To Love, Honour And Obey 7

In Love We Trust.

by Rubi

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asr/rubi/willpass07.php
Summary: Daniel relives the horror of his first time with Mitchell. But can he survive the memory?
Info: Without Toasted Toad my beta none of this would be possible.
So big, big thanks TT.

Jack returned to his room alone. After Daniel's invasive physical, the Prince had left to return to his hotel in Rome, leaving Daniel in Mitchell's care with strict instructions as to his security. No one was to be allowed to see or touch Daniel.

Watching as the Prince's car pulled out of the gates, Mitchell barked his orders. "Take Daniel to my room and make sure the guests have all gone, then post someone outside O'Neill's room. He goes nowhere. The same for Teal'c - confine him to his room, tell him it's for his own safety. I want the other two taken care of, especially that interfering bitch, Weir."

Paulo nodded his head. "Yes boss, right away."

Daniel had been ushered by Paulo and another guard from the medical room, then up the back stairs, with just a sheet around him.

As they neared Mitchell's bedroom, Daniel stopped.

Paulo was not happy. "Why you stoppin' Daniel?"

Daniel gathered the sheet closer around his body. "This is the way to Cam's room."

Paulo was becoming exasperated. He rolled his eyes. "Yeah! So?"

"Well, so, I don't belong to him anymore, so if you would please take me to one of the guest suites, I need to shower."

Paulo shook his head. "I have my orders, Daniel. You know how the boss hates to be disobeyed, especially by you. I still remember having to fetch Dr Franchette that first time."

Daniel grimaced at the memory. It was the night Mitchell had acquired him in the auction, and the worst night of Daniel's life.

~~

Daniel didn't want to remember that night, but as he sat in Mitchell's bedroom he couldn't help it. His mind began to play it back like a bad movie.

~~

That first night, before the auction had taken place, Mitchell had been charming and attentive to Daniel, plying him with copious amounts of champagne to drink.

Daniel had been invited to the party by someone he met at Sapienza Universita Di Roma. As a struggling archaeology student, Daniel had to make his scholarship last and if that meant going to a party with free food and drink then hey, why not?

~~

Arriving at the villa, Daniel felt decidedly underdressed. The guards on the door checked his name off on a list then searched him. Finding his mobile phone in his jacket pocket they took it off him. Dropping it into a large envelope, they sealed it and wrote 'D J' on the front.

Daniel's protestations went unheeded and he was ushered into the main room without his only means of communicating with the outside world.

Daniel was hungry - he hadn't eaten since breakfast, and the buffet table groaned under the weight of food. Picking up a china plate, he launched himself at the Bacchanalian feast. He didn't notice someone watching him from the corner of the room. The man hadn't taken his eyes off Daniel for a second since he had arrived.

Beckoning to one of the guards, the man asked who the young man was.

The guard answered, "The geek, boss? His name's Daniel Jackson. Benito sent him in from the University..."

The man waved his hand and the guard resumed his job of stop and search at the door.

Daniel was just putting another crostini smoothed with foie gras into his mouth as the man approached him.

"Hi, welcome to my party. Do I know you?"

Daniel fought to swallow his mouthful of food. "Oh please excuse me; the foie gras was so nice, I'm afraid I've made rather a pig of myself."

Wiping his hands on a napkin, Daniel held a hand out to the man. "My name is Daniel Jackson. I was invited by Ben...ito. I mean, Benito invited me. He said he would meet me here tonight but I can't find him. Not that I've really taken the time to look for him."

Daniel sighed. Handing the china plate to the man, he smiled. "I suppose you want me to leave seeing as you don't know me. Well, thank you for the food. I'll just leave now, shall I?"

Embarrassed at being found out and not being one for confrontations, Daniel tried to back out of the room, knocking into a couple of the guests on the way. The man followed, his face unemotional. As Daniel reached the door he was stopped by one of the guards who he almost knocked over.

The guard held him firmly by his arms.

"Hey wait a minute, wait a minute. I was...invited here. I don't want any trouble, Okay? Just let me go and I'll leave, alright?"

The man nodded to the guard, who released Daniel. A small circle of guest had gathered.

The man smiled as he extended his hand towards Daniel. "Hi, the names Mitchell, Cam Mitchell, and you're welcome to my party and my home. Please come, let us talk. Any friend of Ben...ito is a friend of mine."

