every drop, just kept sucking until I was empty. I was gasping for breath, trying to tell him how much I loved him when he released me, licked his lips and smiled. He moved up my body and kissed me and I was fascinated to taste myself on his tongue.

"Oh Jack," I sighed, "that was wonderful. Your turn. Do you want me?"

"Want you? God, do you know how long I've wanted you?"

I was drowning in his kisses and I never wanted to surface.

"I've dreamed of taking you in the shower," he gasped between kisses.

"Oh God, yes, anything, anything."

I felt a tug on my wrist and I was moving with Jack, only it wasn't Jack it was Rubeo pulling on the chain as he moved and my wonderful fantasy faded in the darkness of my reality.

I feared my fantasies were all I would ever have.

~~~~

Warm water cascaded over his body as I rubbed my soapy hands up and down his back in long sweeping strokes. I love the feel of his skin beneath my fingers, supple and pliant covering his beautiful body. I traced his well defined muscles and watched as his corded tendons flexed, arching against my caresses.

He curved further away from me, reaching out to lean his hands on the back wall of the shower cubicle, dropping his head between his outstretched arms.

"Oh Jack, please don't tease...please."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss his nape and he moaned. I slipped one hand around to tease an erect nipple before releasing it to brush my hand across his abdomen, finally taking hold of his waist. I dropped my other hand lower into his cleft feeling for his opening, sliding a finger inside and twisting. I knew he wouldn't need much preparation, he was still so relaxed from the blow job I'd just given him. I slipped in a second finger, sought out his prostate and grinned when he bucked.

"Bastard," he sighed.

"Yeah but you still want me, don'tcha?" I asked as I nudged his entrance with my engorged cock.

"Oh God, yeah."

Holding his hips now I pushed in, waited for him to adjust and then slid in the rest of the way. I watched as the water ran in rivulets down his spine and I leaned in to lick it off his back revelling in the special taste of his velvety skin. Suddenly his muscles gripped me and I groaned at the sensation.

I got the hint and pulled out only to slam back inside him. He lifted his hips a little and panted, "More, harder Jack, I wanna feel you pound into my heart."

Oh God, I loved this man, never felt like this with anyone before. I did as he asked and set up a hard, fast rhythm and pounding into him, felt his body shuddering as I hit his sweet spot, pulling out and thrusting in again and again until I was pouring all my love into him as my orgasm ripped through me.

Awakening with a moan as I climaxed over my own stomach I almost cried out with frustration because once again it had only been a fantasy. As wonderful as it had been it only left me feeling empty.

I wanted him so badly and each day he seemed to be drifting farther away from me as the auction approached and I had no idea how we could escape. Even if we weren't chained to other people, we were locked in separate halls and guarded inside the halls and the arena was patrolled at night. I was doing my best to appear hopeful but he knew me too well and I was fully aware that he could see right through my bravado.

"Jack?" Nando said quietly. It had taken me a while but I finally got Nando to use my name.

"Yeah, I'm awake," I muttered. He never said anything but I'm pretty sure he knows about my feelings for Daniel. I surreptitiously wiped my blanket over my stomach. I slept naked as the evidence of my nocturnal fantasies made my clothes uncomfortable. We weren't allowed to bathe again in the morning; as soon as they woke us it was straight to breakfast and then out into the arena.

"Jack?" he called again.

"What?" I said wearily turning over to face him.

"It won't be long until the auction now. I ...I'm afraid of what will happen."

I sighed. "I know, Nando. I'm afraid too."

"You?" he asked surprised.

I laughed, "Oh yeah, me. I'm afraid for Daniel, for me, for you my friend. I hate not having any control. I hate these damn chains and I hate the fucking guards!"

"Hush, Jack, they'll hear you."

"And I despise Cuchelo," I added in a gruff whisper.

He reached out a hand and gave my arm a quick squeeze. "Come on let's get dressed, it's time."

~~~~

I dropped my empty plate and utensils in the container in the corner of the hall as the guard began to unlock the gate. I turned to follow the others outside into the arena with Rubeo just behind me. He hadn't said a word to me this morning for which I was grateful.

As we walked through the gate he suddenly leaned into me and whispered in my ear.

"You have more than one secret."

A chill flitted down my spine and I stared at him. He just smiled and turned away as the guard came to unlock our shackles. He moved away and stood near a pair of guards who were just watching.

Just then the gate to Jack's hall opened and I watched as he and Nando came out.

I had to talk to him, warn him that Rubeo was probably going to betray us to Cuchelo. I glanced around, Rubeo was still lounging near the guards. The Guides hadn't arrived yet so I casually walked over to the other side of the arena, feeling Rubeo's eyes tracking my every move. It didn't matter now, he was going to betray us anyway.

Jack saw me coming and he moved over to meet me, Nando tagging along even though the chains had been removed.

Without preamble, I said, "Jack, Rubeo is going to tell Cuchelo about us."

"It doesn't matter if he does, Cuchelo already wants you, he won't give a damn about any other..."

"No, no I mean about us not being from the planet."

"He wouldn't dare!" Nando interposed.

"Please Nando, give us a minute," Jack said and he gave a nod and moved away a little.

"I'm sorry Jack. I feel so guilty, it's all my fault, if only I had agreed last night and let him have his way..."

"Don't you dare! Don't you fucking dare feel guilty about refusing that bastard! You're mine!" He stopped, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, I had no right..."

"Yes, you did," I said softly. "It's true."

He stared at me and swallowed but said nothing in reply for a moment then he reached up to grab my shoulders. "Oh, Danny, whatever did I do to deserve you? What do you see in me that is worthy of you. I'm so proud of you. You're stronger than I am Danny. If ...when he tells Cuchelo we just go with the flow. Maybe he's doing us a favour, I don't know."

I would have a few words to say to him when the time was right about the worth of Jack O'Neill but I knew now was not the time.

"A favour?" I asked puzzled.

"I can't find a way out of here," he said quietly.

I wasn't surprised, I knew how impossible it was but to hear him admit it.

The guards called us into line then and we had to separate into our own sections. The main gate opened and Cuchelo entered followed by the Guides and the extra guards. He came every morning and gave us a pep talk that was really little more than a disguised threat to follow his rules.

This morning was different. Before he reached the low dais from where he always spoke, one of the guards approached him. I recognised him immediately as one of those that Rubeo had been lounging near. Here it comes then.

The guard spoke to Cuchelo and then called Rubeo forward. He gave a particularly deferential act and I felt sick at the perfidy of the man. I wasn't surprised to see Cuchelo glance at Jack and me and then turn back to Rubeo. The man nodded and smiled and backed away with the guard.

Cuchelo then called Kano forward and spoke sharply to him. Kano ordered four guards to accompany him and he marched directly over to the gathered slaves. He stood in front of us while the guards split into two pairs; one came for me and the other for Jack. They pulled us both out of the line and dragged us before Kano and for a moment I thought maybe we were going to be whipped. However, instead he just stood and watched as one of the guards linked us together with manacles on our wrists. Then he grabbed hold of the chain and dragged us both to Cuchelo where he yanked the chain downwards so hard we were forced to our knees on the sand in front of him.

"I have been informed that you are not natives at all. It answers so many of my questions. Are you going to deny it?"

I glanced over at Jack but his eyes were fixed firmly on Cuchelo and I realised he'd made his decision the moment he knew of Rubeo's betrayal.

"No, I'm not going to deny the truth," he said calmly.

Cuchelo looked at me but I said nothing, allowing him to see that I deferred to Jack.

"Who are you really?" he asked Jack.

Jack didn't answer nor did he look to me to answer. I didn't know what he had planned but I simply followed his lead.

Cuchelo looked at me. "Will you answer?"

I was silent.

Cuchelo did not like being ignored, his expression hardened and he snapped at Kano to take us to the Citadel.

That intrigued me, we had seen nothing remotely resembling a citadel. I glanced over at Jack, mouthing the word at him. He shrugged.

Kano attached ankle manacles to us as well as the wrist chain we're already wearing and then, taking hold, he pulled us to the main gate.

