Area 52: White Anger

Tyrant, tremble when ye tread
Down the servile Helot clods!
Under despot heel is bred
The white anger of the gods.

-- From "The Helot", Isabella Valancy Crawford

Jack listened as Sergeant Davis counted down the seconds until they would have contact with a new world. The colonel would never admit it to anyone, especially not to the rest of his team, but this was the moment he loved the most, these last few seconds before the MALP reappeared on the other side of the wormhole. There was the excitement of knowing they were about to see something that no other person on Earth had ever seen before; there was uncertainty, not knowing what to plan for or what to expect; and yet, through it all, they were safe and sound at the SGC, and even if Jaffa started blasting away at the probe no one would die. It was a heady combination in the mind of Jack O'Neill, and he made sure he was always in the control room for these initial looks at new worlds.

He drew his attention back as the first pictures were received. A beautiful russet sunset illuminated a small forest in front of the Stargate; the trees bathed in the red light glowed a strange and surreal brown. There was a large path leading up to the Gate, worn smooth and even. The camera moved to confirm the presence of the DHD nearby, also tinted red.

"Atmosphere is similar in composition to Earth's. Temperature twenty-three degrees Celsius. There is some pollution in the air that would indicate a moderate level of industrialization." Jack watched as his second in command ran through her checklist for the new world. Industrialization was good. That meant that the inhabitants might have something worth trading for. And, much more importantly, that they had been left alone by the Goa'uld long enough to have developed industry. Carter rhymed off a few more numbers from her screen, but they were meaningless to Jack. This was the part that she enjoyed the most, the surveying and quantifying. For him, though, the excitement was over, at least until they stepped through the Gate themselves.

Jack smiled as Daniel plastered himself to a monitor in an attempt to get a closer look at the rock. This was a pleasantly unexpected surprise. Daniel Jackson in full professor mode, the excitement practically dripping off of him. It was like someone turned on a light inside of Daniel, and he glowed with such energy and passion it affected everyone around him. Jack watched with feigned indifference as his archaeologist started rambling on about the writing on the monument.

"The obelisk itself clearly has an Egyptian influence, and the symbols at the top are definitely hieroglyphic; but the writing appears to be more Germanic. If anything I would say it's a dialect of English."

"The aliens speak English? What do we keep you on the payroll for then?" Jack couldn't help but tease Daniel, grinning broadly as his teammate pulled a face at the old joke. Often they had run into aliens that spoke a language close enough to their own that translation hadn't been necessary. Daniel's contribution went far beyond languages, thankfully, and he had come to an acceptance that he wasn't always going to work those linguistic muscles as much as he wanted. On the upside, very few societies were exactly like Earth's, and Daniel could analyze cultures until the cows came home and be just as thrilled.

Jack turned his attention back to the monitor. There was a flash of movement near the MALP. "Carter, what was that?"

"I don't know, sir." The camera was already panning in the direction the movement had headed, trying to focus in more clearly.

Daniel muttered a soft protest at the disruption, and Jack reached over and patted the archaeologist's shoulder. He glanced into concerned blue eyes, and smiled quickly. Jack was glad to see the smile returned. Something about a disappointed Daniel always bothered Jack in a deeply personal way.

"Got it, sir." Carter's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. "Looks like we've found our civilized natives."

All eyes turned to the monitors as a young man came into view. He had flaming red hair, and wore a simple homespun shirt above leather breeches. He stared at the MALP like it was a common sight, and his approach showed no fear.

Daniel moved closer to the microphone, and Jack nodded his OK. The younger man smiled, then reached over to turn on the transmitter.

"Hello, we're peaceful explorers from Earth." Speaking of old jokes, Jack grinned as Daniel launched into his standard spiel of greeting.

The young man stared into the camera, his face filling the monitors as he smiled his welcome. "From the other side of the Chappa'ai, yes?"

Daniel smiled back, his head dipping shyly. Jack wondered when Daniel would figure out that the person he was talking to couldn't see what he was doing. He was such an animated speaker that he never allowed little things like that to bother him, though.

"Yes, we're on the other side of the Chappa'ai. May we come visit, meet with you in person? There's so much we'd..."

"No, not with me," the young man shook his head violently. He pointed at the camera. "You wait here, I will bring Elder Rosaro, you ask him!" The face disappeared, and the speakers echoed with the sound of running feet.

The wait took longer than they expected it to. Jack paced the control room impatiently, pausing often to stare over Carter's shoulder at the readings they were receiving from the MALP. Not that he could remember what any of it was; he was just too preoccupied to concentrate on it.

Daniel was in what the rest of the team called 'The Zone,' so intent on the translation and examination of a relic that he wouldn't notice if the world suddenly ended around him. He had that look of intense concentration that Jack couldn't keep his eyes off of; the brow furrowed slightly, lips pressed together, a slight flush spreading across those perfect features as the excitement of discovery took over...

"Sir, you should take a look at this." Jack tore himself away from his examination of his secret fascination before he was noticed. Carter was gesturing at a nearby monitor screen. There was a topographical map outlined in red and yellow and green. She was pointing at one spot that had a large cluster of symbols and numbers.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to explain that." Jack waved his hand vaguely toward the screen. "It makes no sense to me at all."

"Well sir, these numbers indicate a large amount of trinium just under the surface about fifty miles from the Stargate. Looks like a huge deposit. There is some activity there, a mining operation perhaps." Carter was scanning the numbers, her eyes darting excitedly from one monitor to the other. "Sir, if we can negotiate with these people for the trinium, we might be able to get a fairly large supply of it."

He nodded, filing the information away. Jack was sure that the general would be very interested in that, not to mention the Pentagon. They'd been drooling over the thought of a steady supply of trinium for months. It looked more likely that this was going to be the location of their next mission.

Jack watched carefully as the three men crossed the clearing. The second man was undoubtedly the Elder their red-haired friend had referred to. He was wearing elegant robes of a rich wine-coloured material, trimmed in gold braiding. Heavy gold chains were hung about his neck, partially hidden by the long, loose white hair. He looked slightly older than Jack, maybe in his mid-fifties. He appeared to be in excellent shape for a man his age, and was definitely well off.

In sharp contrast to the rich ornamentation of the Elder, was the last man in the group. His age appeared to be somewhere between the other two. His hair was brown, and cropped close to his head. He was wearing dark brown trousers and a vest, both of which had seen better days. He walked a short distance behind the elder, eyes on the ground, shoulders slumped. His bare arms were covered in bruises that were in various stages of healing.

Jack cast a quick look at Daniel. The younger man had obviously noticed the differences between the newcomers and he definitely wasn't impressed. Even Jack could tell that the second man was some sort of slave, and that he was obviously poorly treated. While part of him agreed that this was an issue, the soldier in him knew that they had to try for the trinium.

Jack smiled at Daniel and made a gesture toward the microphone. Daniel shrugged and moved aside, allowing Jack to take over the conversation with the natives.

They waited a few moments longer until the motley parade stopped in front of the MALP. The young peasant gestured to the Gate, and said something rapidly to the Elder. The older man nodded once, and stepped forward.

"My name is Rosaro, Elder of the Codash of the city of Baetara." Rosaro made a small bow in the direction of the camera.

Rosaro smiled. "I am made to understand that you wish to visit us here. Is this true?"

"Yes it is. We're explorers, and are interested in learning more about you. Maybe becoming friends, negotiating trade, that sort of thing."

Rosaro nodded as he listened to Jack's words. "Yes, that would be acceptable. I grant permission for Colonel Jack O'Neill of the SGC of Earth to come to Baetara to further discuss these matters. You are permitted to bring one servant only."

Jack's humour over the formal invitation was cut short by the realization that it included only one other person beside himself. Before he had a chance to say anything else, Rosaro was speaking again. "We will expect you at sunrise tomorrow."

With that, the elder gave another sharp bow, rose, and turned, walking quickly away from the Gate.

The briefing was short and sweet. No one was happy about the restrictions on the number of people to go through, but Rosaro had given them little choice on the matter. It would have been nice to have more information about the society before heading out, but they would have to make due with what they had.

Jack watched Daniel as he gave the rundown on what they had seen in the brief conversations through the MALP.

"They appear to have a feudal society, highly stratified. The first man appeared to be a farmer or labourer; fairly healthy, which would indicate a strong economy, which is a good thing. Peasants tend to be the first to suffer in times of crisis.

"Rosaro is obviously a man of great importance, someone wealthy enough to not have to do his own work." Daniel's face was a mask as he shuffled through his notes, a sure sign that he wasn't happy. "That's where the third man would come in. He looks like a slave, and not a well treated one at that. It's hard to say from meeting three people whether this is a norm, or if it is a situation unique to this particular relationship."

"Well, unless someone has anything else to add, I am going to give the go ahead on this meeting." General Hammond paused for comments, and hearing none, continued on. "Dr. Jackson, you will accompany Colonel O'Neill to the planet. I think your expertise is critical on this one. Colonel, find out what you can about these people, and what it will take to secure the trinium. The Pentagon is very anxious that these negotiations go well. We really could use a steady supply of that metal."

Jack remained behind after the others had left and watched as Daniel carefully rearranged his notes and placed them in his folder.

Jack jumped at the calm with which Daniel said that. The younger man was refusing to look up and meet his eyes, preparing himself for a miserable mission.

"I am not going to do anything to you! I don't care if it blows the whole negotiation." Jack held up a hand as Daniel opened his mouth to speak. "I mean it. If that is what is expected, we come back and let someone else volunteer for the gig. I'm not going to harm you." He saw a smile replace the concern in Daniel's eyes, and was glad that they had a friendship that allowed that level of trust. Nothing would make him hurt Daniel; Jack knew that in the depths of his soul. If the Air Force wanted to court-martial him for that, so be it.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Daniel stood and stretched, and Jack quickly averted his eyes from the sight.

"Yeah," he mumbled, "let's hope not. Now we should probably get some sleep. Carter thought their night was slightly longer than ours, but no need to be late and offend the nice man."

"Too bad there isn't enough time to try and find appropriate clothing." Daniel's eyes glittered with mischief.

"I am not wearing a dress and necklaces," Jack growled good-naturedly. "They'll have to settle for the disappointment of seeing me in my dress blues. Speaking of which, have you decided what you're going to wear?"

"Oh I have a spare suit here, I was thinking of taking that, and some fatigues in case your servant has to do some actual work while we're there." Daniel grinned. "Just remember that the next planet might consider older men to be slaves, and make your requests accordingly."

"Yes sir!" Jack snapped off a sloppy salute, laughing as Daniel threw a mock punch his way.

Jack and Daniel stepped out of the wormhole into a world wrapped in the soft pinks and reds of this world's sunrise. Jack was amazed that the sky, which was so fiery last night, could be so gentle now. He turned and smiled at Daniel, who looked handsome in his black meet and greet suit, short hair glowing with the light of the event horizon behind it. As the wormhole closed, Daniel's features softened into a small smile. Jack allowed himself to forget the possible discomforts of this mission for one brief moment and let himself relax into this unexpected warmth.

Daniel's eyes snapped to the ground as Jack heard someone clearing their throat behind him. He turned slowly, his face turning serious as he met the humourless eyes of Rosaro.

"I look forward to talking with you, Colonel." Rosaro gestured for Jack to move beside him as they walked, completely ignoring Daniel. "I am anxious to hear what you can tell me about your home."

Jack picked up the hint clearly. Daniel was not to be part of this; he was to stay in the background. "I am looking forward to hearing about you also."