Mitchell led Daniel through the crowded room. Daniel thought it strange the way everyone looked at him and appeared to smile at Mitchell, some even speaking to each other guardedly, their hands covering their mouths, whispering and smiling... everyone was smiling.

The garden was breathtaking. It was the one thing Daniel remembered from that first night that didn't make him want to retch with fear.

He and Mitchell sat together by the pool drinking champagne and chatting. It was Daniel who did most of the talking and Mitchell who listened.

The guard who had stopped Daniel from leaving came and whispered to Mitchell.

Mitchell nodded. "And now Daniel, we must go back to the villa, it seems the entertainment is about to commence."

Daniel smiled, his nose wrinkling. He felt pleasantly drunk.

Mitchell licked his lips as he watched Daniel drink down the last of the drugged champagne. Both men stood to return to the party, but Daniel swayed unsteadily. Mitchell caught hold of him around the waist, drawing him in close.

Daniel giggled. "Humm, I hardly know you Mr Mitchell."

Daniel was almost coy. Mitchell nuzzled into Daniel's neck, smelling him, familiarizing himself with his scent.

"Mmm, you smell so good. To me you are unique - one of a kind, my Daniel. So sensual and yet so pure, so innocent. God, I want to take you right here, right now. I want you to be mine"

Daniel shivered at the words, but was far from objecting. It had been a long time since anyone had paid him any attention, and he was enjoying it. Cam pulled Daniel around so that they were now facing each other, then drew him in close. Hazily, Daniel felt Cam start to kiss along his jaw line, and then move up to take his lips in a deep kiss. Cam's hands started wandering, moving downwards towards Danny's ass, squeezing and stroking. Hesitantly, Danny started to respond in kind.

Suddenly, Cam stopped with a sigh. "Sadly, propriety must be maintained in the name of the Elite brotherhood. We must wait. Come."

They walked together back along the path that led to the villa. All the time, Mitchell kept his arm around Daniel, keeping him close.

The room erupted in cheers and clapping as Mitchell entered. Daniel stood next to Mitchell as Mitchell scribbled on a piece of paper, then placed it in an envelope. Sealing it, he placed it on a table beside him on which there were several other envelopes.

Mitchell raised his hands in the air to calm the crowd, signalling to the guards, who closed all the doors.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Elite, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this auction. As you can see, the secret bids are in - including mine. So without further ado, we will be auctioning two of our 'guests' tonight, and they are..... Harvey and Daniel!"

The round of applause eventually came to an end, Daniel being the last one to stop clapping.

"If the guards could please restrain the two items for sale, I will open the bids."

Daniel shook his head, trying to rid himself of the muzzy feeling that cluttered his mind and clouded his thoughts. Did he just say 'items for sale'?

Daniel was still trying to run the information through his brain when someone from behind him grabbed both his arms roughly. A thin cord was weaved quickly around his wrists and pulled tight. Time seemed to slow as the drugged champagne took effect fully. Faces blurred and twisted. Daniel's body swayed as his balance left him and he fell backwards into his guard.

The guard pushed him forward again and Daniel stumbled, falling face down onto the floor in front of Mitchell, who bent down.

Grabbing Daniel roughly, he hauled him back to his feet, barking at Paulo, "Get him a chair to sit on before he hurts himself and invalidates the bidding."

Paulo pressed Daniel down into a chair.

Daniel fought the drugs surging through his body. "No, this is not right. I am a human being, I cannot... I do not belong to anyone. I am not a slave. Untie me now. What are you all looking at? One of you must realise that this is wrong."

Mitchell continued, raising his voice above Daniel's, trying to drown him out. "It seems that Daniel's beautiful mouth may have more than one purpose... he is also a good orator. Let's hope he sucks cock with as much enthusiasm!"

Daniel looked around the room at the inanely smiling faces of the Elite brotherhood and he knew his life was over. Mitchell beckoned Paulo over to him.

Lowering his voice he whispered, "Shut him the fuck up, he's spoiling everyone's enjoyment."

Paulo nodded. "Should I beat on him, boss?"

Mitchell growled, "No you fucking idiot. I need him in one piece for later, just gag him for now."