Standing outside was a large wagon with four bullocks in the traces. At the rear were two steps into the bed of the wagon and it was with difficulty that Jack and I climbed them. We were accompanied by two guards and Kano mounted the wide driver's seat. The driver flicked his whip, one identical to that of Kano's and the bullocks set off.

~~~~

We drove slowly back through the city, though it was a different route than the one we had taken on the day we arrived in this benighted place. I knew Daniel was concerned but as I'd said maybe this was for the best. At least we were together at last, literally chained hand and foot and if the opportunity arose at least now we could take it.

We sat very close together in the bed of the wagon, the guards, one on each side of us, taking the narrow bench seats along the sides. Daniel seemed to be looking up and when I asked him what he was doing, he replied that most citadels were situated on high ground making them difficult to attack.

While pretending to look straight ahead; or in fact straight behind as we were facing from where we had come, I was actually assessing the route and our surroundings. I was pleased to recognise the rear of the building where the Stargate was housed and I was determined to keep its location firmly in mind so when we reached our destination I would know in which direction we would need to go when - it had to be when, I could accept no other possibility - we escaped.

When the wagon finally came to halt at yet another large set of gates we were surprised at what we saw. It was certainly a large rambling building and once it could certainly have owned the name citadel, only now it seemed little more than a tumbling down ruin, though the central area where the gate was situated looked in much better condition. Daniel looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I shrugged letting him see a grin, quickly hidden.

The large gates proved to be much thicker than any we'd seen before and it was only as we moved through that I realised they were not made of wood but of a dull grey material that looked similar to ceramic though I was sure it wasn't. When the wagon rolled through the gate, we watched as a huge slab of wood, probably a squared off full tree trunk, slammed down blocking the gate. Below the wooden bar there was a lock plate of a similar material to the gate, though of a darker grey but there was no sign of a key or other locking mechanism.

We were inside a large courtyard area and again there were guards high up on the interior wall but only a few of these carried the weapons we had become used to in the hands of the guards at the training arena. The others were wearing swords and carrying pilums. As I was studying the guards and the layout of the land from a military point of view I could see Daniel studying the architecture and design of the place. Even I, about as layman as you could get, could tell this place was ancient and repairs to the structure were evident. They had used stone and mortar to fill in the gaps but whatever the walls were made of it wasn't stone. Opposite the main entrance across the huge courtyard was an impressive building that reminded me of one of those old castles in places like England, thick walls full of arches and high narrow windows and a flat crenellated roof. I only got a quick glance but I could've sworn I saw more guards up there. The whole thing gave me the odd impression of an ancient world updated through time.

The wagon took us across the courtyard and stopped outside a thick door inset into an archway to one side of the large central building. Nearby there was a corral for animals and a kind of parking area full of wagons of various sizes and purposes.

Kano jumped down and the guards alighted and ordered us out. We climbed down with difficulty and I took hold of Daniel's arm to assist him, more an act of mutual reassurance than if he actually needed the help.

Kano smiled at us and then ...then after we'd struggled to alight, the bastard ordered the guard to remove our ankle shackles. I would so love to meet that sonuvabitch when I wasn't in chains.

Kano shoved open the door and we were pushed inside to find ourselves in a narrow passageway. Kano led the way and we followed along behind, the guards constantly shoving us with thumps to our backs and we each gripped the chain in an effort to support one another as we stumbled our way along. I was fervently praying that they wouldn't separate us into individual cells, even if that meant leaving us chained together. The passageway was not very well lit but at least it stayed on level ground. I had feared the cells may be underground.

After a while, at regular intervals along the passage, I saw narrow doors which I guessed were cells but Kano kept leading us on. Eventually he turned right down another passage and reaching the end he stopped and unlocked one of the narrow wooden doors and to my relief gave us both a hefty shove inside so we fell in a jumble of arms and legs on the hard packed earth floor.

"You will be questioned shortly. I advise you to answer," he said before pulling the door to and locking it.

We looked at each other and I saw the relief and joy break out on Daniel's face and before the laughter I could see bubbling up inside him broke out, I put a finger to his lips and mouthed 'no'. He frowned and I cupped my ear and mouthed 'wait'. He nodded and we listened carefully and after a moment we heard them moving away, Kano's voice clearly heard as he told one of them to take up a position at the end of the passageway.

"Okay," I whispered, "but keep it quiet just in case. Any thoughts?"

"You mean besides carnal ones?" he asked huskily.

"Oh God, Daniel," I closed my eyes trying to shut out the image his words brought. "Not now, Daniel, please. I need to get us out of here, I need you to do your job so I can do mine." I opened my eyes and saw ...a smile.

"I'm sorry," he said, not sounding the slightest bit repentant. Damn he was playing with me.

"Oh, you'll pay for that," I said smiling.

"I'd ask you how but I think perhaps I should wait and see," he smiled, looking up at me from under his lashes and I felt a rush of emotion for my pain-in-the-ass companion. For the first time that affectionate insult might actually come true.

He interrupted my pleasant thoughts as he continued. "Thoughts, you said. First of all I think this place gives us a clue to those advanced weapons. You saw the building material used? It was like nothing I've seen before. This is much older than the city out there. Don't know for certain but I suspect these people may not be native to this place. Perhaps they came through the Stargate and found this world abandoned, can't be sure but I bet the weapons belong to whoever built this place. I only got a glimpse of the outside but it was huge, Jack and I think the walls are only half the height they were, there is an indication of towers and did you see that construct at the end of the lead wall. And then there was ..."

I let him wax lyrical and selected the important facts. It made a lot of sense that this lot were scavengers and I began to wonder if this one city was all there was. They only raided PS4 once, at most twice a year, mostly for slaves but also for supplies. There had only been twenty-four of us training and the few women who had disappeared that first day. The more I thought about it the more sense it seemed to make. They didn't even have enough weapons to supply the guards on duty.

I realised he'd stopped talking and I looked up to see him scowling at me.

"Ah, back with me. I knew you tuned me out but I thought this time it might be important?" he complained.

"I was listening, mostly. You make a lot of sense, as usual," I grinned. "They've obviously repaired the main parts they use and at first glance the cells seem pretty secure."

"Er, exactly what I was just saying."

"Ah, okay," I shrugged. "We'll have to bide our time, see what they want from us. Watch and learn. You know the ropes."

"Not much point trying my peaceful explorers' spiel I suppose," Daniel wondered.

"No, think it's a bit late for that. We're just a commodity to these people. They wouldn't have any reason to ally with us, nothing to trade."

"Except maybe those weapons."

"Which they're not gonna want to lose."

"Yeah. Jack, I don't like the idea of these guys getting any more Gate addresses. There are too many people out there who would be like sheep to their wolves."

"I know. I was thinking, if we need to buy some time we could always give them a few of the less hospitable addresses," I said.

"Buy time for what exactly?"

"To find out more about this place, especially in relation to the Gate building and hopefully for me to come up with a plan to get us out of here."

"For us to come up with a plan. I'm going to be looking and thinking too. Can you see out of that d'ya suppose?" asked Daniel, indicating the only window in the cell.

"Come here," I said as I moved towards it. It wasn't very big and too high up to be much help. Daniel had to give me a leg up as it was a few inches too high for me to see out but the chain being at full stretch made it difficult and I only managed a quick look before I slipped down again.

"Couldn't see much," I muttered, "mostly scrub land, a few trees in the distance and off to one side the edge of the city, it must branch off this way or something."

"Maybe we can get more info when they take us for questioning," he commented.

"Yeah."

We sat quiet for a minute, both of us thinking about what that might entail.

After a moment he said, "Jack?" and I glanced at him and I could see the wheels turning, he was thinking again. Could be dangerous that.

"Daniel?"

"Seeing as all we can do is wait," he looked at me from under his eyelashes again, he's gotta know what that does to me. "Can we at least, make out?"

"God, Daniel," I laughed, "You'll be the death of me." I put my free arm around his neck and pulled him to me, "But what a way to go," I sighed.

I'd wanted this for so long and I never expected our first kiss to take place in a dungeon but I didn't give a damn. I finally got to feel his lips against mine. Warm, soft and welcoming.

~~~~

Oh, God, it was like coming home. It's even better than my fantasies, the strength of his hand on my neck, his warm breath ghosting across my face, his lips so much softer than I expected, oh and the taste of him. He pulled me closer, if that was possible, pressing his lips firmly against mine as his tongue flicked out and licked my lower lip. I opened up to let him in and his tongue slid languorously along mine and I moaned deep in my throat at the sensations that flicked fire along my nerves.

I ran my free hand up and down his back while my other hand gripped him tightly as they were held between our bodies. I felt my cock lift and began to fill as he moaned into my mouth and I was bereft as he pulled away from me and looked at the locked door.

"Wha...what's wrong?" I asked, not believing for a moment it was anything to do with the kiss. I'd felt his ...interest grow too.

"They're coming," he said frustrated.

"Bad timing," I whispered. "Or not, cause I wouldn't have liked them to walk in on us ...later."

"You saying I have no control?" he grinned

"Don't know, do you?" I asked brushing my hand over his groin.

"Bastard!" he mouthed as the door was unlocked.

We were bantering to cover our concern; odds were it was time for our interrogation.

I also knew I'd need to watch out for Jack or he'd be up to his old trick of throwing himself in the way of the bad guys. He'd do anything to take their attention away from me. That's not to suggest it'd be any different now. It was his nature to look out for his team regardless of the cost to himself, though he'd always considered it was his prime duty to protect me as the civilian in his line-up.

Kano ordered us out of the cell, the guard with him was carrying a lienda and he stood back as we passed. We had gone perhaps half the distance when Kano turned down another side passage. We hadn't gone far when the passageway widened out and the light increased. Shortly we came to a pair of double doors and Kano knocked and waited for the call to enter.

This was vastly different from the dark narrow passageways and the dismal cell we'd been in. The room was large with high ceilings and dominating the back wall was a row of three tall narrow windows. I couldn't see what was beyond because they were draped with layers of fine busily patterned fabric but they must be open as the drapes were billowing somewhat.

As I expected, Cuchelo was in the room but he wasn't alone, there was another man with him. They were sharing a drink, alcohol I guessed judging by the slight flush on their cheeks. I got the distinct impression by his attire and manner that the guest had some power in this place. It was confirmed when Cuchelo gave a slight deferential nod before turning to Kano who didn't need any instruction in order to shove us to our knees before taking up a position directly behind us. Why does everyone insist on shoving us on our knees, bet Jack isn't too happy.

"The time has come to discover exactly who you two are," Cuchelo said walking towards us, his drinking vessel still in his hand. "It has been assumed you must have come through the Circle on Muen and just got caught up in my collection."

It was a statement yet he seemed to expect confirmation. Jack said nothing, I waited.

"Where do you come from? Who are you people?" asked Cuchelo, his voice hard.

Jack and I said nothing and Cuchelo raised his eyes to look at the man behind us. Okay, here it comes, I wasn't worried...much. We'd faced some of the worst monsters in the galaxy, these bastards didn't scare us.

Kano uncoiled his whip and let it lay on the floor next to me. I studiously kept my eyes straight ahead.

"I wondered how long it would take for you to start threatening violence," Jack said conversationally.

"Oh it isn't a threat it is a promise... O'Neill is it?" said the stranger as he walked forward.

"Yep and you are?"

The man smiled but it was cold, calculating. "My name is Lendam and you would do well to treat me with respect."

"Oh and why would I do that? Because you threaten violence, that's the last reason for me to respect you."

Lendam continued as if Jack hadn't spoken. "We intend to get the information we want and we'll do whatever it takes. Kano here is quite expert with the whip and that is only the beginning. If you don't want to suffer I suggest you answer our questions. Where do you come from? Who are your people? Do you have codes for others places through the Circle? We have many questions. Will you answer?"

"Nope, sorry," Jack said laconically.

Cuchelo turned to me, bending to speak close to my ear, "Will you answer? I could make things much easier for you; make your life more enjoyable if you answer." As he spoke he reached out a finger and drifted it down my cheek and along my jaw. I tried to pull back but Kano placed a foot between my shoulder blades to keep my still as the finger moved onto my neck.

"Oh sure, life with you," I gritted out sarcastically. "And what the hell makes you think I'd be interested in that."

"I'm trying to save you from pain. Give you a chance. Answer!"

Sneering, I turned away without answering him and in doing so I looked towards Jack who was still staring forward with a fixed expression but I saw the nerve in his cheek twitching. I turned forward again, my eyes fixed on the window drapes softly fluttering.

Cuchelo scowled and backed away, pacing in front of us, sipping from his vessel, finally stopping to try another tack.