While they had discussed the possibility of events like this happening, Jack was still uncomfortable with the treatment of Daniel as a non-entity. This first contact stuff was definitely more the young man's domain, and Jack felt like he was stepping into Daniel's territory. Not to mention that he would probably have to wait until they were alone to get assistance from his anthropologist. He'd be winging the negotiations entirely on his own.

They'd gone over possible scenarios until late in the night as they lay in their bunks in one of the rooms at the SGC, but Jack would still feel better with Daniel at his side.

Rosaro was very talkative, going on about the properties of the various trees they were passing, about the size of Baetara in relation to the other cities in the area, to the various raw materials they had to offer. Jack listened carefully, nodding when appropriate, hoping that Daniel was close enough to catch the conversation. He turned once to check the younger man's progress, and saw that he was definitely within earshot, a fact that was confirmed by a quick nod. Jack smiled and turned his attention back to Rosaro.

The Elder was eying Jack carefully, apparently having halted his monologue when the other man had turned to look back. Rosaro gave Jack a knowing look and a smirk before turning his attention back to the path.

The trip to the city limits took a little over an hour. The forest had slowly given way to pasture land, where their red-headed peasant friend had said goodbye and headed toward a small house in the distance. Shortly after they reached what Jack could only describe as the suburbs, all nice modest homes on pieces of land about the same size as his own yard. Another hours walk brought them to a section with larger buildings. Rosaro gave an animated history of several of the buildings they passed, stopping while he pointed out this feature or that significance. Finally he stopped in front of one building whose height dwarfed the buildings around it.

"This is where the negotiations will take place tomorrow. It is the Hall of Baetara, where all important discussions take place." Rosaro pointed to the intricate carvings on the white stone surrounding the doors and windows. "My great-uncle had that carved," he said, pride evident on his face. "Our family has always been very involved in making Baetara a wonderful city for the Codash."

Jack murmured his appreciation. A quick look at Daniel showed that he was in heaven, taking in the sculpted flowers and trees with wide-eyed delight. Jack suppressed a smile, and turned his attention back to Rosaro's litany of ancestors and their accomplishments.

Apparently Rosaro hadn't been exaggerating about his family's involvement. Jack was amazed at the number of relations who had held the position of Elder of Baetara.

"So, is it a hereditary title then?" Jack asked, noting the surprised look on Daniel's face with amusement. It was good to remind him that the old colonel paid attention once in a while.

"No, it is an elected post, with the citizens voting every six years for a new Elder. I have held this post for seventeen years." Rosaro's pride and enthusiasm were evident yet again.

'The only thing this man likes more than himself is talking about himself,' Jack thought wryly. This was definitely something that he could use to his advantage.

"You must be doing a very good job then, to keep getting elected to the post." Rosaro was practically preening at Jack's praise, and Jack laughed softly. He noticed Daniel fidgeting with the bags behind him, feeling a twinge of guilt that he couldn't help carry the load. Maybe he could do something to make it easier though.

"Rosaro, my apologies, but it was very late on our world when we left, and I was wondering if I could go somewhere to freshen up and rest a bit. I'm looking very forward to the rest of the tour," Jack rushed on, seeing the disappointment on the Elder's face. "I just would like to be in a position to appreciate it properly. I would hate to miss the details because I was too tired." Flattery would get Jack everywhere he was pleased to note. Rosaro was apologizing for not thinking of Jack's comfort earlier, and practically pushed him toward a slightly smaller building up the street.

"This is where you will stay, I have reserved a suite of rooms for you. I hope you find them to your satisfaction."

A door opened and Jack found himself in the lobby of the building. It reminded him of a hotel he and Sara had stayed at once, the high wooden ceiling painted with shields and emblems, the rich carpeting underfoot muffling the sounds of their movement. Marble walls were luxurious in their cream majesty, and brass lighting fixtures gleamed everywhere. Sara had been delighted by the extravagance of the place, and it had been well worth the money to stay there. Funny how the main thing he remembered from that trip was the hotel. He was pretty sure they'd done other things, but he'd be damned if he could remember any of them.

He knew Daniel would be talking about his place for days, and was probably having a hard time holding his tongue right now. Rosaro had propelled him across the lobby, and they were waiting for what Jack could only assume was the elevator by the time it had sunk in that they were alone.

"Daniel?" Jack asked as he looked around for his friend. He couldn't watch over the younger man if he weren't here, and he had a sudden flash to the bruising on the other servant's arms to remind him of the possible dangers they faced here. He couldn't see anyone else in the lobby except himself, Rosaro, and the local version of the Concierge.

Daniel had been listening to the conversation between Jack and Rosaro as they walked from the Gate to the city, and was impressed by the list of items this planet had to offer. Obviously they had other trading partners, and the list sounded like it was well practiced. The Elder tried to draw information out of Jack on several occasions, but Jack had brushed the questions off easily. He wouldn't give out too much information this early on. Daniel knew that strategy well.

Daniel had had little to do on the long walk except listen to the talk ahead of him, and scan the forest around them. His companion had said nothing so far, and was concentrating on his feet as he walked. Daniel's quiet introduction was met with a scowl and a headshake. Instead, Daniel tried to make mental notes about Jack's conversation, balance the bags he was carrying, and be careful not to trip over any tree roots.

At one point he had looked up and caught Jack watching him. The older man looked at him questioningly, which Daniel interpreted as "Are you listening to this?" Daniel nodded, and Jack looked relieved, and smiled. He probably hadn't been paying attention to Rosaro's ramblings, and would need Daniel to bring him up to speed later. Daniel smiled back, amazed again at how they had developed their silent communication so quickly during the original Abydos mission. That mutual understanding had come in handy since Daniel had returned back to Earth, allowing them to smooth over their philosophical differences at work while maintaining their keen friendship off base. It always gave him great hope to know that Jack would be beside him as they tried to rescue Sha're and Skaara from the Goa'uld, and return them to Abydos where they belonged.

The conversation between Jack and Rosaro didn't seem to pick up again after Jack turned away from Daniel, and the younger man found his thoughts wandering back to the colonel.

Jack was very worried about this mission, he could tell. The constant checks and assurances since the whole servant business was first mentioned convinced Daniel that his friend wasn't comfortable with this situation. There was a time when Jack would have been making jokes like mad, taking advantage of it as far as he comfortably could.

He stared at Jack's back, taking the opportunity to study the older man. Daniel noticed that Jack had started to favour his bad knee, the hike in dress shoes adding unneeded stress to the joint. He adjusted the pack on his shoulder, glad that his friend was spared the extra weight. Daniel also noticed the faint sheen of sweat on Jack's neck between his hat and collar. The day was going to be a warm one, and the dress uniform wasn't going to be comfortable for much longer. Daniel ran a finger along his own collar, the black suit not much better than the blue.

When they finally reached Baetara, Daniel was amazed at the architecture they found. The carvings were exquisite, showing various flora and fauna with life-like realism. He wanted to stop and look, take notes, anything, but he wasn't sure what the reaction would be, so he stayed silent. He would give Jack a list of questions for their guide later, and had to be happy with that. As Rosaro went on about his lineage at great length, Daniel wondered briefly about the form of government here. The number of ancestors that this man could count as Elders or important officials seemed to indicate...

"So, is this a hereditary title then?" Daniel's eyebrows shot up as Jack's question finished his thought for him. The number of times he did that amazed Daniel; for two such different men of different backgrounds, it was extraordinary how often they could think of the same thing at the same time. Sam called it psychic, to which Jack always responded that 'psycho' was a better term.

Daniel watched Jack as he listened intently to the litany, a small smile playing at his lips, his brown eyes twinkling as he piled flattery on the Elder. Jack was obviously enjoying being the diplomat, and Daniel thought it suited him well. Who'd have thought that Jack O'Neill of the sarcastic tongue could schmooze so well when he had to?

Daniel readjusted the pack over his shoulder. Hopefully this tour wasn't going to take all day, or he'd have no feeling left in his arm at all!

In another remarkable flash of ESP, Jack was convincing Rosaro that they needed time to refresh and rest before continuing the tour. Daniel felt relieved at the thought of setting down the bags and taking off his jacket and tie. As they started walking again, Daniel wondered if he could convince Jack that fatigues would be much more appropriate for the afternoon...

Suddenly Daniel's companion grabbed his arm and started dragging him down an alley in a different direction than Jack was heading. His cry of protest was cut short by a hand over his mouth, and the servant glared at him.

"Are you trying to get us beaten?" the man hissed quietly. "We go through the servants entrance here." Daniel noticed a small door set a ways back from the main street. "You will meet up with your master inside."

Daniel stopped struggling as the words sank in. Of course, that arrangement would make sense. Many societies had this arrangement for servants and lower class people. He nodded once in understanding, and the hand was removed from his mouth.

"Sorry about that, we don't have the same arrangement on our world. I think I could really use your help to make sure things go smoothly for Ja- for my master... umm, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"

The servant relaxed visibly as he decided that Daniel wasn't going to be cause for further punishment. "Zelan. My name is Zelan."

"Hi Zelan, my name is Daniel." He smiled, and was glad to see a cautious smile on Zelan's face. He opened the door, and motioned for the other man to enter ahead of him. "Now, why don't you tell me more about what is expected here...?"

As soon as Rosaro had left him alone, Jack made a thorough check of their rooms.

This 'suite' was larger than his house back on Earth, and much more luxurious. Thick rugs covered the hardwood floor. A large marble fireplace stood at one end of the main room, the mantle and wall covered in inlaid wood. The same ornate inlay covered the remaining walls up to waist height, the most elaborate wainscoting Jack had seen in his life. The furniture was made of a darker wood, upholstered in a soft velvety fabric of a rich red colour. Heavy tapestries of the same colour covered the windows, the light filtering through giving the room a soft glow.

There was a heavy wooden door beside the fireplace. This led into the bedroom, which had dark plaster walls, and a huge four-poster bed. The same tapestry material that had been used on the windows had also been used as a canopy over the bed. A heavy chest sat at the end of the bed, and a large armoire completed the look of an old English manor.

Jack headed back to the main room, and opened another door, finding a smaller room, obviously the servant's room. It was completely bare except for a display console on one wall, and a tiny cot. He made a face at that, deciding that there was no way that half of Daniel would fit onto that thing. Rosaro's servant was so much shorter and slighter, the neglect probably accounting for the size difference.

There were a couple of other small rooms, probably closets or storage areas. They were empty so it was hard to tell what their function was for sure.

The last door Jack opened led into a huge bathroom. He gasped at the size of it. There was an enormous sunken bathtub of the same cream marble he had seen downstairs. There was a large sink, also marble, and off to one side another door which opened into a separate section with the toilet. Brass light fixtures made the room incredibly bright, and reflected off of brass taps and towel bars.

Jack shook his head in amazement as he moved back to the main area, pulling aside a tapestry to look out the window onto the city. He'd never been in a hotel like this, although he was sure they must exist somewhere on Earth... somewhere very safe from his military paycheque.

He wondered how long he was supposed to wait for his servant. When Rosaro had told him that Daniel and Zelan would be taking the servants' stairwell up, he felt guilty again for not being able to help. Especially now that he could see they were at least ten stories up.

Jack spun around as he heard a grinding sound behind him, and a loud thump. He walked back into the servant's room, and was shocked to see Daniel standing there, breathing heavily, bags at his feet.

"Hey, Jack." Daniel gave a quick grin as he struggled to get his breath back. "I think I might need some more time in the gym when we get back, I seem to be out of shape."