Paulo took a long silk scarf from his pocket and stood behind Daniel. As Daniel opened his mouth to remonstrate further with Mitchell, Paulo slipped the scarf over Daniel's head, pulling it tightly as it slipped easily between Daniel's lips. Daniel moved his head violently from side to side, trying to dislodge the tightening gag.

Mitchell continued uninterrupted. "As I was saying before Daniel became vocal..."

More laughter from the Elite was stemmed only by Mitchell again raising his arms. "The first auction tonight is for a most delightful young specimen of manhood: Harvey"

Harvey, who up till then had remained very quiet, suddenly turned and head butted his guard, sending him sprawling on the floor. The Elite scattered, leaving Harvey a clear path to the French windows and freedom. Running at full tilt, Harvey launched himself at the locked doors. He crashed through them, falling onto the patio, glass slivers protruding from his arms and chest, his face cut and bleeding.

Mitchell grabbed a gun from Paulo who stood with both hands on Daniel's shoulders. As he ran towards the smashed and broken French windows, Daniel heard him mutter, "If you want something done...."

Harvey had managed to scramble to his feet and was limping towards the garden, his leg badly gashed and bleeding.

Mitchell levelled the gun at Harvey. "Stop...you have nowhere to go. You won't get another ten yards, just turn around slowly and come back inside."

Harvey stopped still in his tracks. Daniel could see a pool of bright crimson fluid pooling around Harvey's foot – a glass shard had sliced in to his femoral artery. The pool grew bigger with every passing second. Harvey began to sway as the rapid blood loss began to affect his thought processes. If he did not receive hospital treatment – and soon - his body would begin to shut down as his life's blood soaked into Mitchell's lawn.

Harvey, his face pale, turned to look at Mitchell. "Why?" he asked.

"Why what?" Mitchell replied, holding the gun steady.

"Why did you do this? This auction...we're not animals, to be bought and sold. Why have you done this?"

Mitchell levelled the gun at Harvey's head. "Because we can."

Daniel jumped as he heard the gun fired. He tried to shout past the gag, but all he succeeded in emitting was a muffled cry of pain.

Mitchell re-entered the room. Handing the gun back to Paulo, he took a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped something red from his hands. Daniel felt sick; he hated the sight of blood.

"Members of the Elite brotherhood, I do apologise, there will be a slight revision to tonight's auction. One of the items has been withdrawn and voided. If the interested parties would please collect their sealed bids from the table, we can proceed with Daniel's auction."

A few people wandered up and retrieved their envelopes. Their faces showed disappointment, but no sorrow for Harvey's demise.

Daniel sat quietly now; the drugs made him feel sleepy. He tried to resist them, but couldn't. Mitchell continued opening the envelopes one by one, calling out names and bids. Then the last bid was opened. "Ah, the last bid on Daniel is mine... I bid $750,000."

Daniel opened his eyes to see the Elite all looking at him and clapping. Mitchell walked over to him. He lifted Daniel's head up to look at him, then leaning down, he caught Daniel's gagged mouth and kissed him tenderly on his parted lips.

Confused, Daniel tried to kiss him back.

"You're mine, beloved, I own you. Every inch of your beautiful body belongs to me, and no one else but me. Every pain, every pleasure I will gift to you, and you will learn to thank me....oh you will learn, beloved."

Turning to Paulo, he gave instructions. "Get the doc. I want him awake and responsive in half an hour and I want to know why Harvey wasn't sedated. Someone just lost me a hell of a lot of money on that one."

Daniel rubbed his arm where the doctor had injected him. Almost at once his head began to clear and he felt better, but with that came the memory of Harvey and Daniel began to cry.

"Tears, Daniel?" It was Mitchell. "Who are they for? Harvey or yourself?"

"Why should you care? You shot him in cold blood!"

"He was dead already. You saw the wounds. I look on it more as a merciful release for a wounded animal."

"An animal - That just about sums you and your friends up, doesn't it?"

"Not at all - If I hadn't have put him out of his misery, his death would have been much slower and more painful. From the minute he injured himself that badly trying to escape, he was a dead man. Do you honestly think the Elite care that he was he was bleeding to death and needed to go to hospital? What do you think, huh? Did you think they'd risk exposure for the sake of saving an acquisition's life? Are you that naive, Daniel? So yes, I released him.