"If you answer you could still have a good life here. You were the best combatants I have ever taken. The auction is in two days and the best stables will be vying for you. I would take you both myself. You would be valuable to me and I would treat you well. The alternative is torture here in the citadel until you speak and make no mistake, you will answer. Why not spare yourselves the pain? Speak now."

"Not a chance. I so want to spend my life here as a slave!" Jack said disdainfully. "Oh, and don't bother asking him, I'm the leader he just goes where I take him."

Damn you Jack!

"He knows where you come from and who you are," Lendam said with a sly smile. "Maybe we should ask him first, perhaps he will be more willing to talk after..."

"Don't bet on it," I interrupted. Two can play at that game. Jack didn't look at me but I knew he'd be furious with me.

In exasperation, Cuchelo pointed to Jack and said to Kano, "Take him!"

Kano yanked us to our feet and then unlocked our manacles. Oddly, I suddenly felt naked without the chains and I had to refrain from grabbing Jack's hand.

Even I was surprised when Jack suddenly made a grab for Kano and tussled him to the ground. Jack had the upper hand though I had no idea what he expected to achieve, until I saw his hand scrabbling at Kano's belt. I hadn't noticed until then that he was wearing a lienda.

"O'Neill!" a voice boomed out as someone painfully grabbed a handful of my hair and I felt a sharp prick at my neck.

~~~~

"O'Neill, cease now or he will pay the price!"

The voice cut through my anger, the threat stopping me as nothing else could have. Keeping hold of the lienda which was also still held tightly in Kano's grip and shoved under his chin, I slowly turned my head. Cuchelo was holding Daniel by his hair, forcing his head back and holding a sharp blade to his neck. I held Kano to ransom too for if I pressed the trigger under my finger the charge would probably fry his brain. Problem was while I would never endanger Daniel, couldn't say the same for Cuchelo's feelings about Kano.

"O'Neill, release Kano. I know you won't risk Daniel. You feel responsible. He's the reason you are here."

"Of course I feel responsible for him, he is my subordinate," I replied quickly.

He didn't reply at first, just glanced at Kano and then raised his eyes to me and shrugged. He told me without words that he felt no similar responsibility to Kano.

With a feral smile, he said, "Did you think I didn't understand? You went out of your way to be taken when he was chosen. It was more than mere ...responsibility." He pulled again on Daniel's hair so that he grunted as his neck arched uncomfortably then Cuchelo pressed the knife so the tip caused a teardrop of blood to well up.

"You won't kill him. He's too ...valuable to you. You have made your ...interest in his disposition very clear," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

"True," he replied, "but that doesn't mean I won't hurt him if I have to." The knife moved swiftly and Daniel gasped as the blade sliced an inch long cut in his neck. "Now do as I say!"

I'd lost the moment Cuchelo had put the knife to Daniel's neck and we both knew it. I'd attempted a bluff and failed miserably. I released my grip on the weapon and on Kano. As he pulled himself away, Kano suddenly turned and slammed a fist into my stomach and I folded in on myself. He called for the two guards at the door to enter and then he grabbed the neck of my tunic and hauled me to my feet. One of the guards brought forward the manacles that Kano had taken off us only a short time before and began to fasten them one on each wrist and then they grabbed an arm each and dragged me towards a door to my right hand side that I hadn't even noticed.

I managed a glance over my shoulder and saw that Daniel had been released and Kano moved behind him, lienda in hand and prodded him out of the room by the door we'd entered. I gasped a sigh of relief that they were returning him to our cell.

They dragged me into the adjoining room. It was much smaller, though as high and with one window. This one had no drapes and I had a view out over the city. I could see the domed building which housed the Stargate. This room must be at the end of one of the wings of the building facing east if one assumed the main gate faced south. I wracked my brains to bring the city layout to mind based on the trip we had made in the wagon earlier. I had to reverse it in my mind's eye as we had been facing backwards during the journey.

I heard more footsteps and looked up to see both Cuchelo and Lendam enter the room. Cuchelo was carrying a jug and two more drinking vessels and he filled each of them before placing the jug on a small table near the window.

"You would do best to reconsider," said Lendam, sounding almost bored as he took his vessel from Cuchelo.

I turned away and stared out of the window. One of the guards moved to the side of the room and untwisted a rope from its cleat and began to lower a chandelier from overhead. I wondered at first what the hell he was doing until I saw him lift the large hook from the bracket that held the chandelier which he moved to one side. I understood perhaps more than before now the reason for the manacles.

The second guard unhooked the bars of my tunic and pulled it over my head before he prodded me in my now conspicuously naked back with his lienda and pushed me forward where the chain between the manacles was fixed to the large hook. The first guard returned to the wall and pulled on the rope until my arms were at full stretch before winding the rope around the cleat to anchor it again.

"I think the most important question is do you know more codes to travel through the circle?" Lendam asked me.

I said nothing. It was too soon to give them anything and anyway I needed time to find a way to escape. It would be possible to tell them we were Tau'ri; odds are they'd never heard of us. In all the time we'd been prisoners there had never even been any mention the Goa'uld, or any of the races we knew. It seemed most likely they only knew a few addresses and I would only give them the addresses Daniel and I had decided on if it were necessary and only when I decided the time was right. I'd been tortured before and I knew I could take it.

Didn't mean I wasn't afraid, didn't mean I wasn't scared of the pain, just meant that I was trained and I had experienced it enough to know that I could cope. Later, I would have nightmares, later I would need comfort and Daniel would be there for me. I wanted them to concentrate on me; I would do everything I could to keep them away from Daniel as long as possible. He knew, as did I, that they would come for him eventually and we both knew he could cope too. He had, too many times for my peace of mind and he had never broken but I would spare him that again as long as I could. He had nightmares too; I'd held him and comforted him in the past when the demons visited.

Pain seared along my nerves as the whip sliced into my back. Caught unawares as I'd allowed my mind to drift I gasped, clamping my mouth shut to keep the scream inside.

"Do you know more codes?" Lendam repeated the question.

I lifted my head from my chest and looked at him. That was the only answer he was going to get.

This time I heard the swish of the lash and was prepared, keeping my eyes on his face I gritted my teeth as fire flashed across my back. I saw him raise a hand and I gripped the chains that held my wrists as I prepared for another blow.

~~~~

I dreaded leaving Jack behind when Kano forced me out of the room for I knew they were going to torture him for information he would never give. I also knew, of course that it had been his intention all the time that he would be the one they picked on.

On reaching our cell Kano shoved me back inside and I was grateful that he didn't put any chains back on me.

"Don't worry, you won't be lonely for long," he said with a knowing smirk.

He slammed the door and I could hear his chuckle as he left me alone. Were his words just a cruel jest to put fear in my heart or a promise of his master's desire? I had thought myself safe until the auction but that was before I was his prisoner in a dungeon. Oh, Jack, I wish you were here.

Then I was struck by my selfishness. I wanted Jack back for my security when I should want him back for his own safety. What kind of man was I that I should forget even for a second that he was suffering to protect not only me but all the people of my world? Jack was fond of talking about my compassion but he dismissed his own, carelessly suggesting it was but his duty. Duty it may be but the lengths a man was prepared to go to carry out his duty came from within and the wellspring within Jack was bottomless.

He asked me only a few short hours ago why I loved him and I never had the chance to tell him. Come back safe to me Jack and I will not only tell you, I'll show you.

I paced the cell torturing myself as surely as Cuchelo could do with images of what they could be doing to Jack. I had seen what they had done to Canto as punishment for little more than a misdemeanour. What would they do to Jack? I could only hope it wouldn't be too severe as he refused to answer their questions, hoping they wouldn't go too far as they would want to interrogate him again. Of course they had a second prisoner to interrogate too. Interrogate. A word with a strong connotation, more than questioning but less than torture. Words could instil fear because they allowed the mind to create images, imaginings that were sometimes worse than the reality and right now I would rather be under a lash than face this torture of self-creation.

I heard footsteps approaching and for a moment I thought they were bringing him back then I realised it was only the footsteps of one person. Kano?

The cell door opened and Cuchelo stood there. I was surprised to see there was no guard with him. He was wearing his sword but I couldn't see from the way he was slouching in the doorway whether or not he also had a lienda in the holster at the back of his belt.

He pushed off the wall and took a step into my cell. "About time we were alone together don't you think?" he asked and I frowned at the tone of his voice. Then I noticed the bright splotches in his cheeks and recalled the beverage he had been drinking earlier and I was certain now it had been alcoholic.

"Where is Jack?" I asked, trying to keep him back while I thought this through.

"Last time I saw him he was hanging in chains, not looking too good."

"Bastard!" I yelled stalking towards him.

"Mind your place!" he snapped back, pulling out a lienda and aiming it directly at my chest. I stopped suddenly only a few feet away and he smiled. "Better. Now remove the tunic."

I was seething was fury. He'd come from torturing Jack for this but I knew I needed to keep calm, keep control of my emotions.

"By your own rules I'm not yours to touch unless you buy me," I said.

"Yes but these are special circumstances. I brought you two here, Lendam has decided I deserve a reward," he said, a lascivious expression spoiling his features as he looked me up and down. "Now remove the tunic," he repeated waving his weapon at me.

I sagged a little, doing my best to look defeated and twisted my body to unfasten the bars on my left side of my tunic, moving my right foot slightly forward as I did so. Then I repeated the motion to unfasten the right side moving another step forward. Cuchelo's eyes were fixed quite firmly on my movements as I began to pull off the tunic. I lifted it over my head slowly and I could see he was licking his lips; if he was distracted so much the better.

I snapped the tunic down as swiftly as possible whipping it across his hand. I had hoped to dislodge the weapon from his grasp but all I managed to do was knock his hand away but at least he was taken aback and that gave me the essential time I needed. I leapt at him grabbing his hand and forcing the lienda from his grasp. He fought back and the weapon skittered away across the floor.

I turned to go after it and Cuchelo pulled his sword and swung it at me snarling. "You're mine, you're mine. You've been mine since the day I took you!"

I grabbed his sword arm in my left hand forcing it wide, my right hand was placed against his chest keeping him back. "I've never been yours, you bastard and I never will be."

Even as I spoke I wondered why he didn't yell for help, there must be a guard somewhere nearby. He may have had the same thought for he opened his mouth and I quickly lifted my right hand and grasped his throat, squeezing it enough to choke off anything he tried to say.