Daniel waved his hand. "No, apparently it's the custom here. A servant can stay with his master if he is performing a personal service or assisting in some way. But if he is doing any manual labour, then he has to take the way that keeps him away from the masters. Apparently it's considered obscene for the masters to actually have to watch the servants doing hard work."

Daniel had been removing clothing while he was talking; the jacket, the tie, and finally the dress shoes. Jack suddenly found a spot on the wall very interesting as Daniel wiggled his freed toes and stretched luxuriously. "Oh, wow, that feels so good!" the younger man enthused.

"Why don't you go ahead and use the facilities," Jack grinned. "You should see the size of the tub... I think that Teal'c could swan dive into it and not touch bottom."

Daniel laughed. "Actually if I did that I think I would fall asleep, and there is so much to tell you. I had a long talk with Zelan on the way up... that's the name of Rosaro's servant, by the way. Mind if I change into something a little less sweaty?"

Jack shook his head. "No, go ahead... maybe freshen up a little bit. I should probably do the same." When Daniel had disappeared, the thought of comfort had gone with it, and he suddenly realized that if he didn't get the uniform off it was going to be difficult to deal with the smell in the morning. Jack reached for his bag, but the other man got to it first.

"Oh no you don't! We'd better stay in character in case someone decides to walk in. In case you hadn't noticed, that door doesn't have a lock on it."

"To hell with them," growled Jack as he tore the bag out of Daniel's hand. "Privacy of our own room, yadda." He stalked toward the bathroom before Daniel could stop him, stripping the sweaty uniform off.

He sighed as he looked at the bathtub, wishing he had time for a nice soak, but with Daniel so tired he wanted to get all the information he could before he slept. Jack grabbed a small towel, soaked it under the faucet, and cleaned off quickly at the sink. He dried off using one of the larger towels, and dressed in fatigue pants and a T-shirt. He picked up his folded dress uniform, and headed to his room to hang it up to air.

Daniel was sitting on the large bed, tracing the carvings on one of the posts with a finger. Jack enjoyed seeing Daniel this happy, the joy of new discovery blocking out the pain of the past couple of years for a while. No one should suffer as much as this man had in his lifetime. But in spite of everything, Daniel still had that sense of wonder, the ability to find joy in the simplest things.

Jack leaned against the doorframe, watching silently. He'd known for a while he was in love with this man. If it weren't for Sha're...

Jack smiled as Daniel looked up from his inspection of the post, feeling a warm glow inside him as the blue eyes lit up in recognition.

"This place is amazing! Look at the quality of this work! This must be a very prosperous city to afford such luxuries."

"Tell you what, I'll see if I can negotiate one of these for your place if you want." Jack laughed at the thought of trying to fit the bed into the small apartment. There wouldn't be room for anything else afterward.

Daniel laughed with him, and Jack enjoyed the sound as he hung his uniform up in the armoire. He turned back to the bed, and sat down on the edge of the mattress.

"Well, apparently there is a pretty wide divide in how servants are treated here. On one hand there are the masters who treat their servants as little more than beasts, and can be quite abusive or even kill them. Rosaro is one of these, although certainly not the worst. The standard idea on Codacar -- that's the name of the planet by the way, the people call themselves the Codash -- is that the better off a man is, the more he abuses his people. Shows that he can afford to replace his servants easily."

Jack nodded soberly at that, seeing a sick sort of logic to it. That probably meant that the concern that Jack had been showing for Daniel marked him as not being very well off, which could work against them in the negotiations.

"There is a second type of master-servant relationship. Apparently it's already assumed that we fall into this other category."

Jack wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that Daniel was blushing as he said this. Or, it could just be the effect of the light filtering through the red draperies. After all he was an anthropologist; what could this society come up with that would embarrass him? Jack motioned for Daniel to continue.

"According to Zelan, sometimes a master will develop a great deal of affection for a slave. Treat him as a personal assistant of sorts. Take him everywhere, entrust him with business dealings, and... well, develop a relationship with him."

Daniel was definitely uncomfortable with this line of thought, fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. Jack decided to take pity on him and be the one to finally say it out loud. "A lover, you mean?" Daniel's gaze was still firmly on the hem he was worrying out as he nodded agreement.

Jack wasn't sure why his friend was having such an issue with this. This was the out they'd been looking for. They could act more or less the way they always did, and not worry about being seen as weak during the negotiations. And, infinitely more important, Jack wouldn't have to harm Daniel. His relief was intense.

"So... what exactly do we do then? Do I hold your hand? Send you flowers? Skip down the corridors singing 'tra-la-la'?" Jack noticed Daniel's mouth twitch a bit at the thought. Ahh, humour, the best way to get anyone to relax. "And most importantly, will you still respect me in the morning?" Jack grinned as Daniel's blush deepened.

"Well, I guess we don't have to actually do anything other than what we have been, if it's already making them think there's something going on. I mean what are they going to do, check to make sure we're really sleeping together?"

"Since you mention it..." Daniel's head shot up and Jack caught the concerned look in the big blue eyes. "I don't know if you noticed, but that cot in your room wouldn't be very comfortable for you to sleep on, and I have this huge bed in here." To emphasize his point, Jack flopped backwards. The mattress was enormous, and even sideways it was able to hold his full length. "I'm sure we can both manage to fit on this without marring anyone's virtue, and if anyone should walk in on us, they won't find it odd we're sleeping in separate rooms."

Daniel hesitated, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Jack hoped he hadn't pushed his luck too far. They had slept in smaller spaces on other missions; granted they were in their own sleeping bags, but that shouldn't be that big a difference... should it? Before he could say anything else, Daniel nodded.

"Of course, that makes sense. No problems. I'll -- I'll just go get my bag out of the other room and we'll set up in here."

Daniel stood quickly and walked out of the room, making Jack wonder what had just happened.

Daniel lay on his back, staring at the rich tapestries above his head. Even though he was exhausted from the walk to the city and that damned staircase, he couldn't get his mind to shut down enough to sleep. Something was bothering him about this turn of events; he just couldn't decide what.

It wasn't Zelan. Once the other man had decided that Daniel wasn't going to do anything to cause him to get beaten, he'd been quite happy to fill in the blanks about the Codash society. Daniel had been surprised at the rules surrounding how servants were to act around their masters. The privileged few of this planet's elite didn't want to have to be reminded that real work had to be done to keep them in their positions. All city maintenance was done at night, when the masters were asleep. All production facilities were located well away from the cities, so that not even a trail of smoke could remind anyone they existed. Every building had multiple entrances and stairwells; elevators being reserved for the masters, the servants getting the dubious honour of hauling all sorts of items up multiple flights of stairs.

And then there were the beatings. Zelan described in dispassionate tones how his master handled him, as if he were discussing the weather. It was common for a servant to be beaten just so that the master could release pent up anger or frustration. By the end of the discussion, Daniel's hands were clenched so tight around the strap of his pack he was amazed that it didn't snap in half from the stress.

"You're lucky that your master is liebeskrank. You are probably well treated beyond the dreams of most servants."

Daniel had taken three more stairs before the meaning of Zelan's words sank in. "Liebeskrank? You mean in love with me?"

He heard Zelan's chuckle in front of him. "Of course, why else would he be so considerate to you? Don't worry; it does happen here, this bond will be respected. You will probably have many more freedoms than the rest of us. I assume that you also help him with his business dealings?"

There were a couple of other small rooms, probably closets or storage areas. They were empty so it was hard to tell what their function was for sure.

Jack spun around as he heard a grinding sound behind him, and a loud thump. He walked back into the servant's room, and was shocked to see Daniel standing there, breathing heavily, bags at his feet.

"Hey, Jack." Daniel gave a quick grin as he struggled to get his breath back. "I think I might need some more time in the gym when we get back, I seem to be out of shape."

"Why don't you go ahead and use the facilities," Jack grinned. "You should see the size of the tub... I think that Teal'c could swan dive into it and not touch bottom."

"Oh no you don't! We'd better stay in character in case someone decides to walk in. In case you hadn't noticed, that door doesn't have a lock on it."

Jack leaned against the doorframe, watching silently. He'd known for a while he was in love with this man. If it weren't for Sha're...

Jack smiled as Daniel looked up from his inspection of the post, feeling a warm glow inside him as the blue eyes lit up in recognition.

"This place is amazing! Look at the quality of this work! This must be a very prosperous city to afford such luxuries."

Daniel laughed with him, and Jack enjoyed the sound as he hung his uniform up in the armoire. He turned back to the bed, and sat down on the edge of the mattress.

"There is a second type of master-servant relationship. Apparently it's already assumed that we fall into this other category."

"Of course, that makes sense. No problems. I'll -- I'll just go get my bag out of the other room and we'll set up in here."

Daniel stood quickly and walked out of the room, making Jack wonder what had just happened.

"You're lucky that your master is liebeskrank. You are probably well treated beyond the dreams of most servants."

Daniel had taken three more stairs before the meaning of Zelan's words sank in. "Liebeskrank? You mean in love with me?"

"So you will be assisting him in the negotiations. Do not interrupt during discussions. You will be allowed to talk to him during breaks, and confer with him by note during the talks if necessary; I will be allowed to serve Rosaro throughout the negotiations, but we do not usually talk at all beyond his requests. You would have permission to speak to your master, as long as there is no one else wishing to speak with him. I would suggest finding a quiet corner where you would not be overheard. Some of the people at the negotiations would not be above eavesdropping to find out your strategy."

Liebeskrank. Literally translated from German it meant "love struck". Jack had been acting as if he were in love with Daniel. According to the standards of these people, he reminded himself. A people who also thought nothing of beating servants to death in order to prove they were wealthy.

God, was Daniel so desperate that he was willing to believe a total stranger from a completely different world who told him that Jack was in love with him? Daniel had been hiding his feelings for Jack for a while now with no problems, why should this one comment throw him for such a loop?

Daniel traced a crease on the heavy tapestry with his eyes. The deep red colour of it reminded him of the wine he and Sha're drank on Abydos, the rare bottles pulled out of storage for special occasions and dinners with honoured guests. He had been scolded once for spilling some of the expensive liquid onto his robes, had patiently spent hours trying to remove the stain in an effort to appease Sha're...

The time he'd had with Sha're was wonderful. One short year; too short really. But they'd both known he was growing unhappy there, that Abydos was a place for him to hide, to feel an affinity he couldn't get on Earth. While there had been love, and enjoyment, it was just a matter of time before Daniel left; if not Abydos, then Sha're and the village.

He knew that no matter what though, he couldn't leave Sha're and Skaara out there. In spite of everything, they were family, and they didn't deserve the fate of being host to the Goa'uld. He had to bring them home where they belonged. Just as he had to stay at the SGC, where he belonged.

Daniel rolled over onto his side and stared at the man on the far side of the bed. Jack's face was peaceful in sleep, the brow smooth. Jack was always thinking, always worried, always in commander mode. Seeing him like this was a rare treat, and Daniel allowed himself the luxury of watching for several minutes.

He closed his eyes and tried to match his breathing to Jack's, feeling the tension ease out of his body as he slowly relaxed. This was a trick he had used countless times on many different planets when he couldn't sleep. It always worked; if Jack could sleep, Daniel knew it was safe for him to sleep. He smiled slightly as he felt himself drift into unconsciousness. Rosaro throughout the negotiations, but we do not usually talk at all beyond his requests. You would have permission to speak to your master, as long as there is no one else wishing to speak with him. I would suggest finding a quiet corner where you would not be overheard. Some of the people at the negotiations would not be above eavesdropping to find out your strategy."