The Elite are a different breed than other people. They have the money and they have the power to do whatever they want, and that includes getting away with murder."

"And me, what of me? What happens now? Am I to be killed as well?"

"Daniel, I am not in the habit of paying a hell of a lot of money for an item and then destroying it. No Daniel, I have plans for you. You will serve me in any way I see fit."

"And if I refuse to serve you, what then? Am I going to end up like him? Like Harvey?"

Mitchell smiled as he moved closer to Daniel. "Beloved, if you disobey me then you will *beg* me to shoot you to put you out of your pain. But enough of this, your education begins. Come."

Mitchell moved to the door, beckoning to Daniel to follow him.

~~

"You must obey me in all matters. I shall tell you when and what to eat, when to sleep and when to get up, as well as what to wear. In all things my word is your law. If you should disobey me even once I will punish you, and take great delight in doing so. I will tell you the rules only this once, so remember them well. My home is guarded by my own hand-picked force, and should you escape from me, I will hunt you down and put a bullet in your brain, as well as the brain of whoever helps you. Do you understand?"

Daniel nodded uneasily. He felt sick to his stomach as he followed Mitchell through the villa past the door he had stepped through only hours before. He longed to step back out, make this evening as if it had never happened. Should he do as Harvey had done and make an attempt at escape? If he did he risked what had happened to Harvey happening to him. If he stayed with Mitchell how bad could it be?

"Your duties are to me alone unless I choose them not to be. Some members of the Elite are special friends of mine with certain desires which, on occasion, I will let them fulfil with you."

Daniel stopped dead in his tracks. "You want me to have sex with different men? With strangers? No. No, I won't do it!"

Mitchell took the few paces back to where Daniel had stopped. "Oh but you will Daniel, you most certainly will. Now you can either come with me walking on your own two feet or I can have my men drag you. Which is it to be?"

The guards closed in around them.

Daniel didn't want to be manhandled again. "I'll walk."

As Daniel stepped through the door, he gasped. He had thought he was being taken to a bedroom, but there was no bed here - this was a dungeon. Mitchell had taken great care, when designing the dungeon for his own use, to incorporate as many varied implements of torture as he could, and taking in the room, Daniel was horrified. He turned to run, but Mitchell's guards grabbed him and pushed him further inside.

Paulo pulled Daniel's hands out in front of him.Daniel failed to hear Mitchell walking up behind him until he ran his hands down his back slowly, claiming what was his with the briefest of touches. With that distraction, Paulo was able to slide a pair of hand cuffs effortlessly around both of Daniel's wrists and click them tightly home. Two feet of tungsten steel clattered between the two metal bracelets, a small ring the only different link in the chain. Mitchell smiled - Daniel was going to be a pleasure to break.

Daniel could feel the icy coldness in his stomach slowly spread to the rest of his body. "Cam, take these off me please. I promise I'll do as you say but not this way...please"

"But it's time to play, Daniel, and as the rules are mine I can do whatever I want to you."

Mitchell clapped his hands together and Paulo took hold of Daniel's chains, pulling him forward towards a large wooden pillar in the centre of the room. Daniel pulled back on the chain but only succeeded in making the cuffs bite deep into his flesh.

Paulo pushed Daniel's face into the pillar. Reaching up above Daniel's head, he pulled down a large hook which hung from a pulley fixed high on the pillar. The chain between Daniel's cuffs slipped easily over the hook. Paulo hauled on the pulley, and Daniel's arms were hoisted above his head, his toes just barely touching the concrete floor. The spare rope from the pulley he wound around a bar fixed to the right hand side of the column for that purpose. Double checking the chain was secure, Paulo moved quickly away.

"Oh do struggle Daniel, you're making this far too easy. The least you can do is put on a show for all these people," Mitchell sneered.

Twisting his body around as best he could, Daniel could see the people who were at the party moving quickly and silently through the door. "What the fuck is going on, you sick fuck? Get these fucking things off me, get them off me." Daniel spat his words at Mitchell.

As he shouted and swore at Mitchell, Paulo moved in low from behind him, snapping metal shackles around his ankles. Fear rose like a tide up Daniel's spine, and finally he began to kick out, but there was nothing he could do. The chains on the manacles were attached to two rings embedded into the concrete floor of the cellar. Paulo pulled on the ankle chains, stretching Daniel's legs apart so that Daniel had to concentrate hard on keeping his balance.