"Even if you'd bought me in your fucking auction I still wouldn't be yours. I belong to myself." I growled in his face as he struggled against me trying to push me off him.

I kept squeezing and I watched as his eyes went wide, his face began to flush and his mouth opened and closed as he attempted to draw in breath that I wouldn't allow to pass. His fingers slackened and he released the sword to clatter on the hard earth below. He brought his hands up to scrabble feebly at mine to try and get me to release my hold on his throat.

I was surprised to realise I had pushed him up against the wall near the door; I didn't remember moving from the centre of the cell. I felt his hands slide away from mine as his eyes slid shut and he collapsed bonelessly against me.

~~~~

Kano was leading the way with his two cronies dragging me between them, literally. They had hold of my chain and I was only an inch or two above the ground and my back was a sheet of flame. I think I'd slipped into unconsciousness a couple of times as it didn't seem as far to my cell as I'd thought.

I heard an exclamation from Kano and painfully lifted my head. My heart clenched when I saw the door to our cell open. Where was Danny? Had that bastard done something, taken him somewhere? Oh God!

I'd seen Cuchelo leave after the first couple lashes, leaving my tender care in the hands of Lendam and Kano. I was afraid he'd gone after Daniel but decided they couldn't be torturing him because I was pretty sure that would be left to Lendam who seemed to get a real kick out of it.

My real fear was that Cuchelo might have other designs on Daniel - and he was alone.

I was dragged into the cell and dropped onto the floor on my stomach. I gasped against the pain flowing through me and gritting my teeth, I tried to roll onto my side so I could look around the cell.

"Well look what I found," Kano said snidely and I forced myself to turn so I could see what he was talking about.

He was holding up Daniel's tunic and he threw it at me. The pain in my back faded compared to the pain in my chest as I had visions of Cuchelo forcibly taking that off him as a prelude to rape. I picked up the tunic remembering how he'd kept Rubeo at bay for weeks. Of course Rubeo didn't have me chained up under his power at the time and I had this terrible fear that Daniel would do anything to help me.

"He must have taken him somewhere more ...fitting. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll bring him back when he's finished," Kano walked out laughing, locking the door behind him. I could hear them laughing among themselves as they walked away.

I pressed the tunic to my face breathing in his scent, praying that he was safe. Carefully I studied the cell for any more clues. There was nothing, nothing at all. Oh Daniel, where the hell are you?

Just then I heard the lock being turned again and I just couldn't bear any more of Kano's idea of humour. Then I realised it could be Cuchelo bringing Daniel back and I struggled to my knees.

The door opened just a crack and Daniel slipped inside.

"Daniel," I gasped, drinking in the sight of him.

"Oh Jack!" He hurried over to me, taking in the bruises on my face, my arms and the state of my back. I didn't know how many lashes I'd received. Lendam kept breaking up the punishment, asking questions, changing tack. "Bastards!" he said angrily.

"S'okay, I'm okay. I was scared for you," I sighed reaching up to touch him just to make sure he was really there, "but it's all right Daniel, I love you, it doesn't matter," I whispered and I meant it. I was desperately sorry but it didn't change a thing. I loved him whatever.

He frowned even as he leaned into my caress then his brow cleared and he smiled. "It is all right, I'm fine. Really. He never got to lay a finger on me."

Other than being minus his tunic he looked fine, breathing a little quickly but fine. I suddenly realised I could breathe again.

"Here, put this on," I said handing him his tunic. While it was nice to see him looking so ...so edible it was hardly practical. He quickly shrugged it on.

"Look, I'm sorry I know you're hurting but can you move?" he asked, "Just to the next cell?"

I was puzzled but suddenly I no longer cared about the pain. I smiled, "Yeah, I can."

He ducked between my chains pulled one of my arms across his shoulders and held it there as he put his other arm around my waist to take some of my weight and avoid the worst of the damage to my back. My other arm crossed his chest and I was holding onto his waist and just the feel of him in my arms made me feel safe. Odd that, I always thought I protected him but this time it was as if our roles were reversed, or at least shared equally. I smiled at the thought, a partnership in every sense.

When we reached the door he carefully peeked out to check the passage was empty then he carefully manoeuvred me into the next cell, where I was pleasantly surprised to find Cuchelo laid out, unconscious and tied up, gagged with strips from his cloak.

"And I was worried about you!" I grinned.

"Been telling you for years I can look after myself," he grinned back at me. "Unfortunately I don't know what to do with him now. They're gonna come looking for him soon. And this is hardly a good hiding place."

"Kano assumed he'd taken you off somewhere so it may be sometime before anyone goes looking for him," I pondered, thinking how we could use this to our advantage. "This cell," I said glancing at the door, "how did you get in here?"

"I found a large key on his belt and tried it. I think it must fit all the cells. Why?"

"We can lock him in here, lock our cell too. Confuse 'em."

"But what good does that do?" he frowned.

"Because I might have found a chance for us to escape. When they took me into the other room to ...interrogate me I got an opportunity to look out the window. I could see beyond this place into the city; I could see the Gate building."

"But how the hell can we get back into that room? We can't possibly go through the other room and..."

"Don't need to, they dragged me out another door directly onto the passageway. If we can get back there maybe we can get out of that window. There'll be a risk, don't know what they'll do to us if they catch us escaping but I know what they'll do if we stay."

"Can you make it, Jack? Your back..."

"I'll make it. I've had worse." Can't tell him I'd do anything to stop them torturing him, he'd be furious.

"Okay, Jack," he said taking me at my word. He paced a moment, thinking. "I can see we could probably hide as we go down the passageway but there could be anyone in that room."

"I don't think so. It was like a small anteroom, looked mostly unused. It was dusty and there were no drapes."

"And you saw the Gate building?"

"Yeah, I don't think it's too far. Just need to keep a low profile."

"Need to lose the chains then. I wonder if any of these other keys fit," Daniel said, fiddling with a bunch of them on a small ring. "This one looks familiar."

He looked at me and blew out a breath nervously before licking his lips.

"Tease," I said, not really meaning it as I knew it was just nerves but I wanted to lighten his tension and when he laughed I realised I needed it too. Just watching him laugh was enough for me to feel the pressure flow from me.

He tried the key in the lock of the manacles and we both breathed a sigh of relief when they slipped from my wrists.

"Now, you need to wear something. I'll get this tunic off Cuchelo," he said. He quickly untied his captive's hands, took the tunic off and then re-tied him. "I know it's gonna hurt like crazy having this next to your injuries but there's nothing else."

"I know. I'll just have to suck it up." To distract him I asked, "Daniel, how exactly did you knock him out?"

"With the pommel of his own sword," he replied casually and I burst out laughing.

"That was the second time," he added with a sheepish grin. "The first time I choked him until he passed out. I carried him in here and he began to groan. I knew I needed him out for quite a time so..."

"Oh wait till I tell Carter and Teal'c! Your cover is definitely blown. I always suspected those glasses. You're really Clark Kent aren't you?"

He flushed and giggled. It was wonderful. Then he quickly thrust the tunic at me.

"Er, can you help?" I asked.

~~~~

So far we'd been lucky. Only once had we heard anyone moving in this direction and, as Jack had suggested, most of the cells were empty and we ducked into the nearest one. The only problem was if they were going to our cell because then the alarm would be raised.

We waited. Jack said it would be safer to see if they raised the alarm or not. We talked very quietly while we waited, making plans.

We discussed where to go if ...when we finally reached the Gate. There was something of a problem. We had no GDO so we couldn't Gate directly home to Earth.

"What about going back to PS4, our packs and stuff were left there, with the GDOs?" I queried.

"I thought about that," Jack said softly, "but we've been missing for over three weeks and I'm pretty sure that the SGC would've retrieved everything long since."

"Yeah, I thought maybe... So that leaves somewhere we can get help to get home, somewhere nice and friendly where they can contact the SGC for us."

"Or maybe it would just be easier to go to the Alpha Site," Jack said smugly.

"Damn I knew you'd say that! I had this lovely vision of a little illicit nooky that we can't possibly indulge in at the Alpha Site," I sighed.

"God, you'd tempt the angels," he growled sending a shiver directly to my groin.

"Luckily you're no angel," I sighed, breathing into his face and he pulled me in for a quick kiss. He thought I missed the little grimace of pain but I decided now was not the time to mention it.

"We go to the Alpha Site; I want to be home with you as soon as possible." I gasped as he released me.

"We go now, enough time has passed," he said huskily.

We hurried on towards the room which Jack said wasn't far now.

I was afraid because our luck was running too good after all these weeks of nothing but bad luck. I just hoped our time had come.

Jack cautiously listened at the narrow door and he gave me a quick nod to let me know it was safe and then he carefully opened the door. Quickly he slipped inside and I followed him closing the door behind me. On an impulse I checked Cuchelo's key ring and found one that fit the lock and turned it. It would gain us more time if they tracked us down to here. While I'd been doing that Jack had tip-toed to the other entrance, the one leading into the larger room next door. He listened very carefully and then pressed a finger to his lips before creeping back to me.

Whispering he said, "I'm not sure if anyone is in there, I think I may have heard something but it was very faint. I could be mistaken."

"Can't take a chance. I can't risk locking it either," I whispered back.

He nodded and placed a finger to his lips again. No more talking. I nodded.

We walked very quietly to the window and I saw the domed building immediately. It seemed so close but I knew that was deceptive. I looked out at the immediate vicinity to see if the area was guarded but it seemed to be a small garden leading down to a gate in the centre of a low wall. At least the window was on the ground floor and I was so relieved to find it wasn't barred. It was very similar to a sash window in that there was a central catch so that either the top or bottom half could be opened and locked in that position or the catch could lock the window closed from the inside. It was just a matter of undoing the catch and pushing the lower half upwards and then climbing out.

Course it wasn't that easy was it? The catch was jammed. It would take a bit of strength to force it but the real concern was noise. I whispered to Jack that I would try it, didn't think his back was in a fit state for something like that and I pointed to the adjoining door and he went to listen again. He shook his head to indicate he couldn't hear anything and I using the edge of my tunic for a better grip I put all the pressure I could bring to bear on the catch. I was dreading any grinding or screeching noise from it, what I wouldn't have given for a can of oil right then.

It began to move - to the accompanying song of screeching. I froze. Jack signalled to keep going. I turned it again and now it was just a low grind that eased as the catch freed and the window was released. Jack hurried over as I pushed it open and looked out to see if there were any guards visible but there was still no one in sight.