The sound of the servants' door grinding open woke Jack out of his sleep. Someone was in the suite heading their way, probably a servant come to fetch them.

He rolled over silently, noting Daniel was still on the other side of the bed. He moved over quickly, spooning up behind the younger man and throwing an arm around Daniel's waist. The other man stiffened at the contact. He whispered "We've got a visitor," and he felt Daniel relax into him. Jack closed his eyes, allowing himself a brief moment to enjoy the sensation of holding his friend close before the wake up call became official, feeling the play of warm skin and hard muscle beside him.

The footsteps stopped at the end of the bed, and several seconds passed in silence.

Jack opened his eyes, and sat up just enough to look over the end of the bed. He recognized Rosaro's servant standing there, eyes averted, waiting patiently.

"Yes?" Jack did his best to look and sound as if he had just woken up. No need to alert anyone that he was a light sleeper.

"Sir, Elder Rosaro requests your presence at the Hall of Baetara to break your fast before the negotiations commence. The dining hall has been reserved for this purpose."

"Tell Rosaro that I will be there shortly, and thank him for his consideration." Zelan nodded and left the room.

Jack turned his attention to the body next to him. Daniel hadn't moved away from him, even now that Zelan was gone. For a brief moment he was tempted to lie back down and enjoy this. Regretfully, Jack shook Daniel awake.

"Good morning, campers," he sing-songed loudly, removing his hand and rolling off the other side of the bed.

Daniel groaned slightly and sat up. "Why do you have to be such a morning person anyway?"

"Just lucky I guess." Jack went into the armoire and pulled out his dress uniform, laying it out on the bed. "Now get moving; I'm going to need you today, and it would probably be best if you were dressed."

Jack watched with amusement as Daniel staggered out of bed and headed to the bathroom. This was going to be a long day. He started changing into his uniform, and was almost done by the time Daniel got back. Then he headed to the facilities to give Daniel the chance to change in private.

Once the two men were ready, they headed for the lift. Jack was aware of the younger man's presence behind him the whole way down the hall. Thankfully while on business Daniel could remain with him, and knowing he would have access to assistance during the negotiations gave him a greater feeling of confidence.

The elevator stopped at their floor, and Jack waited patiently while Daniel opened the door and motioned for Jack to move ahead. Daniel followed him in, and latched the door behind them. Jack stood at the back of the car, watching as his friend studied the workings of the control panel. It only took a moment, and then the car was moving. It was always impressive watching Daniel working, and this was no exception. Especially while he was wearing that suit...

"I'll be expected to serve you through the meal," Daniel was saying. "I'll be watching you the whole time, so all you'll have to do is raise a hand like this to get my attention." Daniel demonstrated lifting his right hand to about shoulder height, fingers slightly curled. "I'm expected to stay quiet unless you have a question that requires an answer, but apparently they should be very infrequent if at all."

Jack listened carefully, taking it all in. He remembered the conversation last night about masters beating servants for no particular reason. They'd been going over all the information Daniel had gathered very carefully to make sure that they weren't the cause of any more injuries for Zelan.

"Now, most importantly, if Rosaro does decide to... punish Zelan, you must not react. Don't pay attention; go on with what you are doing. If it appears you are interfering in any way, it could go a lot worse for him."

Jack grimaced. That was going to be the most difficult part, the not reacting. He was going to be able to protect Daniel, but that was all. If another man decided to kill a servant, there was nothing Jack could do. He wasn't sure he liked that idea.

He knew they needed the trinium, and he was following orders about doing what it took to get it, but Jack was very surprised that Daniel was going along with it. He'd been expecting a lecture on how it wasn't right, that they shouldn't be dealing with people who treat their slaves this way. But so far there had been nothing except these calm explanations about how to act. It seemed so very un-Daniel like, and it was worrying.

"No, it's not." Daniel turned around, his eyes dark and his face serious. "But we need this, right? To keep the program running, to beat the Goa'uld, to get back Sha're and Skaara? We have no choice." Jack watched Daniel carefully, wondering sadly why he had to pick now to decide to accept the military line. The elevator slid to a stop, and Daniel turned away to open the door. Jack strode across the lobby, and outside.

They were directed to a pair of massive wooden doors once they entered the Hall of Baetara. The dining hall was of same massive scale as their rooms. The cream marble made another appearance on the walls. The ceiling high above them was a dark reddish wood, inlaid with white in a cross pattern. The table was a mahogany colour, and massive, large enough for thirty or forty people. Jack crossed the carpeted room slowly, taking in the scurry and bustle of the servants, noticing Daniel slip away toward a partitioned area. That would be where the food was being set up for serving. Jack headed to the table, forcing himself to smile as he took a seat beside Rosaro.

Jack nodded, reaching for a glass of water that was sitting beside his plate. Even the dishware on this planet was impressive; images of animals playing in a field were etched onto the surface, with gold accenting the flowers and leaves. "Yes, the rooms are most impressive. I thank you for selecting such fine quarters for my stay."

Rosaro smiled slightly, and leaned back, allowing Zelan the chance to put eggs and some meat onto his plate. Jack felt Daniel approach behind him, and moved aside also. Rosaro continued chatting to Jack about the weather for the day as he ignored the two servants in front of them. When Daniel was done he bowed, and moved away silently.

Rosaro and Jack chatted about inconsequential things while they ate. The remainder of the city tour would take place first thing, and was to last a couple of hours. Rosaro talked about his home in the countryside, and Jack talked about his cabin in Minnesota. Jack would have enjoyed the conversation more if he wasn't constantly wondering where Daniel was. When he couldn't stand it anymore he raised his hand, and Daniel appeared at his elbow almost instantly.

"You rang?" Daniel's voice was soft, but Jack could hear the smile in his voice. He looked up into laughing blue eyes, and was glad that Daniel was finding something so humourous.

"Yes, Daniel. Is there any coffee, or at least something hot to drink?" The younger man nodded and bowed, and walked back over to the partitioned area, returning quickly with a clear hot drink. "What is it?"

"It is a tea, sir, very delicious." Jack caught the slight eye roll that accompanied the statement, and grinned as he understood that it was anything but.

"I understand. Thanks, Daniel." Another bow, and he was gone again. Jack took a sip of the tea and frowned at the bitter taste. He turned back to Rosaro.

"You are most fortunate to have found such a fine servant, Colonel." Jack was startled by the admission. This was the first time that Rosaro had acknowledged Daniel's existence voluntarily.

Suddenly Jack felt the hot tea going down the wrong pipe. He coughed, trying to clear his airway. The teacup was taken out of his hand, and he felt a glass being pressed against his lips. "Drink this, Jack," Daniel whispered in his ear. Jack took a few sips of the water, breathing easier as he did. "You OK?" Daniel's free hand was rubbing Jack's back, the other placing the glass carefully on the table. Jack nodded, and felt a sudden loss as Daniel moved away again.

Jack looked up after a long moment and saw the Elder still looking at him questioningly. "No, Rosaro, Daniel is not available to borrow. I'm afraid that is non-negotiable."

Rosaro smiled slightly and nodded. "I meant no offense, Colonel. Consider the matter closed." He went back to his breakfast as if nothing unusual had happened.

Jack stared at his plate, his appetite gone. He continued to sip at his water, wishing desperately he could keep Daniel by his side for the rest of this mission.

Daniel stood by the serving area keeping an eye on his 'master'. He hadn't been able to overhear the conversation between Jack and Rosaro; the noise at the serving station wasn't loud, but it did a good job of covering the sound of their voices. He watched them talking and laughing, and then saw the hand rise for his attention. Daniel had an image of Jack raising his hand to ask to go to the bathroom, like he had done in one particularly boring briefing, and had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. He headed over to the table.

"Yes, Daniel. Is there any coffee, or at least something hot to drink?" Daniel saw the look of relief on Jack's face and realized that he'd been worried. Daniel went to fetch the drink for Jack, wishing that he could do something to keep his friend reassured, but knowing that it would be almost impossible. He returned to the serving area, resuming his watch. His mind was refusing to co-operate today as his imagination kept going back to this morning. Waking up to Jack curling up against him, the initial surprise giving way to warmth and desire...

His attention snapped back to the table as Jack started coughing and choking. Daniel ran forward snatching the tea away before Jack could burn himself, encouraging him to drink some water. He would have slapped him on the back but wasn't sure what would happen if he was seen striking a master. So Daniel rubbed Jack's back gently until he was breathing again, making sure he was all right. He stayed close this time. He knew he was hovering, but the look on Jack's face had been one of surprise and fear. Daniel wanted to find out what exactly it was that had caused it; Jack didn't scare easily.

Rosaro was looking at Jack in a way that made Daniel's skin crawl. Jack sipped a little more water, and shot the Elder a look that he had only seen used on Goa'uld. "No, Rosaro, Daniel is not available to borrow. I'm afraid that is non-negotiable."

Daniel moved back to the serving area, barely registering what was going on around him. Zelan hadn't said anything about trading of servants, but he supposed that if they were treated as property it was possible. He knew Jack wouldn't 'loan' him to anyone, but it was a disturbing thought.

The meal finished in silence. Jack didn't touch anything else except the water. Daniel was worried that Jack was so thrown off by this mission. It didn't seem normal.

After breakfast they headed out to finish the tour of the city core they had started the day before. Daniel and Zelan followed the other two men in silence, listening to the conversation. Jack had a list of questions he'd memorized, and he was asking them in the proper places, flattering Rosaro for more information, and acting more at ease. Although Daniel did notice that Jack was searching for him a lot more often today.

They returned to the Hall of Baetara for a light luncheon before the negotiations could start. Jack requested the bitter tea several times, touching Daniel's hand each time he took a cup from him. Daniel smiled, and tried to project a confidence he wasn't feeling. He returned to the serving area, and grabbed some bread and meat for himself, eating quickly while watching the table for the next signal.

Daniel had just finished his brief meal when the two men at the table stood to leave. Zelan gestured that he should follow; obviously they were heading to the negotiations. Daniel fell in behind Jack and they headed down the hall to the conference room.

Jack was glad that they'd found out that Daniel could come into the negotiations with them. They'd brought a notebook for taking notes, and had the list of possible trading goods that General Hammond had given them before they had left.

It would have been nicer if Daniel would have been able to take over the discussions, but they would have to settle for notes and talking at breaks. Jack scanned the men sitting at the table. Rosaro sat at the head of the table as the Elder of Baetara and host of the meeting. Beside him was Berat, the man whose family controlled the trinium mines. He was young, in his thirties, his long dark hair bound loosely in a ponytail. He was very serious, and overly polite, almost cold and clinical. It was Berat who Jack would be most interested in dealing with at this session.

To the other side of Rosaro sat Eben who was in charge of a rather large medicinal factory. He was roughly the same age as their host, a large and jovial man who was from an extremely old and wealthy family. Apparently pharmaceuticals were a big business here in Baetara. Judging from the properties of some of the plants that they had heard about on their walk into the city from the Stargate, Jack knew that Doctor Frasier would be very interested in obtaining samples of whatever they could get.

There was a long ritual for starting the negotiations. Their host served the bitter tea, after it was prepared and delivered by Zelan. Jack sipped the beverage and listened to Rosaro list off the accomplishments of his office. It was meant to impress, and Jack spent most of the time wishing that they had been closer to a city with a shorter-term government.

The remaining men offered highlights of their careers. Jack shifted nervously in his chair as it became obvious that he would also be required to share his exploits in negotiation. After some thought, he decided to go over the trade agreements with the Land of Light and Cimmeria. Jack was relieved when this seemed to satisfy the others, and the talks could finally begin.

A couple of hours later a break was called, and Jack spent a few moments chatting with Eben about the fishing in one of the nearby lakes. He excused himself and signaled for Daniel to follow him to a window seat.

"So what do you think," Jack asked quietly, as he sat down and gestured for Daniel to do the same. The younger man had been standing behind him for the whole session, and would be glad to have a chance for a real break.

"I think that Eben is very interested in exchanging medical knowledge," Daniel replied. "Did you see his face when you talked about some of the vaccines? I think he's not going to be much trouble at all."

Jack nodded. "It would be nice to get some of that analgesic he was talking about. If it works half as well as he says, I'll never have to worry about my knee bothering me again. Just think, I could keep going through the Gate forever!"

Daniel grinned mischievously. "Well, I know Sam is waiting for you to retire so she can get SG1..."

"OK, so analgesic is top of the list of things to get, right?" Jack winked, and the two men laughed softly.

"I think that Berat is the one we have to watch." Daniel turned suddenly serious, and Jack felt a pang that they were on such a tight schedule. "He's young, but he seems to be pretty sharp."

"Yeah, I don't think that he's going to settle for better mining techniques," Jack agreed regretfully. He looked up and noticed Berat watching Daniel carefully. Something about that look reminded him of a cat closing in on a canary, and he felt a sudden need to make sure that the cage door was locked.

Jack turned his attention back to his friend, who wasn't in a position to see Berat's leer. Jack reached up and cupped Daniel's cheek. The younger man gasped, and started to pull back. Jack leaned forward, and whispered, "We're being watched." Daniel relaxed, and Jack ran his thumb along the strong jaw, feeling the muscle under the warm skin. Jack moved again, this time to brush his lips gently against Daniel's.

The sensation was overwhelming, the softness unexpected. Jack looked into Daniel's blue eyes, amazed by the trust and desire he saw reflected there.

Jack focused on a movement behind Daniel and realized that the talks were about to begin again. "We'll continue this later," Jack promised as he stole a quick kiss, pressing their lips together lightly. He smiled as Daniel nodded, eyes still wide, breath noticeably rapid. Jack stood up and walked to the table, hyperaware of Daniel's presence behind him.

As he took his seat, Jack noticed Berat glaring at him. He returned the look, narrowing his eyes. Berat nodded his head a fraction, and then returned his attention to Rosaro.

Daniel didn't miss the look that Berat had given Jack. He wasn't sure, his back had been to him at the time, but he was fairly certain that Berat had been the one watching. The reason Jack had kissed him.

Jack had kissed him. He couldn't get his mind past that. Jack had reached across the window seat, and kissed him.

Daniel forced his mind back to the present. There would be time enough later to figure out what it meant. Right now there was a job to do.

He focused on the back of Jack's head, listening to the conversation. Eben was interested in vaccines for diseases that, by the sounds of it, Earth had already discovered and could manufacture cheaply. In return, there was that analgesic, and something that looked like it could be a possible cure for the common cold.

Arrangements were made, and Jack raised his hand. Daniel moved to his side, and took the murmured request for water. As he handed Jack the glass, their hands touched, and Daniel felt an electric shock course through his skin. He glanced down into warm brown eyes as he released the glass to Jack, and then stood back slightly, a smile playing at the edge of his lips.

The negotiations for the trinium were beginning, and Daniel was getting the feeling they were right about this not being easy.

"I'm sorry, Colonel, but there is no way that we could possibly trade the volume of trinium that you are looking for." Berat sat back and signaled his servant.

"So, what can you spare?" Berat gave a number. "Are you serious?" Jack sounded upset; the number was considerably lower than the original.

"I understand that, but I was under the impression that we would be able to access a quantity of trinium..."

"Well you were informed incorrectly. That decision was made before I was consulted."

"Is there anything that we could offer that would perhaps change your mind?" Daniel wished he could talk to Jack. That tone of voice was one he hadn't heard much outside of meetings with Senator Kinsey, and they really couldn't afford for emotions to take over. They needed that trinium far too much.

There was a long silence. Daniel looked across the table and saw Berat staring straight at him, undisguised lust on his face. Daniel dropped his eyes to the floor, desperately wanting to be somewhere else.

"No! That is not an option!" Jack yelled, slamming his hand onto the table. "Daniel will not be part of any trade..."

"Anmassung!" Daniel looked up in time to see Berat grab his servant and backhand him so hard the man was thrown into the serving station behind him.

Jack's shoulders tensed, and Daniel held his breath. A heavy silence descended over the table.

"You know my price," Berat spat out at Jack. Then he rose and stormed out of the room.

Daniel heard Rosaro order Zelan and Eben's servant to remove the unconscious man from the Hall. But his eyes were glued to Jack's back; the older man was shaking violently.

Jack made his apologies to Rosaro, explaining that he would not be able to make dinner that evening, because he was very exhausted from the negotiations. He'd gotten his anger back under control, and was hoping that he sounded calmer than he felt.

Jack had heard Berat's message loud and clear. He was wealthy enough to risk killing his slave over this. There was nothing that he really needed that SGC could provide. He wanted Daniel, and was willing to toss the whole deal out the window to get him.

'Over my dead body,' Jack thought to himself as they left the hall and headed back to their rooms. It was a short walk, but he found himself looking over his shoulder constantly, wanting to make absolutely sure that Daniel was still with him. His friend was going to think he was insane, but that was fine. As long as Daniel was close by to think it.

When they reached their floor, Jack walked toward their rooms, knowing that Daniel would be following. He waited for Daniel to open the front door of their suite, and walked over to the fireplace, where he stood and traced the inlaid pattern on the mantle with his eyes.

They were finally here, the only place Jack had wanted to be since the kiss. His heart pounded at the memory, at the thought of the desire in Daniel's eyes that had reflected the need he had felt. But now that the afternoon had gone so horribly wrong, would Daniel still feel the same way? He had to know that the kiss had been a reaction to Berat, Jack claiming his property in the most visible way possible. He wouldn't blame the younger man for giving him hell.

No, that wasn't the sound of Daniel Jackson giving anyone hell. That was him being worried, concerned that someone was hurting, wanting to know if he could help. Jack felt a hand grasp his shoulder.

That was Daniel starting to get really worried. The hand tightened. Jack sighed and turned around slowly. He kept his eyes lowered, focusing on Daniel's tie.

"Jack, hey, it's alright. Before we left Zelan told me that Molan would be fine, he was just stunned by the blow."

"No, it's not alright!" Jack felt his anger return. "Damn it Daniel, I sat by and let another man be attacked. I didn't do a damned thing..."

"Would you have hit Berat for it? Then he would have to take Molan home and probably beaten him to death to make a point." Jack watched as Daniel's hand came up to his chin, tilting his head so that he had to look at the younger man's face. "You did the only thing you could in the situation. It wasn't right, it wasn't pleasant, but it was the only thing you could do."

They stood like that for several moments, Daniel's hand on Jack's shoulder, the two men watching each other. Daniel's face was still creased with worry, and Jack was starting to feel like a heel for causing the concern. He gave a small smile, doubting it would convince his friend of anything, and nodded.

Daniel lowered his hand, and Jack missed the weight almost immediately. "Dinner will be here shortly; why don't I run you a bath, give you a chance to relax." He turned toward the bathroom.

Jack grabbed Daniel's hand. "No." He pulled the younger man close, holding the hand tightly. "Please stay." Jack felt like a child looking for reassurance, but he didn't want his friend to go anywhere without him here, even to an adjoining room.

"Don't go." Jack had an overwhelming urge to hold Daniel. He remembered the look on Daniel's face right after he'd kissed him, and decided to risk it. He wrapped his arms around his friend, holding him close, burying his face into the dark jacket, and inhaling the scent of aftershave and sweat and Daniel. He felt the other man's arms move around his waist, one hand moving in a slow, rhythmic motion on Jack's back.

"I'm not going anywhere. Please, talk to me. What's wrong?" Jack looked up into eyes so hopelessly blue, so filled with love and concern that he thought his heart would break.

Jack brushed his lips against Daniel's, the slightest of touches, asking permission for more. He held his breath as he waited for a response. Maybe kissing him with an audience was fine for the sake of the mission. Maybe this more intimate location would be a different story.

It seemed an eternity they stood there. Jack was worried he'd stepped over some boundary, and he was about to apologize when Daniel finally moved.

It happened so fast that Jack was caught off balance. He wasn't prepared for the passion of the kiss. Daniel was pressing him against the fireplace, his need urgent against Jack's body. He moaned under the assault, opening his mouth to allow Daniel's insistent tongue to take possession.

When they finally broke for air, Jack ran the back of his hand down the side of Daniel's face, luxuriating in the feel of the warm, smooth skin.

Jack moved toward the bedroom, still holding the other man close. He kicked the door open, and pulled Daniel toward the bed. He kissed Daniel deeply again, struggling with his suit jacket, throwing the offending garment to the floor. Jack was vaguely aware of Daniel somehow getting the uniform jacket off of him as he was pushed onto the mattress.

Jack's senses were in overdrive as he pulled Daniel's shirt out of his pants. His hands finally made contact with skin, and the warmth of it beneath his fingers was almost enough to send him over the edge. He broke away long enough to remove Daniel's tie, and started working on the buttons. He gazed up to see Daniel's face, clouded with desire, urging him on.

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat, and it took a moment for Jack to realize it wasn't Daniel. The two men looked up to see Zelan standing at the end of the bed, eyes averted, holding a tray of food.

Jack suddenly remembered that Daniel had ordered dinner in their room. With great care, he turned his eyes back to Daniel, who was starting to blush furiously. He reached up and placed his hand on Daniel's cheek, and smiled.

"Just leave it on the chest," Jack said dismissively, moving his hand to undo the last couple of buttons on the shirt above him.

"Yes sir." There was the sound of a tray being placed on the hard surface, and then Zelan left the room.

Daniel's thoughts were racing. He'd just attacked Jack, stripped him half naked, and thrown him onto the bed. Not to mention the fact that he was currently straddling him.

Daniel was mortified. While Jack obviously was as interested as he was, he had hoped for a little more romance and a little less... rutting animal. Daniel winced.

He watched Zelan leave the room, incredibly self-conscious that Jack was still stripping him down in the presence of the other man. Jack seemed to be enjoying it though, taking his time on the last two buttons. Daniel heard the servants door grind shut, and sighed.

He looked back down to see Jack watching him thoughtfully. "Have you eaten at all today?"

"A... a little." Daniel remembered some bread and meat at lunch, but other than that, he'd been too busy.

Jack nodded, and dropped his hands. "Alright then, dinner first. It would be terribly bad for my ego to have you fainting away on me."

Daniel was relieved. A break would be good, give him a chance to calm down, to start this again, properly. He smiled, and moved off the bed.

"No, stay there," he ordered as Jack started to follow. Daniel grabbed the tray off the trunk, and carried it over to where Jack was now sitting. He placed the tray beside him, and took the covers off the dishes. "Let's see... cold meats, cheese, bread, fruit..." Daniel smiled as he went through the dishes listing off their contents.

Daniel watched as Jack picked up a handful of something that looked like grapes. Before he could react, Jack had reached across and popped one of them into his mouth. Daniel stared for a moment, unmoving.

Daniel nodded, and bit into the fruit, savouring the sweetness on his tongue. He swallowed, and then Jack was pressing another against his lips.