We lowered ourselves to the ground and keeping low we moved along the wall of the building until it adjoined the garden wall. It was quiet but there were a few windows overlooking this side of the building and we knew that once we left the lee of the building we'd be exposed should anyone look out but there was nothing we could do about it. We couldn't even risk waiting for darkness. We had to go now though it was barely dusk in case Cuchelo's absence was questioned and our escape discovered.

In the relative safety of the blind corner between the building and the wall, Jack was keeping a careful eye out while I scaled the wall, just enough so I could peek over the top as we needed some idea of what was on the other side. It wouldn't do any good to walk in on a busy area full of guards. After a quick glance I slid down.

"We're in luck, it just seems to be another small courtyard and there is another gate that I think may, hopefully, lead out into the city."

"No-one there at all?" Jack asked.

"Just a woman who is cleaning a huge cauldron, it could back onto the kitchens but that's the opposite end from the gate."

"Right, so assuming this gate here is open we just walk through as if we belong and head straight for the gate. It's a risk Daniel," he said looking hard at me.

"I'm not staying here, Jack so we take the risk. Just so we're together. That was the worst part of being in the training school."

"I know. Together. Always?" he murmured.

"Always," I whispered and let my eyes add the rest.

We moved quickly and quietly along the wall until we reached the gate. With a quick glance at me Jack tried the latch, which worked perfectly and it easily swung open. I held in check my momentary fear that it had been too easy and followed Jack through. We walked, unhurried, toward the other gate talking quietly, trying to look as if we belonged. The woman was still working, kneeling in the grass outside the door, presumably to the kitchen and there was no one else in sight.

Reaching the other gate I quickly squeezed Jack's hand. Don't know why I did that but the return squeeze and the flash of a smile on Jack's face was worth it.

He reached for the latch again and the butterflies in my stomach decided it would be a good time to have a dance.

"Hot damn!" Jack whispered as the gate opened without a sound.

We stood facing a long alleyway that sloped down gradually to one of the wide streets of the city. Walking through we closed the gate behind us.

Jack turned to me and let out a low whistle.

~~~~

We were free, almost.

Just a short walk through an enemy alien city, trying to reach the Stargate that may or may not be guarded; it had been difficult to tell when we arrived as we were surrounded by the raiding party.

At least we were armed; I had the lienda and Daniel was wearing the sword.

We walked boldly down the alleyway and I knew that at the end we needed to turn right into the heart of the city. I had a picture in my head of where the domed building was though of course the actual route would depend on the lay out of the streets. I had an exceptional sense of direction and knew I could find it. We just needed enough time to get there before our escape was discovered. I doubted it could be much longer, just something as simple as a meal being delivered to the cell and all could be lost.

Please, whatever deity watches over deserving archaeologists and their flawed but devoted colonels, keep an eye on us a little bit longer.

At the end of the alleyway we confidently turned right and I was relieved that there were few people on this particular street. Ambling down the centre was a large wagon loaded with barrels and as it passed the driver cheerfully raised his hat in greeting. As we weren't wearing any headgear we each gave a nod and the man smiled and carried on past. Daniel glanced at me and I could see the relief in his eyes.

It wasn't too far now to the Stargate and the fading light as dusk approached was to our advantage. A couple were approaching us and Daniel politely moved out of their way dropping into place behind me.

We walked on a few more paces when he moved up alongside me again and quietly asked, "Is your back hurting again?"

"Hasn't really stopped but it's no worse. Why?"

"Because the back of your tunic is blood stained. Luckily it's not a lot yet but thank goodness for this half-light. You probably have to be real close to notice."

"It'll be all right, Danny," I said with a smile. "Almost there." No way was I going to let on that I was concerned too, things had gone almost too well.

We walked along for about another thirty minutes and I was relaxing again, no sign of any hue and cry, no guards patrolling the streets; just ordinary people going from one place to the next and paying no attention to two more strangers among them. I was getting confident. That alone should've told me it was going too well.

It was just one more turn to the left and half way along the next street. So close and then we heard the sound of marching feet. They weren't coming from the citadel though but from ahead near the domed building. Change of guard, or merely city patrol? Either was dangerous, not a risk we could afford to take.

Daniel suddenly grabbed my arm and pointed to a store just ahead. It was dark, no sign of anybody beyond the hoarding. Their stores had open fronts with the wares on display with awnings over the top and down the sides. The awnings were folded in and fastened securely. There was an entrance at the side and we made our way there. It wasn't difficult to force the surprisingly weak hasp and bar that was used to lock the wooden door.

We quickly slipped inside as the sound of marching feet came nearer. I leaned against the door letting the pounding of my heart slow down and I watched as Daniel made his way forward towards the awnings. It was mostly by feel as very little light penetrated inside from what was left in the dusk outside.

"I think they're heading this way," he said quietly looking in my direction, his eyes bright in the dimness.

Without remembering that I'd moved I was drawn like a moth to his flame.

There was little room between the display stands in the store and I stood just beside and partially behind him. He'd turned back, pressing an ear to the awning to listen and I leaned in to try and hear too but the senses that leapt to life in me had little to do with hearing.

I could smell his skin, warm and earthy, filling my nostrils. I could feel the softness of his hair as it brushed against my cheek; hear nothing but the soft puffs of air as he slowly breathed in and out. I couldn't stop myself as I turned my head just a fraction and let my lips brush across his neck and the taste of him was my undoing as fire raced along my nerves and my cock awoke to the explosion. I put my arms around him pulling him back as one hand moved lazily over his chest. He dropped his head back on my shoulder, towards me as he began kissing my neck.

I pressed myself even closer to him and marvelled how well my groin fit against his ass. He murmured against my neck as he pressed himself back into me, grinding, driving me insane with his movements.

I moaned deep in my throat as my mouth sought his and we kissed passionately, tongues duelling, tasting. He moaned, pulling out of the kiss, gasping as he twisted to turn around in my arms. For a moment I thought something was wrong until he plastered himself against me, dragging me closer, searching for my mouth again even as his groin rubbed against mine.

Even through two layers of clothes we were both hard and desperate. My hands were on his waist now and I was pulling him tight against me, making circular movements with my hips as our tongues stabbed in and out of each other's mouths, a dance our bodies couldn't yet perform.

We both froze, shaking with thwarted emotion as a loud voice yelled just outside the awning. Daniel's eyes went wide as he broke the kiss and dropped his head on my chest. I held him close as I listened to the commotion outside.

The patrol had been coming this way, even closer than we'd expected and the voice was the commander splitting up his patrol into four sections. It seemed even more likely now it was a city patrol and not one specifically for the Gate building. I waited a few more minutes, partly for the patrol to leave the area and partly for us to calm down.

My own erection had subsided when that voice had cut the air and I suspect Daniel's had too though it had taken longer for his breathing to settle. He looked up at me then and I was pleased to see a rueful smile grace his features.

"Wasn't exactly the best timing, was it?" I said apologetically.

"No but ...damn we've waited so long."

"So we wait a little longer, it'll be worth it."

A brilliant smile was my only answer but it was more than enough.

As soon as I was sure it was clear we left the store and walked openly once again towards the domed building. The streets were even emptier now and I was concerned in case there was some kind of curfew, feeling grateful that we were so close now.

Leading the way cautiously up the steps to the apparently empty building, there were no guards patrolling, no light blazing over the entrance, nothing but the dark empty cavern of the open archway. I edged along the wall towards the entrance, listening for a pin to drop. Nothing. I glanced at Daniel just behind and he nodded.

I swallowed my concern and slipped around the lintel into the darkness, Daniel right behind. I waited there until my eyes adjusted. There was a small foyer and another arch beyond and I was surprised to see a dim light through the second arch. I moved forward slowly, eyes darting everywhere. I still found it hard to believe there was no hue and cry yet about our escape. I could only assume that they hadn't intended to feed us that evening and that Cuchelo's whereabouts hadn't yet become a concern. I prayed our luck would hold.

I entered the Gateroom and discovered the illumination came from two light sources, one each side of the Gate. They resembled two huge torches, at least two metres in height but the flame was a representation. On closer inspection it was more like a flame-shaped container filled with white light.

"More technology that I suspect belonged to the previous inhabitants," Daniel whispered.

I nodded. "You know the address for the Alpha Site?"

"No, do you?" he grinned, heading for the DHD.

"It just happens it's one of those I do know," I answered with my eyebrows raised. I could do clever as well.

"You wanna dial?"

"No, I like to watch you do it."

He frowned, "Why?"

"Well," I said, making my way up behind him. "I like the way you sometimes have to lean right across the DHD to hit certain glyphs."

"Yeah? You mean like this?" he said leaning over to hit the first glyph, twisting to watch me.

I shrugged, which proved to be a mistake as pain sheeted across my back, though I hid it from Daniel until he turned back to the DHD. I fought the pain down before stepping right behind him.

He hit the next five glyphs then, keeping his back to me, he leaned as far over as he could to reach the last glyph. It was actually one on the inner row not far from the central crystal.

I got the message and leaned over his body, grinding into him. "Tease," I muttered.

"Just making sure you're still up for it when we finally get home," he laughed.

"Oh, I'm more than up for it," I said, regretfully pulling back. "Press the crystal Dr. Jackson."

He did and the Gate burst into life and we ran for it.

~~~~

We emerged from the Gate to a semi-circle of P90s aimed directly at us.

"Well, how's that for a welcome!" Jack declared, carefully raising his hands and I followed suit.

One of the SFs cocked his weapon. "Who the hell are you and how did you get this address?"

"Well, Captain, I know I'm out of uniform but still I thought you'd recognise me." Jack really sounded put out and I bit my lip so as not to laugh.

"Is that really you, sir?" a voice called from behind the troops.

"Major Weaver, good to see you and yes it's me, it's us," he added, pulling me against to his side. "Escaped from ...well God knows where actually but we're back!"

"The SGC has been searching for you and Dr. Jackson for weeks. I think the General officially declared you MIA a couple of days ago. He will be so relieved you are back and in good health."

"Not exactly, Major," I interjected, "the Colonel has been injured and needs immediate attention."

"Of course, our infirmary might not compare to the SGC's but I am sure we can help..."

"Thank you but I can manage until we get back to Earth. If you would contact General Hammond and arrange it immediately."

"Yes sir," Weaver replied, turning back hurriedly towards one of the small buildings forming the Alpha Site base.

"Jaaack, surely it..."

"The General needs to know and so do our friends," he said quietly.

God, how could I have forgotten how worried they would be. I'd been so wrapped up in my own feelings of relief that I hadn't given a thought to Sam or Teal'c, Hammond, Fraiser and so many others.

Jack must have been aware of my consternation for he said quietly, "It's all right, Daniel, there's nothing wrong in feeling relief. It's not selfish, it's natural. Now we go home and share our relief with our friends."

I smiled. "Relief includes treatment Jack, no arguments with the Doc, please." I moved closer knowing how circumspect we needed to be now we were back in the military world and said quietly, "I know you want to get home as soon as possible but I won't allow you to risk your health."

We'd reached the control room and found Weaver already talking to the General.

"Yes sir, they are here now. Colonel?" he invited Jack to the microphone and standing behind him I looked at the computer screen to see the smiling face of General Hammond.

"It's good see you both, come through immediately. There are quite a few people who will be very happy to hear this news."

"Thank you, sir, see you in a minute."

Travelling through the wormhole twice in such a short time tended to leave me a little disoriented and I was just getting a grip on myself when I heard the General's voice.

"Well, gentleman I can't tell you how good it is to have you back. I'm sure the debriefing will be very interesting but I understand the first order of business is the infirmary."

"Yes sir," I said quickly, cutting off any comment from Jack. "Jack was whipped and we had no opportunity to even clean it, let alone dress it."

"Don't make a fuss, Daniel, it's..."

"Dr. Jackson is quite correct, Colonel. Get yourselves off the infirmary immediately. I will arrange the debrief dependant on Dr. Fraiser's report."

"I'm gonna make sure to mention your bruises, Daniel. Oh and that cut to your neck. If I have to suffer Fraiser's tender mercies then so do you."

Smiling I said softly, "Rather her tender mercies than those bastards back there."

The look in his eye expressed the words he could not say.

We neared the infirmary when a bright voice assailed our ears. "It's true, thank God!" and we both turned to see Carter hurrying along the corridor towards us.

"It's so good to see you, sir and you too Daniel. We've been so worried. We didn't have any idea what'd happened to you."

"Thanks, Sam," I said returning her smile, "but we need to get Jack to the Doc."

"Sir?"

"It's okay, Daniel's is just fussing," he said, summarily dismissing my concerns.

"No, Daniel is not fussing," I snapped back. "Jack, your back is a mess and you know it. You can stop being brave now, we're home."

Not sure what he'd have said to that because just then we turned into the infirmary doors and Janet was waiting for us, obviously having been warned by the General.

"What happened to your back, Colonel?" Dr. Fraiser asked, her voice all business, her face alight with a smile of welcome.

While Jack was being checked over by Janet she sent me off to be examined too. I tried to avoid it by telling her that Jack was the one who was hurt and I started to say I was fine but Jack put paid to that fine act of diversion by chiming in 'I'm fine' in concert with me.

Laughing, Janet turned me around and gave me a small shove before pulling the curtain around Jack's bed.

I was cleared, other than a few cuts and bruises and while I was waiting Sam came back with Teal'c in tow this time.

"It is good to see you well DanielJackson," he said with the nearest thing to a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. "I trust O'Neill is not too badly injured."

"Yeah, Daniel how is he? What happened to the Colonel's back?"

"They tried to make him talk and when he wouldn't they tortured him. Whipped him," I couldn't keep the anger from my voice.

"They have no honour," Teal'c said, his voice quiet but I knew every one of his non-expressions and I was only sorry I didn't know the Gate address to the Brascia world.

Jack's rising voice brought me back to the here and now and I marched down the infirmary to Jack's curtained off bed, Carter and Teal'c at my heels.

"For crying out loud, Doc, I've spent the better part of three weeks locked up and chained and the last thing I want to do now is spend time cooped up under this mountain. I just wanna go home. Can't you bandage it and give me some pills or something."

"Colonel, I gather it happened hours ago and you're damned lucky you managed to keep it fairly clean but you need more than a bandage and a few pills..."

"Aw Doc!"

"Janet?" I asked.

She pulled the curtain back a little and I could clearly see Jack's back as he sat on the bed. She had obviously cleaned it as the cuts and welts could be clearly seen now that most of the blood had been washed away.

I heard a gasp and realised Sam had seen too.

"Yes?" asked the Doc, irritated at the interruption.

"Sorry but I ...well could I not take him home and look after him. I would..."

"Not this time, Daniel. It looks fine but I need to take some bloods and swabs to confirm that and I want to keep an eye on him for a few days," she turned her attention from me to give Jack the steely eye as she said this.

"Janet?" Sam spoke up. "Couldn't Jacob help perhaps?"

"Jacob? He's here?" I asked, hope blooming. I had felt a twinge of guilt at putting my personal desires - and Jack's it had to be admitted - before his health but I had teased Jack and felt a twinge of guilt for that too considering his condition.

"Yes," Sam answered excitedly, "when we couldn't find you I asked the General if I could contact the Tok'ra to see if they could help. Dad came in answer and he worked really hard contacting anyone he could think of but we just had no clues, and the natives couldn't tell us anything beyond that you'd been taken through the Gate."

I only took in Sam's answer vaguely after the pronouncement that Jacob was here on the base. I looked at Sam and then Janet and then I caught Jack's eye as he looked at me over his shoulder.

"The healing device," I said softly.

"You want me to let 'em use a Goa'uld device on me?" Jack frowned.

I knew only too well Jack's opinion of the Tok'ra, he didn't think much more of them than he did of the Goa'uld.

"Jack, it's fine. It's Jacob, you can trust Jacob. You'll be healed enough to leave the mountain then. Janet?"

"Very well, if he is willing."

No one but me saw the look of gratitude in Jack's eye as they stood with their backs turned to him.

~~~~

Once I got over my initial misgivings, I could've kissed Daniel for getting Jacob to heal me and get out of the infirmary stat. Well, of course I could kiss Daniel on principle; on his lips, on his nipples, on his ...oh God if I keep thinking like that I'll be too hard to get out of his car.

"Err, Daniel I thought we were going to my place."

"We are, Jack. Just need to pick up something. Wait here, I won't be a moment."

"I can come..."

"No, no, it's fine. I know your back is still a little stiff," Daniel said. Leaning back in he added in a husky voice, "Save your strength for later, you're gonna need it."

He smiled and walked away and I was left gasping for breath. The little shit! Though he did leave me with time some time to think up nice ways to use that strength I was saving.

He wasn't gone long and he came back carrying a bag and a parcel. I guessed the bag contained a change of clothes and toiletries. The parcel looked very makeshift, long and narrow but when I asked him what it was he just said it was a surprise. Naturally that plagued my mind for the rest of the trip to my place.

When we finally closed my door we merely stood looking at each other.

"Right," Daniel said too cheerfully, "why don't you get comfortable and I'll make us coffee."

"Shouldn't that be my line?" I asked with a smile.

"I know my way around your kitchen, you know the way to the sofa."

"Smart ass!"

He brought our drinks through, strong and black and set the mugs down on the coffee table. He sat on the chair opposite and I raised my eyebrow.

"It's suddenly all very real," he said in a soft voice.

I knew exactly what he meant. No more needing to run or to hide, no more being kept apart unable to acknowledge how we feel. So very, very real. I swallowed - and panicked.

"What's in the parcel?" I asked suddenly.

"Ah," he smiled and walked over to the dining table where I put his stuff and began to open it up. "You may remember a certain comment that a certain Air Force colonel could beat his archaeologist with a sword if they'd been fighting for real?" He suddenly threw me a weapon not dissimilar from the ones we'd used on Brascia. "I don't think so!" he added with a grin. "On guard, Colonel."

~~~~

As he plucked the weapon expertly out of the air, he asked, "You seriously think you can beat me?" his eyes glittering with more than just a challenged ego.

My heart was racing as we faced off. He made a few quick movements with the sword to limber up his wrist and I followed suit. Suddenly he attacked; a twisted smile on his face. I blocked and grinned back at him. We went on like that for a couple of minutes feeling each other out, making quick moves and each blocking the other. I knew exactly what I wanted and I just needed to move him around slightly and then press my moves. He was good, I was better.

I flicked my wrist and turned his sword so that he had to take a half-turn and step back and I kept at him, pushing him back slowly step by step until I succeeded in beating his defence and placing my point against the hollow in his throat, just as his back touched the wall behind him. Jack's breath was panting through his lips but it wasn't fear. His eyes glittered at me, full of passion and desire.

Slowly, oh so slowly I moved the sword infinitesimally back and down his shirt until it reached the first button and with a flick of my wrist the sword sent it flying. He gasped and I looked up to see his eyes sparkling. I dragged my attention back to his shirt and sliced another button off, watching as his chest rose and fell with anticipation.

Finally, all the buttons were gone, the shirt fell open and my eyes feasted on his proud nipples as they peaked from within a forest of wiry silver hair and I couldn't resist reaching out to feel it as I leaned in to finally capture his lips.

Suddenly I felt something hard at my waist and my first thought was waylaid as he said huskily, harshly, "Stand back!"

I looked down as I took a small step backwards to see his sword at my waist. My breath caught in my throat and I raised my eyes to his dark, lust filled ones and my breath expelled in a whoosh.

"You made a mistake," he said gruffly, "you should've disarmed me. Now drop the sword."

I complied, keeping eye contact all the while. He reached out with his free hand and unfastened the prong of my belt but then moved his hand up and began to unbutton my shirt.

When it was hanging open he said softly, "Keep very still."

I could hardly breathe as he very carefully slipped just the tip of the blade between the belt and the buckle and prised it lose with a quick flip and I shivered at the sound as my belt flipped open.

"Now," he growled, eyes narrowing, "unzip ...slowly."

Hands shaking I obeyed, each snick of a tooth raising my awareness of the man standing so close to me.

"Remove the pants ...and the boxers," he whispered.

I stripped slowly, enjoying the power that surged through me at the sight of Jack licking his lips as he watched me.

"You know," I said in a low voice, "what I did to Cuchelo when he held a sword to my throat?" I hesitated to let him think about it. "I almost throttled the life from him."

He looked steadily at me and I felt he was looking for my soul.

Very softly, he said, "My life is yours; do with it as you will."