The thought struck him that he was actually being fed by Jack. He opened his mouth to receive the second piece of fruit, chewing slowly. Jack had left his hand on Daniel's cheek, his thumb stroking his lips gently. Daniel's breath caught at the strangeness of the whole moment, and he found himself inhaling instead of swallowing. He coughed, and felt Jack's hand leave his face to start pounding him on the back.

"OK Daniel, I know I'm supposed to be the master here, but please don't tell me I have to remind you when to breathe and when to swallow."

Daniel blushed furiously, lowering his eyes to the tray. This was so strange, to finally have what he wanted within reach. He felt like it could disappear at any moment.

"Hey," Daniel felt a hand under his chin, and Jack raised his head so he had to meet those intense brown eyes. "You all right?"

"Sudden?" Jack chewed thoughtfully on some of the grape-things as Daniel nodded.

"Carried away?" The two men smiled at each other. "We both did." Daniel went redder as he said it, not quite believing he was really having this conversation.

Jack grabbed some bread and meat, and made a sandwich, which he handed to Daniel. "Eat now, talk later."

Daniel took the food and nodded, the first bite reminding him how hungry he was.

He heard Jack laugh as he wolfed down the rest of the sandwich. "Easy Daniel, there's lots here, and we have all night."

Daniel continued eating, uncomfortable in the silence. When they weren't talking he was thinking, and thinking was making him nervous. He looked up and his eyes locked with Jack's, and he was struck again by how unreal this all was. He picked up another piece of fruit and started eating it.

Daniel smiled and felt a blush rise on his face. He was doing an awful lot of that today. He felt like he was sixteen and on his first date.

"OK sit here and finish, I'll be right back." Daniel watched Jack leave, and suddenly realized that except for the walk up the servants' stairway, they'd hardly been apart since they had arrived on Codacar. Daniel wondered how much of that had been from a concern for his welfare, and how much had been a result of Jack's now obvious interest? Daniel pondered this as he sucked the last of the fruit off of its pit.

Jack left Daniel eating as he headed to the bathroom. He wanted to yell with joy, and run down the halls laughing. He'd been amazed by the passion that Daniel had shown, and he felt much more at ease now that his feelings were out in the open.

He sobered when he thought of Daniel devouring the dinner. He'd have to watch to make sure that his demands weren't keeping his friend from eating. Daniel had tried to argue that he had been fine, but the amount of food he'd tucked away had shown that wasn't the case. Jack's guilt returned when he thought of Daniel being forced to play servant here, and decided he'd have to make up for it somehow.

Jack finished his business and was washing his hands at the sink when his eyes fell on the reflection of the bathtub in the mirror. He grinned wickedly. After all that hard work, he bet that Daniel would kill for a hot bath. Jack dried his hands, and set about filling the tub. It was enormous, big enough for three or four people; this was going to take a while. Jack rifled through the cupboard, and found a small bottle of oil. He sniffed it experimentally, and then poured some under the hot water, the room immediately smelling like musk and spices. His grin grew bigger; oh yes, this would be perfect.

Jack walked back to the bedroom, humming tunelessly to himself. What a glorious evening, time to forget the nastiness of this afternoon, and enjoy making Daniel forget it too.

He stopped just inside the doorway, watching Daniel lost deep in thought, sucking on the pit of one of the peach-like fruits. He savoured the moment, thinking of all the times he'd watched the archaeologist secretly.

Desire coursed through him as he thought about all the possibilities in the future. Life was good and about to get better.

"Daniel." He smiled as the younger man jumped and spun around. "Come on, I've got a surprise for you." Jack waited for Daniel to stand, and, putting his arm around his friend's shoulders, steered him toward the bathroom.

The tub was still filling when they entered, and the smell of spices in the steamy air was strong. Daniel gasped and turned to Jack, a brilliant smile on his face. "Thank you."

Jack gazed into Daniel's eyes, overcome with the gratitude and love he saw there. He reached forward and removed Daniel's shirt, which was still open across the smooth muscular chest. He tossed it into the corner behind the door. He slowly finished unbuttoning his own shirt, and it followed Daniel's onto the floor. He pulled the younger man close, reveling in the feel of the warm skin under his, rubbing his hands up and down Daniel's arms and back. He felt hands exploring his body as well, moaning as expert hands kneaded muscles he didn't even realize were tense until the were relaxing under the assault.

Jack leaned forward and closed his lips over Daniel's. He moaned again as he felt the mouth beneath his open, and he flicked his tongue against Daniel's teeth, trying to memorize the feel and taste. Jack's hands moved lower, cupping the firm buttocks through the slacks, pulling Daniel close against him. He gasped as their erections pressed together, the feeling so intense he was amazed he didn't come right there.

Jack pulled back to look in the younger man's eyes, not quite comprehending. Then he heard a splash behind him...

"Shit!" Jack spun around, turning off the tap quickly, the water stopping only a couple of inches below the top. He sighed in relief, and turned as he heard a strange noise behind him. Daniel was biting his lip, trying desperately to restrain his laughter.

Jack walked slowly over to his friend, eyes narrowing even as a smile was creeping across his face. "Go ahead, laugh it up, why doncha?"

Daniel's mirth seemed to increase as he backed into the sink, eyes wide in mock horror. "Oh, no, don't!"

Jack sprinted the few feet between them, and kissed Daniel fiercely. He stripped the rest of Daniel's clothes off quickly, before removing what was left of his uniform. He gazed at the naked body in front of him, having to force himself to breathe. Jack had always known that Daniel had a fantastic body underneath those baggy clothes, but seeing it up close and knowing he would soon be holding it in his arms was so much more than he ever imagined.

"My God," Jack moaned. He stepped closer to the younger man, Daniel's need rubbing against his own. He allowed himself to enjoy what he had never dreamed he could have. The feel of Daniel's desire, and his own urgent need for completion were all he knew as he moved toward release.

Daniel came to his senses to find himself shivering as a cold draft from the door moved against his sweat soaked skin. The arms wrapped around him tightened, and he felt Jack's breath hot against his ear.

"We have a perfectly warm bathtub waiting for us, you know," the older man murmured. Daniel allowed himself to be led toward the tub, exhaustion pushed aside as he tried to keep in contact with his lover. Daniel smiled as the word suddenly sprang into his mind. It was so wonderful in its novelty.

Daniel stepped carefully into the tub, sinking into the waiting warmth. The size of it astounded him, and he sank in allowing the heat to loosen his stiff muscles. He snuggled close to Jack, and he laid his head against the other man's neck. He felt lips brush against his forehead as his eyes closed and he drifted into sleep.

He awoke a short time later, to Jack shaking him gently. "Hey, maybe we should get out of here before we turn into ice cubes."

Daniel suddenly noticed that the water was a lot cooler than it had been. Damn, he'd missed the entire bath with Jack. He let Jack help him up and out of the tub, and wrapped a large towel around him. Daniel stood watching the older man pull the plug in the tub, and return to finish drying him off.

He barely registered Jack moving him to the bedroom, and his warm body spooning up in the bed behind him.

Daniel felt himself slowly sliding towards sleep as Jack's arms moved around him, holding him close.

Daniel woke up alone in the large bed. He reached out for Jack, trying to figure out where he was. Then he remembered that Jack had gone back to the Gate to report in to Hammond, and had told Daniel to get back to sleep when he'd tried to join him.

"No way, you're doing way too much work as it is. You don't need to go traipsing across the countryside again." Jack had smiled, and kissed him deeply, the kind of kiss that promised better things would follow.

Daniel sighed, and rolled over, staring at the canopy above him. He played the scene in the bathroom over and over in his mind. It would have been nicer if he'd been awake for more of it, but there was always later. Daniel stretched, luxuriating in the thought of the future, the possibilities opening up before him.

He grabbed his watch off of the small table beside the bed, checking the time. Jack should be back in about half an hour, which gave Daniel time to clean up and get ready for the negotiations.

Daniel stood and headed to the bathroom, remembering along the way that at least part of his suit was probably still on the floor. He was preparing himself for a solid half hour of getting wrinkles out by hand when he realized that he wasn't alone. He turned toward the window and recognized Berat standing beside the drapery.

Daniel's first reaction was to continue on to the bathroom and grab some clothes to cover himself with. Standing naked in front of Berat was not high on his list of things to do today. But he knew that that would jeopardize Jack's standing at the negotiations, and he wouldn't risk it if he could help it. Daniel swallowed his discomfort and averted his eyes, crossing his hands as discretely as he could in front of himself.

"My master is not in right now, Master Berat. " Daniel forced his voice to be calm. "He will be back momentarily, however. If you would just allow me one moment to dress, I will gladly see to your comfort while you wait."

"I am not here to see your master. I am quite aware that he is at the Chappa'ai, and I know he will not return quickly." Daniel risked a glance upward. He was horrified to see Berat approaching him, a leer on his face. "Now, let's see what we can do to make your master's negotiations a little more... successful." Berat had closed the distance between them, and was reaching for his arm; Daniel flinched and took a step backwards.

Berat grabbed Daniel's arm hard, pulling him roughly toward him. "Your master comes from a strange land indeed, where a servant would fight back. Very... intriguing." Daniel's head was jerked back by a rough finger, forcing him to look Berat in the eye. He realized the man was getting off on this. That made a sort of sense; a servant refusing would be rare here, and that would be why Berat was so interested in him. Daniel forced himself to be passive, lowering his eyes and slumping his shoulders as if defeated. Jack would be here soon, and if he could just hold out a little longer...

"Nice try, but I think not. I know this is not you, and I expect you to not disappoint me."

Daniel heard the sound of a door closing, and relief washed over him. "My master will not be happy to find you here..." He stopped as Molan walked into the room. A dark bruise marked where the servant had been hit yesterday, and his arms showed signs of more recent abuse.

"Colonel O'Neill has been delayed, Master." Molan's voice was soft and hesitant, a stark contrast to the words he was speaking. "He will not be here for at least another hour." The servant pulled a bottle out of his pocket, uncorking it and pouring some liquid onto a small cloth.

Daniel's eyes were glued to the cloth as he struggled against Berat's grasp. The master held him fast as Molan approached and lifted the cloth to Daniel's face.

"No," he moaned, as his mind registered a pungent antiseptic smell. He felt his legs turn to rubber, and he slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Do not worry, pretty one, I am sure you will enjoy what I have planned for you," Daniel heard Berat whisper, before the darkness overtook him.

Daniel awoke on the ground, tied up and blindfolded, wrapped in a heavy blanket. He could smell machine oil and metal, and that told him he must be in one of the mining communities outside of Baetara. His heart sank as it dawned on him that Jack would probably be back at their suite by now, alone, with no way of knowing where he was. Daniel remembered the scene at the negotiations yesterday, and was sure that Jack would know exactly who had done it.

Daniel struggled against his bonds, trying to loosen the ropes that held him. He hadn't heard anyone nearby, so there was a chance that he could still escape if he got them off. He stopped moving as he heard a door open and close nearby, and heavy booted feet moved in his direction. His blindfold was ripped off, and he blinked as the light burned his eyes. As his sight adjusted, he noticed that Berat had his back turned to him, placing something on the bed. Molan stood across from him, watching Daniel carefully.

Berat turned and grinned at Daniel. "Well, nice to see you are with us at last."

Daniel was sure he wasn't going to enjoy whatever it was Berat had in mind. Molan moved around the bed and knelt beside Daniel, removing the blanket, and untying the ropes. He pulled Daniel up to his feet, holding him steady as feeling returned to his legs. Daniel shuddered as the chill air cooled his naked skin, and as Berat's eyes raked across his body. Molan moved Daniel toward the bed, and motioned for Daniel to sit on the mattress. The servant bowed to his master, and then left the room.