My mouth was dry as I stared at him, this most remarkable man, so strong, so unafraid, so committed - to me. I fell in love with him all over again.

I pushed the sword aside and he dropped it as I plastered my body against him, slamming him back against the wall as I did so, my hand grappling with his belt as my mouth crushed his. He moaned as he opened up to me, tongue thrusting out to meet mine. I don't remember removing his pants I just know I was grinding against his naked body and he was pushing back against me. I was holding his hands above his head and it was only then I realised we were still both wearing our shirts. I leaned in and devoured his nipples, first one then the other and he growled deep in his throat, murmuring my name.

Suddenly he fought his hands free and swung me around until I was the one against the wall and he was leaning into me his teeth fastened on my neck. The sensation shot straight to my groin and I didn't think I could last much longer.

"Jack, ohgodohgod, what you do to me. Oh God!"

"Can't take much ...more, you're killing me. Waited ...waited too long for you."

He thrust his body against mine, grinding, grinding against me and I fought to thrust back but I seemed to have lost control of my body. It began in my toes and raced up my legs, heat gathering, soaring inside me.

"I'm coming...coming. Jaaaaack, please, ohgodohgod."

Jack sighed, that was all, just a simple sigh as he shot over my stomach and I exploded, my seed mixing with his. Then everything slipped away and I was sliding.

~~~~

Looking at him as he lay there trying to control his breathing I still found it hard to believe that he could love me but no way was I gonna question my good luck. The desperation that had just overwhelmed us was hardly surprising after three weeks of forced denial and though it had been great sex, pounding into each other against my living room wall, it wasn't how I wanted to show Daniel that I loved him.

"Well," he said, still sounding a little breathless, "that was certainly ...exciting."

I laughed. "Did kinda lose it there but boy was it good!"

"Yeah," he said, looking sheepish, "but quicker than I had in mind."

"A bit different I'll give you that, swords as foreplay." I smiled, reaching down to pull him to his feet. "You've been thinking about that a lot?"

"It did seem to play a part in some of my nocturnal fantasies over the last few weeks," he grinned at me, "Along with some others."

"Want to try out one of mine? Useful too. Love to see you in the shower," I added huskily.

"Oooh, shower fantasy. So not back there obviously, where then, the SGC showers? Kinky!"

"No, actually. Here, my shower. Occasionally, at the SGC I managed to ...see you in the showers, just a glance, you know," I shrugged, "I loved the way the water moved over your body and later I would imagine it was my hands and I..."

"Oh God, Jack stop talking. Show me!"

We made it to my bathroom in record time and I turned on the water to let it heat up. Turning to finish undressing I saw Daniel stripping off his shirt. He dropped it in the corner and turned.

"What you waiting for?" he asked puzzled that I was just standing there still wearing mine.

"Just enjoying the scenery," I murmured. It was funny I'd seen him naked before, lots of times but never like this. Never just for me because he wanted to. I felt privileged.

"You can enjoy it just as well from here," he said moving to stand directly in front of me, so our chests were almost touching, his cock brushing against mine as arousal swept through me again. I crushed him to me and kissed him passionately, hands reaching to feel the smooth silk of his back. I felt his hands pushing my shirt from my shoulders and down my arms until he twisted the material holding my wrists trapped in my shirt.

He broke the kiss and I gasped at the passionate look in his eyes, "Wanted you like this for so long, at my mercy, doing just what I want, what I need."

Gasping at the idea, I whispered, "What is it you need, Danny?"

"You, inside me, owning you by your need. You do need me, don't you Jack?"

"Oh God yeah but don't you know you already own me, body and soul, heart and mind."

"And you say you're not romantic. Sappy Jack, sappy but you can tell me anyway you like that you love me. Just don't couch it in sappy names."

"Aw, I can't call you snookums then?"

"You do and you'll be pleasuring yourself!"

"I'll behave I promise," I laughed. "Is that offer still open?" I asked softly.

"You have a fantasy to show me."

We got under the nicely warm water and I picked up a wash cloth and the shower gel and gently began to wash his body. Daniel turned his back to me and I drew the soft cloth over the contours of his body and for a moment I was back in that fantasy, watching the water as it cascaded over his shoulders outlining his wonderful form. I watched for real now as it formed rivulets in the suds, sliding down his back and over his buttocks, some down his legs, others finding their way into his cleft.

Finding my voice with difficulty I asked him to turn round and I soaped his chest, paying particular attention to his nipples and cleaning off the last remnants of our earlier sex. I heard Daniel moan softly and I looked up to see his eyes closed tightly and his head thrown back a little. I smiled at the picture he made and returned my gaze to his body. His cock was nicely full and bobbing as he rocked slightly against my movements as I washed his stomach and hips, purposely leaving his cock alone. I dropped to my knees so I could wash his long legs, marvelling at the well defined contours of his muscles. I had to tap his foot a couple of times to get him to raise it so I could wash each one. I loved his feet, long and sinuous.

"Jack please, please," he murmured.

His cock was hard now, standing out from his body, the head purple with a pearl of semen at its tip. I dropped the cloth and ran my hands up his legs until I cupped his buttocks and then holding him firmly I licked the come from his cock and he shuddered. I kissed the head before licking along its length and then taking it into my mouth, inch by inch. I felt his hands in my hair, brushing back and forth in time with his mutterings. I smiled and swallowed him whole.

He gasped and bucked and I had to hold him still as my hands slid up to his waist as I licked and sucked and nipped at the tender skin. His hips moved gently and I returned one hand to his buttocks ghosting over the cleft searching for his opening.

He was moaning almost continually now, sometimes just repeating my name, or using words I didn't recognise and I guessed were sexually explicit curses in a variety of languages. His hands in my hair were still now, just holding me in place as my mouth worked his cock. My finger was circling his hole now and his muttering had stopped completely, all I could hear was his soft moans. I could tell he was near and I pulled back, nibbled at the tip and took a quick breath before taking him in as far as I could, sucking for all I was worth while at the same time inserting a finger inside.

His ass clenched, back arched and with a howl he shot down my throat. I swallowed and swallowed, tasting him for the first time. It was a little bitter but it was Daniel and I wanted him inside me in every way possible.

I released him as he softened and I moved carefully as he was supporting his shaky body by leaning his hands on my shoulders. I looked up to see his eyes open again and he was looking down at me. I smiled hesitantly. It had been a long time since I'd done that and while I thought I'd done a pretty good job...

"All right?" I asked.

"Fantastic," he whispered. "I'm surprised I'm still on my feet." Smiling, he asked, "You?"

Rising to my feet slowly, I looked down at myself. "Think I could do with some help with this," I indicated my aching cock.

"Help yourself," he said huskily as he turned to face the shower attachment, reaching to hold himself steady as he spread his legs.

"Oh my god," I murmured as he presented himself to me like a gift. I reached out to caress his buttocks when it hit me, "Damn, lube! I don't have any. "

"Don't care, use whatever you've got," he said desperately.

Years of training kicked in, alternatives, what did I..."Massage oil!" I almost leapt across the bathroom to the cabinet and snatched the small bottle. I poured some on my fingers and stroked it over his buttocks and I felt him relax into the motions. He dropped his head between his arms and pushed himself towards me. I slipped one finger inside and stretched his opening, soon adding a second. I was surprised that he wasn't tighter but I guess he was still on something of a high, after all he'd come twice in the last half-hour.

"Come on, Jack, I'm dying here," he muttered.

"Not gonna hurt you, Daniel. I'm not that fucking Rubeo!"

"No, I'd've broken his fingers if he as much as touched me. Told him that. Don't wanna talk about him now; get in there Jack, please."

"Okay, okay." I slicked myself, carefully. I was so damned ready I was about to explode. Took a few deep breaths to get control. "Ready?"

"Willing and able," he said with a wiggle of his hips.

I positioned my cock against his opening, licking my lips at the idea of what I was about to do and then with a firm push I was inside his tight ass. "Oh God, you feel so fucking wonderful."

"Come on, don't stop now!"

I pushed again and he was so tight, "Let go Danny, let me in."

He breathed slowly and I felt him consciously relax his muscles and then I slid in and I heard a gasp but I didn't know if it was him or me. I took hold of his shoulders and pulled out again slowly and then I pushed back in one smooth movement until I could feel my balls slapping his ass.

I suddenly realised where I was, almost as if I was watching myself as I joined my body with Daniel's, losing myself in the man I loved, not knowing where I ended and he began. The vision in my mind's eye slammed through me and I gasped at the erotic image and becoming aware of myself again, I slammed into his body and he cried out.

"Fuck! Ohgodohgod, do that again, please do that again."

I grinned realising what I'd done, found the little magic button deep inside. I angled my hips and tried again and judging from his moans and his thrusting back against me I guess I did do that again.

I'd found the perfect rhythm now, I was in heaven and I think Daniel was with me if his reactions were any indication. It was everything I'd dreamed it could be between us but so much better because it was no longer a dream. This was real, so very real. It was perfect.

~~~~

Oh God, I could hardly believe the sensations rolling through me, from the top of my head to my tips of my toes, fire raced through my veins. I was seeing stars shooting behind my eyelids and it was the most deliciously unrestrained feeling in the world. I was flying, my feet were on the ground but I was flying!

Jack was lost now, pounding into me as if there was nothing else in the world and perhaps there wasn't, not for us. We were one as we were meant to be.

"Gonna come, gonna come, gonna come," Jack was muttering over and over.

"Let go, Jack, fill me up. I want to feel you fill me up," and he did. I felt warm and tingly deep inside, every part of my body lit up with the pleasure that I belonged to Jack as surely as he belonged to me. It was perfect.

Jack collapsed against my back, panting for breath. I was feeling a little shaky myself but no way did I want it to end yet, I wanted him inside me as long as possible so I locked my arms and waited. After a moment his breathing slowed and I felt him kiss my shoulder and murmur my name over and over like a litany.

"I love you too, Jack," I said softly.

With a sigh of loss, Jack pulled from my body and then he turned me around and into his arms. "Oh, Danny," he simply said before kissing me gently.

"Come on, the water is almost cold," he said turning it off.

"I hadn't noticed I was so warm inside."

Jack smiled, "I know, glowing I think covers it. Let's go to bed. I'm wiped."

In no time we were under the covers in Jack's bed, warm and comfortable lying in each other's arms.

Soon the room fell silent save the quiet breath of sleep.

A few hours later I stirred as Jack broke the silence.

"Sorry I mentioned Rubeo," he said suddenly.

"It doesn't matter, nothing could've spoiled that," I said gently.

After a moment he said, "Err, I think maybe it was the way you caught my arms, earlier."

"With your shirt?"

"Yeah, that and what you said."

"What I said?"

"About wanting to make me do what you wanted," he said.

His voice was low and he kept looking down. I was puzzled for a moment and then suddenly the light came on. "It turned you on! What being under my control, being... contained, bound? Is that it? Is that another fantasy?"

"No, not another fantasy, not until you caught my wrists, not until you said that. I was suddenly so hot, so ...so turned on. I was surprised at my reaction," he admitted quietly.

"I want to be inside you, I want to take you and in case you're wondering," I took his hand and placed it on my groin which was showing a distinct interest.

"You like the idea too?" he grinned.

"You'd let me?" I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs. I think we were both learning new things about ourselves. I'd never considered such a thing either but the idea of Jack being laid out there, at my mercy, to do whatever I wanted...Oh God!

"I trust you, Daniel. I want you too. Being inside you was the most wonderful experience of my life and I want you to have that too. I also want to know that we can tell each other anything. It doesn't mean we have to do anything the other isn't comfortable with but I like the idea that we can be completely open."

I smiled and moved closer to kiss his neck and run my tongue along his ear. I was interested to note his reaction to that, found another soft spot.

"What do you want to use? Not shackles I suppose?" I grinned.

"Had a bit too much of those," he said quietly. "Don't have any handcuffs either, have to make our own."

"Think I prefer that, something softer just to tie you with."

"Got the perfect thing," he said getting out of bed. He went to the window and removed the tie-back cords and threw them to me.

"Lie on your stomach," I said.

"Do I have to, couldn't I be on my back? I want to see your face. I'd be more comfortable that way," he said.

"You know it's not as easy in that position but the choice is yours." It had to be his decision but I'd like nothing better than to be able to see his face.

He lay on his back and I nodded. I fastened each wrist to the headboard leaving enough cord so that he could get a grip if he wanted to, that way he could release himself if he needed to. I'd brought the massage oil from the bathroom and I decided he needed to relax a bit. He said he wanted this and I didn't doubt it but as this was a first for him, for both of us, he was tense and so was I.

I warmed the oil between my hands and then straddling his hips I leaned forward; starting at his shoulders I moved my hands over his torso in long slow strokes. As I moved back and forth my cock brushed his stomach and shaft and in no time I was hard again. Jack's head was thrown back and he was making little mewling noises struggling against his bonds. His nipples were hard and his cock was definitely interested in the proceedings.

I continued to massage his flanks and down his thighs, every so often I let my nails drag his skin and he sucked in his breath and when he lifted his hips I got his message. I changed position and squatted between his thighs, lifting each one over my own and edging nearer to him. I poured some more oil onto my fingers and massaged his balls until he was writhing and muttering. Sliding my hand further back and circling his entrance I slipped a finger into his hole. He bucked against me and I put my other hand on his stomach to hold him steady. I looked up to find him watching me with hooded eyes and holding his gaze I pushed a second finger inside. He moaned as I scissored my fingers inside him and he tried to lift his arms to find he could not. He groaned and twisted from side to side, muttering darkly.

"Okay, Jack. If you don't like this I can untie you."

"Okay, I'm okay, "he gasped.

I carefully inserted a third finger trying to find that wonderful spot he'd found inside me. Just when I was about to give up he yelled and tried to sit up jerking against the cords.

Our eyes met and his pupils were dark, almost black and I knew he was really turned on by this. I reared up and shoved him flat and zoning in on his nipples, I licked the already proud nubs until they were red and swollen and he was thrashing on the pillow. Glancing quickly between his face and his chest, I swooped and bit his nipple. With a gasp he arched forward, upper arm and shoulder muscles bunching as he tried to reach me and I leaned up to meet him, our lips meeting with a clash of teeth and a growl from Jack.

I felt so powerful because I could do this to him and for him.

"Pleasepleaseplease," he begged, lifting his hips and thrashing on the pillow again.

I scooted back, lifted his legs higher and lined up my achingly hard cock with his willing body and pushed against the ring of muscle. For a moment it seemed impossible that I could get past that defence though surely three fingers was enough and then suddenly I was inside. It was almost a shock, I was inside Jack and the realisation made me push again, slowly but firmly. Jack's muscles unexpectedly clenched and I gasped as waves of sensation on the edge of pain shot through me.

"Relax, Jack," I gasped, "please!"

He relaxed, opening again and with a sigh I pushed again and it was easier as I slid all the way in. I looked down at myself and I could hardly believe that finally I was possessing him. I'd dreamt of this so many times but never believed it could ever really be, yet here I was.

"Glad to know ...you're comfortable ...but d'ya suppose you could move?"

I smirked at him and slowly pulled out before pushing back in.

"Harder!" he gasped.

With a grin I began to move out, in, out finding the perfect rhythm until I set up a good pace. It'd been so long since I'd done this but I'm sure it never felt this wonderful before. Jack was fighting his ties but the only sounds he made were moans of pleasure interspersed with my name and an endearment I would make him pay for later.

His cock was rock hard by now and bobbing quite deliciously in front of me.

"Danny ...please I ...need release, please."

"No Jack, I want you to come when I do, I want you to come because I do."

"Oh God," he moaned.

I picked up the pace even more because I knew it wouldn't be long now. I could feel my climax gathering low in my belly, feel the heat cascading through me and I wanted that heat to fill Jack and for him to know it was me, me filling him with my life.

"Jack, I'm coming...you hear, I gonna fill you with my love, fill your whole life!" I thrust deep inside him and he shuddered and moaned as he came, his semen hitting my chest and dripping off my chin. I growled and leaned down, fastening my mouth onto his shoulder as I finally came deep inside him.

~~~~

He was collapsed across me, still inside me and I never wanted him to leave. He was panting, trying to regain some control and I wanted to hold him but until I was ready for him to release me I would have to settle for the joy of his body against mine. I hadn't been sure what to expect when I asked Daniel to try this bondage thing but I gotta admit it was hot. It seemed to release something in Daniel too, some deep need to control me, even to deciding when I could come. It was so fucking erotic because for once in my life I could give up control, pass the responsibility to him.

He lifted his head and looked at me from under his lashes. Oh, the sheepish Daniel, wondering if I liked it, if he went too far. The bite to the shoulder was unexpected but not unwelcome.

"Hey," I said softly.

Suddenly he shot up and leaned over me to unfasten the cords. "You all right, I didn't hurt you or anything?"

"It was ...liberating, everything seemed more...real. It's hard to explain but I felt ...free to enjoy just being, letting it happen. And no you didn't hurt me, got a few surprises but it was good. Damn I came without even being touched, what does that tell you!"

He sighed as I took him in my arms and kissed him, gently, letting my tongue explore his mouth.

"It was fantastic, Jack. I felt this power, it was invigorating. Yet all I wanted to do was make you feel good, wanted to take you as far as I was able. Not sure that I managed that but it was fun trying."

I laughed, "Yeahsureyabetcha!"

We lay quietly wrapped up in each other for a moment. I was remembering the feelings I experienced, feelings of frustration because I wanted to touch him, feelings of joy because he was touching me. Touch, not something I'd ever given much thought to yet it was something I'd always been comfortable with around Daniel. Not being able to touch was part of the pleasure and I knew why, I was teasing myself, indulging myself and he made it possible.

"Think we could do with another shower," he said lazily, "just not sure I could move at the moment."

"Yeah, kinda sticky aren't we? I couldn't move unless someone carried me. Three times Daniel, no wonder I've had it. Sleep."

"Think maybe you could make it four in the morning?"

"God, you're insatiable!"

"No, just in love ...and horny!"

"Well this old guy needs his beauty sleep,"

"Too late for that," he muttered.

Reaching for the covers, I slapped his ass and then pulled them over us and snuggled against him for some much needed rest.

~~~~

I was surprised to find that I was awake before Jack but perhaps it was because I was so wired. Last night had been fantastic. My idea for bringing the swords had been even more successful that I could've hoped and it had only been the beginning.

It seems that Jack is still dreaming if his eyes are any indication, though it's hard to tell when half his face is mashed into the pillow. Mind, the mutterings that are coming suggest...

I wouldn't normally eavesdrop like this but when I heard Rubeo mentioned, well you can't blame me can you?

Jack's eyes flickered and he moaned, either it was a really good dream or he was waking up. The idea of a good dream involving Rubeo was eerie so I decided he must be waking up.

I stroked his shoulder and murmured, "Jack?"

"Mmmm"

"You awake?"

"Well, I think I am now," he murmured.

"You mind?" I smiled, leaning over and kissing his shoulder.

"Not if you wake me with a kiss. Anything else waking up?" he said peeking under the covers.

"Oh yeah. It got a new lease of life last night," I grinned. "However, I'm not sure how I feel about sharing it with you when you have erotic dreams about Rubeo."

~~~~

"What!" I cried, shooting up out of bed.

Oh damn, what the hell have I said? Shit, shit, shit.

He laughed, getting up too and facing me across the bed. "Come on, Jack, don't look so stricken, dreams are weird and there's not much we can do about that. Was it ...interesting?"

I sighed because I knew he wouldn't let it drop. Daniel was an archaeologist; he loved to dig things up, especially secrets hidden by a certain Air Force Colonel.

"I was dreaming about you and him ...you know in the hall at night when you had to wash up and he wanted to ..."

"And?"

"Well in my dream instead of Rubeo pestering you to get in your pants it was me. You were chained to me and I wanted you, God I was burning for you but you just laughed and I got angry and ..." I stopped, feeling guilty, feeling the heat rush into my cheeks.

"It was only a dream," he said softly.

"Yeah but I ... the idea of ...wanting you but you refusing ...of forcing you." Suddenly I smiled at the twinkle in his eye. God, he knows me better than I know myself. "What if I were Rubeo, Danny? D'ya think we could try it? Could I take you, you know force you?"

He looked at me, eyes sparkling and he laughed. "Sure, you just gotta remember something. Rubeo never did get me. If you want me you're gonna have to fight for me - if you can catch me!" He laughed and dashed out of the bedroom.

Aw hell! I thought as I gave chase. Life with Daniel won't be easy ...but boy would it be fun!

FIN