Daniel sat carefully, hoping that being submissive would keep Berat away from him, at least long enough for Jack to figure out where he was. He knew Jack would find him; his friend had never let him down before, and he wouldn't stop until he was back safe. Daniel averted his eyes and froze, catching sight of the various devices that were lying on the bed.

"And now, pretty, you will learn obedience." Berat's voice chilled him further, and Daniel recoiled as he saw the other man reach for a whip on the mattress in front of him.

Jack sighed as he finally closed the door to the suite behind him. He leaned against the frame, closing his eyes and willing himself to relax. The trip to the Gate had been uneventful. He'd told the general the details of the negotiations, including Berat's interest in Daniel. Hammond had naturally agreed that trading the archaeologist was out of the question, but that Jack should continue to try to reach an agreement with Berat. He was to check in again at the end of the day and report his progress, and they would decide how to proceed from there.

Jack had walked back as quickly as he could, wanting to steal a little more time with Daniel before they had to go back to the Hall. Thoughts of last night, and holding his sleeping lover in his arms, spurred him on. As he'd entered the Suburbs though, an unfamiliar servant had stopped him. The man told Jack that Rosaro was looking for him, and that it was urgent they speak immediately, before the talks resumed. Jack thanked the servant, feeling another rush of rage when the man looked shocked at the gratitude, then hurried off at double time for the building the servant indicated.

After a long wait for Rosaro, an impatient Jack was ushered into a sitting room. The Elder was wearing nightclothes, and looked like he had just woken up. After an awkward discussion, Jack learned that Rosaro had not asked for him, and had no servant matching the description. Jack had excused himself politely, and hurried back to the hotel.

He reminded himself several times that this was probably a misunderstanding. A servant had misheard an order. Rosaro was too tired to have recognized a servant he'd talked to last night. Jack would not panic, Daniel was a grown man, and his fussing had done nothing except inconvenience him yesterday. Jack wouldn't take their new relationship as a reason to constantly watch over his lover. That would seriously harm the team and get one of them killed.

Jack looked at his watch. They had to be at the Hall in twenty minutes, and he still hadn't heard any indication that Daniel was awake. At least he would have a bit of fun waking the younger man up, even if it had to be quick. Jack smiled slightly, and started heading toward the bedroom.

"Daniel," he called. "Rise and shine!" Jack stopped at the door, staring at the empty bed. Daniel's suit jacket hung in the armoire where Jack had put it this morning before leaving; his watch and glasses sat on the table beside the bed.

Jack turned around and headed back to the main room. "Daniel?" All the doors were open, but Jack knocked on the frame to the bathroom just in case. "Hey, you in here?" A quick look showed he wasn't. Jack searched out the rest of the rooms, panic growing as he finally headed back into the bedroom. A check revealed all of Daniel's clothing was still there.

Jack ran out of the suite, waiting impatiently for the elevator, fumbling with the catch in his haste. He pushed the button for the lobby and collapsed against the back of the car as it descended slowly. Jack fought with his fear as he remembered Berat watching Daniel at the negotiations. He willed the elevator to move faster, and had the door open before it had completely settled with the lobby floor. He tore out of the hotel and across the street to the Hall, looking for Berat.

Jack burst into the Hall, and headed straight toward the negotiation table. Servants fled out of this path, but he barely noticed them as he zeroed in on Rosaro, standing near one of the windows. He was shaking with rage as he approached the Elder.

"Don't give me that! Daniel has been taken from my rooms, while I was conveniently distracted by your summons!"

Jack started moving forward again, and Rosaro backed up against the window seat, hands held up as if to push the angry man away. "As I told you this morning I made no such summons. The servant was not mine. Are you sure your man was taken? He is not performing some service for you?"

"Not unless he's taken to wandering the streets naked." At the surprised look from the Elder, Jack explained. "His clothes are still in our rooms. He is not."

Jack watched as Rosaro considered this, a look of concentration on his face. The Elder raised his hand, and Zelan moved forward. "Call Masters Berat and Eben here immediately. Tell them it is of the utmost urgency."

Jack watched as the servant bowed and headed out of the room. He was half tempted to run after him and talk to Berat and Eben on his own, but the look on Rosaro's face told him that might not be a good idea. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet, barely able to contain his impatience with the wait.

"Colonel O'Neill, we will find your man. It is a grave offense to steal property, especially from a guest. I will locate those responsible, and if necessary, they will pay restitution for any damages or loss."

Jack stared at Rosaro, his mind trying to absorb the words coming from the Elder's mouth. "Property? Restitution?" He took a deep breath and tried to lower his voice to a more normal pitch. "While we were talking, I was more than happy to play your little game, to meet on your terms to try and work out the trade agreement, but I have to tell you...."

"Master!" Jack whirled around as Zelan returned to the room. "Eben is on his way, but Berat is not in his rooms. His things are gone, as are his servants."

"Servants?" Rosaro turned to look at Zelan, his eyes showing some anger. "He was only permitted to bring one. We saw only Molan."

Zelan, bowed his head, staring intently at his feet, fear moving across his face. "I saw Molan talking to another servant this morning. When I asked him about it, he said it was one of Berat's men, called to take a message..."

"And why didn't you tell me this before?" Rosaro raised a hand to strike his servant.

"We don't have time for this!" Jack stepped between Rosaro and Zelan, challenging the Elder with his eyes to continue the strike. The hand dropped, and Jack let out a forced breath. "Berat made his interest in Daniel very clear last night, and if we delay it's just going to give him more of a chance to harm my... my man." Jack turned back to Zelan.

Zelan shook his head, looking like he wanted to sink into the floor. Jack considered how he'd feel if he were in the other man's shoes, with two angry masters interrogating him. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"Zelan, look at me." The servant looked up, eyes wide. "I am not going to hurt you. I need to know anything that might help us get Daniel back though. Anything at all, no matter how insignificant. Now, think carefully... did Molan and this other servant say or do anything that might help us out?"

Zelan's eyes darted over Jack's shoulder to Rosaro, then returned to Jack's face.

"You're not going to get hurt over this. There's been a lot of excitement this morning, it's understandable that you might forget something." Jack was beginning to get impatient again, but showing that would slow things down, he knew that.

Zelan nodded, fear still in his eyes. "Yes, there was one thing. He requested Schlaftrunk last night."

Rosaro looked shocked. "A young man, requiring a sleeping draught? And one so powerful?"

"Odd, his servant requested an antiseptic from me last night as well." Eben's strong voice announced the presence of the pharmaceutical owner, his face contemplative. "He said it was for a cut Berat had given himself. I gave him the whole bottle, and he hadn't returned it yet. I thought perhaps to get it back today. But if he mixed the Schlaftrunk with the antiseptic, he could have produced something that would render a man unconscious. Something that the man would not have to drink..."

"Chloroform." Everyone turned to look at Jack. "A substance on our world, knocks someone out if they inhale too much of it. Sounds very much like what you are describing."

Rosaro nodded. "If that is the case, then Berat most likely has your property. And you are right, we must move quickly if you wish it returned to you safely. Zelan, have a transport at the landing pad as quickly as you can. Berat has a property near his mine; we will go there immediately."

"What makes you think he would go to his own house if he's done this? Wouldn't he try to hide or something?"

"Colonel O'Neill, it is obvious your ways are not our ways. Why would Berat hide? He is a powerful man, and if you were Codash he would only pay restitution for any damages caused to your servant. He has no reason to hide." Rosaro moved toward the door.

"Wait! You said this was a grave offense!" Jack felt his anger rising within him again. He could be on the verge of losing something very important that he had only just found, and the man helping him was treating him like a little boy with a lost puppy.

"And he will. To mistreat another man's servant is not serious; but to steal a man's property and damage it, that is something else entirely. It is a distinction not often made, O'Neill. I am making an exception in your case."

Jack stared at Rosaro's back as the Elder walked out the door, disgust and fear filling him. Berat would be punished for what he was doing to Daniel, but the end result was still that his lover could be seriously injured before that happened.

He forced his feet to follow Rosaro. Like it or not, this was still his best chance of getting Daniel back at all.

Daniel lay on the bed, trying to curl away from the beating Berat was giving him. Trying to overpower his captor had gotten him nothing except Berat's servants tying his hands to the bed frame above him. Another lash landed on his back, and Daniel bit his lip to keep from crying out. Berat seemed determined to break his acquisition's spirit, and was throwing all his strength into the attempt.

Daniel heard the whip drop to the floor, and almost moaned in relief. His back was on fire from the beating, and his arms were sore from trying to protect his head while bound. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.

He heard movement behind him, and flinched as he felt the bed dip with Berat's weight. He shuddered as hands started moving up and down his sides and arms.

"Now, have you decided to become more agreeable? I have liniment here that will take care of these scars quite nicely." Daniel gasped as Berat dragged a finger across one of the cuts on his back, trailing flame as it went. "No? Pity. I would rather enjoy your spirit to work with me, not against."

As Berat talked he moved his hand down Daniel's side to his hip, stopping to rub the skin tenderly. Daniel tried to swallow the revulsion. The thought of this man having his hands on him disgusted him, but it was a chance to breathe, to think. He had to get out of here.

If Berat decided to start beating him again, Daniel knew it wouldn't be long before he would be permanently injured, or worse, dead. There were no sarcophagi here, no chance for Jack to revive him.

Jack. Daniel had to live, to see him again. Jack was feeling enough guilt and remorse on this mission, if Daniel died...

He needed a plan, a way to get out of here. Fighting hadn't worked, but maybe if he played along he would get more of a respite, could gain some more time for Jack to find him.

Daniel imagined Jack's hands on him, stroking and caressing. His mind pulled up images from the previous night in their rooms, and he felt his body begin to respond as he concentrated on thoughts of his lover.

"There now, that's better." Berat's voice was soft, almost soothing. "Let me get that liniment, take care of that pain for you..."

Daniel held tight to the memory of Jack, closing his eyes against the sight of Berat crossing the room toward him, a small bottle in hand. The liniment was cold on his back, but the pain disappeared almost immediately.

"See... much better like this." Berat sat on the bed again, and began stroking Daniel. "Such a lovely servant, so unusual, so spirited." The hands wandered lower, to his hips and buttocks, and Daniel squeezed his eyes tighter.

Jack sat in one of the uncomfortable seats in the transport, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. A part of his mind had been impressed with the transport, sort of a helicopter without blades. The speed and silence of the machine was incredible, and under better circumstances Jack would have been very interested in the technology. But he kept going back to the look on Berat's face the day before, and the fact that Daniel was with him, without clothing or defenses.

Jack allowed his eyes to wander around the interior of the cabin. Rosaro sat near the pilot, giving instructions and watching the instruments. Zelan was somewhere behind Jack, sitting silently and watching his Master for commands.

Eben and his servant were bent over a case, pulling out various jars and bottles, and discussing them intently. They seemed to be checking levels and deciding what they would need to have handy once they arrived at their destination.

He watched Eben as he spoke with his servant. The man wasn't just the maker of pharmaceuticals; he knew an awful lot about their practical use as well. Jack was impressed that the older man had insisted on coming along with a medical kit, and had seemed genuinely concerned about Daniel's welfare. He continued to watch the conversation, trying to recall the word Daniel had used for such a relationship. Love struck.

No, Eben didn't seem to be in love with his servant, he just treated him like a human being, something so rare on this world that it was considered a sign of infatuation.

Jack fidgeted in his seat, and checked his watch to gage their progress. He looked up to see Eben watching him with a sad, sympathetic smile. At least he had found one ally on this strange planet. He was glad that Eben would be with him when they found Daniel.

They landed shortly afterwards near a large manor house. Jack jumped out of the transport, following Rosaro and Eben toward the mansion. Halfway across the lawn they were met by a servant, and a rapid conversation passed between the Elder and the other man. Finally Rosaro turned back to Eben and the increasingly impatient Jack.

"Berat is not here, although the gardener says there was a call for a servant to join him at a house nearer the mines. That was a few hours ago. It will not take us long to get there."

"This is his Master, right? How do we know he isn't sending us on a wild goose... erm, I mean, misleading us to protect Berat?"

"Lying to a Master is punishable by death. For him to mislead us would certainly end with us coming back for retribution."

Jack winced at that, and hoped for Daniel's and his own sake that the gardener was telling the truth. To be honest, being led on a merry chase was starting to get his own back up. The three men headed back to the transport to continue their search for Daniel.

Daniel groaned as Berat rolled him onto his back. The liniment had taken care of the welts on his back, but his arms were still stiff and sore, and moving was torture. Daniel opened his eyes briefly, and saw his captor smiling down at him, obviously mistaking his groan for one of pleasure. Berat stood and began removing his robe.

Daniel glanced around the room quickly. Maybe if he convinced Berat to untie him, he could find something to disable the other man, and make his escape. His heart sank as he saw a large man standing guard at the door, one of the servants who had joined them here a short time ago. Even if he could take out Berat, there was no way he would get past their chaperon.

"And now, let's see some of that passion, slave. Let's see if we can make this interesting."

Daniel turned his head toward the now naked Berat. He smiled in what he hoped was a seductive fashion, looking up through his lashes. "It would be much more interesting if you would untie me... then I could pleasure you properly," he whispered seductively. Daniel managed to keep the grimace to himself as Berat's eyes lit up.

"Oh yes, I think that can be arranged." Berat reached across and gave Daniel a view of his strong smooth chest and well muscled arms. This man might not do his own work, but he was definitely strong. He'd have to stick to delaying as long as possible, hoping to hell that Jack was on his way.

Arms released, Daniel moved them down and tried to rub some feeling back in them. Berat moved closer, and took Daniel's mouth with his own, his tongue pressing insistently for entrance. Daniel shut his eyes, trying to imagine Jack again, but this time he couldn't. This was not what Jack would do. He would never hold down Daniel like this, never force himself, certainly never bite his lip that hard.

Daniel cried out in pain, and struggled to get away from the punishing kiss, but Berat wasn't budging. Daniel felt his wrists being crushed in a powerful grip and forced back above his head, and the weight of the other man moving over top of him.

"No..." he finally managed to gasp, gaining a glare from Berat. Daniel finally managed to get one knee under his captor and pushed hard, overbalancing Berat and forcing him to let go of his wrists to keep from falling.

"Insolence!" Berat raised his arm, and Daniel braced himself for another beating.

The transport had landed at a second location, the house smaller and less elaborate. Jack noticed Rosaro's disdainful look and decided that Berat's little home away from home was well below the usual standard for someone of rank on Codacar. They moved quickly toward the building.

The front door was opened by Molan, who appeared to be surprised by their appearance. Hopefully that meant that the Master was still at home and not expecting them.

Jack could tell from where he was standing that the man was lying, and he felt himself losing patience. He pushed past Rosaro, and grabbed the servant by his vest, pulling him forward and shaking him roughly. "Where is he? Where's Daniel? Tell us, or so help me..."

A cry sounded from upstairs, and Jack pushed the frightened servant from him. He ran across the foyer and dashed up the stairs two at a time. He saw a servant standing guard in a doorway, and made an educated guess that this is where he would find Daniel and Berat. Zelan dashed past him, tackling the guard, moving with more speed and strength than Jack would have given the slight man credit for.

Jack ran into the room past the struggling servants, seeing Berat, naked on the bed, straddling Daniel, hand raised to strike.

"No!" Jack ran for the bed, grabbing Berat by the hair, dragging him off of his lover. He threw the man to the ground, looking over Daniel's body as he did so. Nasty red welts crossed his back, and the skin around his wrists was raw from being bound.

Jack was stunned by the injuries. Berat had tried to break Daniel, had done a decent job of trying to beat him into submission. This was torture, pure and simple. Jack swallowed back the nausea he felt that this had happened in such a short period of time. If they'd been any later...

Jack's attention was pulled back to Berat as the man stood shakily waving a fist in the air. "How dare you..."

"You are the one who kidnapped Daniel, you are the one who has obviously been hurting him..."

Jack's vision started to go white as his rage took control. "He is a human being. No one has the right to do this to him!" He took a step closer to Berat, murder in his heart.

Berat stood tall and looked at Jack as if he were something that had crawled out form under a rock. "I am a true Master of Codacar, a wealthy and powerful man. You cannot deny me what I want."

Jack's fist connected with Berat's jaw before Jack even realized he was moving. He was determined to make this man pay for injuring Daniel, make Berat suffer what he'd made countless servants go through. Jack slugged Berat several more times, hatred for everything he had seen this man do taking over his thoughts.

He was still swinging when Zelan and Molan finally pulled him off the unconscious Berat. Rosaro stepped in front of him, calling his name, entreating him to stop. Jack tried struggling against the two servants a few moments longer, then collapsed. His breath was short and ragged, and as he calmed down he realized his hand hurt like hell. He looked over to where Eben was busy examining Daniel.

Jack shook off the servants and walked over to the bed, sitting carefully on the edge. Eben was rubbing a lotion over the scars that were crossing Daniel's back and sides. Jack touched his lover's face gently, concern taking over as he saw the pain and exhaustion. "Hey, you OK?"

Daniel smiled slightly. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Aside from the obvious he didn't have a chance to do much."

Jack winced, the thought of the delays they'd had and what Daniel had had to go through while he waited. "We'll get you home and checked out by Doc Fraiser, and then some nice R&R, how's that sound?"

Daniel sat back in his seat on the transport. Berat had been taken into custody by the local version of the police department, on charges of stealing and defacing property. Jack had looked absolutely disgusted to have been saying that, and had apologized later, explaining that it was the strongest charge they'd been able to come up with. It didn't thrill him to be referred to as a possession, but if it meant locking Berat up for a long time, he could handle it.

He turned to look at Jack sitting in the seat next to him, head back, eyes closed, snoring softly. Daniel was glad Jack had finally fallen asleep; he'd probably been running on adrenaline for hours. Add to that the walk to and from the Gate, and Daniel was surprised he'd stayed awake as long as he had. Jack had fussed over him for a short time, and then took his hand tightly, making sure Daniel wasn't going to disappear while he rested. Daniel smiled as he glanced down at their entwined fingers, starting to lose feeling in his hand but really not caring.

Daniel shivered, pulling the heavy robe closer around him. Another hour or so and he could put this whole sordid mess behind him. Even spending time in the infirmary would be good about now. The liniment that Eben had used was taking care of the cuts, but the bandages were uncomfortable, and his muscles still ached from the abuse. He felt like he could sleep for a week, and could probably eat a horse if given half a chance.

Jack had told him that almost twelve hours had passed since Daniel had disappeared and they had gotten him back. It had felt longer, as if he'd been away for days. As if being with Berat in that bed had been an eternity, not just a few hours.

A touch on his shoulder drew him away from his thoughts. Zelan was kneeling beside him, a cup of hot tea in one hand, the other resting gently on Daniel's arm.

Daniel tried to lift an arm to take the cup, but his muscles felt like lead, and his hand raised only a few inches before falling back onto his lap.

Zelan smiled, and moved the cup toward his lips, holding it gently as Daniel sipped the sweet liquid. He drank it all, feeling warmth return to his body.

The servant nodded his head as he set the cup down on the floor beside him. "You are very lucky, Daniel. Not many Masters would go out of their way as yours has."

"You are fortunate that Berat did not do more harm to you. He has a reputation as a harsh man."

"Wait." The other servant knelt down again beside Daniel. "What will happen to Molan? To Berat's other servants?"

"They helped to steal you, and to cause you harm. They will most likely be put to death."

Daniel stared up in horror. "But if they didn't help, Berat would have killed them for disobeying!"

As Zelan moved to the back of the transport, Daniel squeezed Jack's hand, and closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to fall.

The rest of the trip was a blur to Daniel. The transport landed near the Gate, and they met with one of Rosaro's servants who had collected their things from the suite. His muscles were still protesting from the abuse they'd recently suffered, and had stiffened up considerably on the flight back from the mine. He was relieved when Jack slipped an arm around his waist, helping him out of the transport and up the steps to the Gate.

As they stood in front of the shimmering event horizon, Rosaro offered his apologies to Jack for the inconvenience he'd been caused. Jack muttered something that Daniel didn't quite catch but didn't sound very pleasant.

Eben approached with a small jar, which he handed to Daniel. "For the pain," he said, smiling gently. "I hope that you will visit us again Colonel O'Neill, Daniel. Except for this nasty business with Berat, it has been a pleasure knowing you."

Daniel took the jar carefully in his hands. "Thank you, Master Eben. If I may ask one thing though." Eben smiled and nodded, giving his permission. "Berat's servants... they were just following orders. Doing what they were supposed to do. No matter what they did they were facing death, so they chose the path that didn't put them in conflict with their Master. They shouldn't be put to death for being good servants, even if it was to a man like Berat. Could you please, maybe try to put a word in for them?"

Eben gave him an odd look at that. He'd probably had never been asked to save a servant's life before, and given Daniel's experience he was most likely confused by the request. Eben nodded though, and whispered, "I'll try," before moving back beside Rosaro. Daniel had no idea if he'd be successful or not, but from what he knew of the man, he was sure that he would indeed try.

Rosaro and Jack exchanged their farewells, making vague promises about continuing the negotiations another time. Daniel looked up at Jack's dark face, and was pretty certain that he'd be recommending the Pentagon against it.

Jack tightened his grip on Daniel as they turned and stepped through the Gate. Once on the other side, they walked down the ramp toward an unhappy looking General Hammond.

"No sir, that would be an understatement. I'll be glad to fill you in after we get Daniel to the infirmary. Berat wasn't too happy we didn't want to trade, and decided to play a round of 'kidnap the archaeologist'. Fortunately the archaeologist in question was tougher than he looked." Daniel looked up into smiling brown eyes and felt a slight squeeze around his waist.

"Of course, Colonel. We'll debrief in one hour, Dr. Jackson's condition permitting. Dismissed."

Daniel leaned heavily on Jack for the trip to the infirmary. Once there, he allowed himself to be helped up onto a bed for his examination. He noticed that Jack stayed nearby, hovering at his usual distance until Dr. Fraiser told him to get out of her way.

"OK Daniel, other than being really painful, I don't think this is going to be life threatening. I'd like to keep you overnight though, make sure your Creatine Kinase levels to make sure there are no complications with your kidneys. No arguing, Dr. Jackson, you've been through a lot this mission, the least you can do is stay here and be a good patient." Daniel just nodded as the doctor smiled at him. "Good. Now you rest while I check out the colonel. Nurse!"

Daniel relaxed as a nurse came to give him some painkillers, and closed the curtain around his bed. He listened with amusement as the doctor and Jack had their ritual post-mission sparring match; Jack arguing everything Janet wanted to do, and Janet threatening with cold instruments and tubes threade

White Anger

by Ozymandia