He was completely at Mitchell's mercy.

Then he felt Mitchell's breath as he whispered in his ear, "Keep still my beloved, keep very still... if you value your beautiful soft skin, that is."

If it had been another time, another place, Mitchell's voice, low and sensual, would have been a welcome prelude to sex. As Daniel turned to open his mouth and begin a tirade of abuse, Mitchell held up a large heavy pair of silver scissors, opening and closing them with a snap close to Daniel's head. It was meant to intimidate him into silence... and it succeeded.

If he could just keep calm and avoid puking his guts up, he might get through this alive. At least his body, he reasoned, would heal.

Mitchell walked out of Daniel's field of vision. Daniel's eyes flicked back and forth as he tried to locate him by the sounds he made.

Then he felt the sting as Mitchell held the point of the scissors against his back, pushing with an even pressure so they punctured through his shirt and then his skin. There was an uncomfortable sharp pain, then he felt a trickle slowly descend down his back. He knew it was blood.

That was the first time that Daniel was aware that Mitchell enjoyed 'haemo' games. The sound of cloth being cut brought gasps and rumblings around the room. Daniel felt a tug on his shirt - Mitchell was cutting the Gucci shirt he had borrowed to wear for the party.

This was worse than he thought. Cutting up the sleeves, the shirt fell to the floor. Daniel could feel the cool air as it made contact with his sweating skin, and it was his turn to gasp.

Mitchell removed Daniel's pants, cutting up each leg slowly, the sharp point of the scissors glancing against his skin, then biting through the leather belt.

Shoes and socks removed, he stood in his blue boxer shorts, vulnerable and alone. Mitchell's hands ghosted over Daniel's buttocks, and in spite of everything Daniel found himself responding and becoming hard. He hated himself for it. His body was playing right into Mitchell's hands as he fought for control.

Mitchell always enjoyed the control over his men - it was almost better than the actual sex.

He would always take his time to choose the right piece of apparatus. He would test the flexibility of the whips, crops and canes, the smoothness of the paddles. Should he choose leather or wood?

That night, Mitchell had something special in mind. Picking up the light tube, Mitchell switched it on. As it hummed into life, the iridescent blue of the light began to glow, tethered by cable to the outlet socket.

Daniel jumped as Mitchell came towards him holding the tube. "Daniel, Daniel my love, I have something really special for us to play with, something we can both enjoy. This light tube can give pleasure - it can cause erotic tingles that make you feel like you are in a bath of Champagne, with the sparks fizzing lushly over your skin, or with the turn of a dial I can administer sharp shocks. The choice is mine to make. Please me and it can feel like soft bubbles, displease me and you will think that a knife is cutting into your flesh. As for today, though..."

Mitchell knew the fun would be quite literally electrifying. Passing the light stick across Daniel's bare back made Daniel buck against his bonds as the sensation of a thousand needles hit his body, bursting into a fountain of excruciating pain.

Daniel tried to move away from the pain, but Mitchell made sure it would follow. As Daniel screamed in pain, his hands clutched at the chains that bound him.

Mitchell moved the tube up and down Daniel's body, holding it against his lower back to increase the pain. "Do you know, beloved, that every scream you utter makes me want you even more? I long to take you, to taste you... and for you to taste me."

As Mitchell gave the light tube to one of the guards, Daniel gritted his teeth as he tried to control his breathing. "Never... I will never...."

"Oh, but you will, Daniel, you will want to please me just to end the pain."

Daniel found it hard to breathe, his hands stretched high above his head. If he stood on tip toe he could take a breath and relieve the burning sensation in his chest.

The crowd chatted excitedly. They knew of Mitchell's reputation, and had come especially. They knew Mitchell would put on a good show. He loved to tease the Elite with promises of ecstasy and sex to die for!

He enjoyed taunting his acquisitions, bringing them to the point of desperation, the place where pain merged with pleasure and body and mind would fight for dominance. At that point, he knew he would have complete control over Daniel.

But first, he would have fun with Daniel's body. He had selected well - Daniel was strong. He would last a long time, and he had many skills and techniques to make sure of that.

He would begin by humiliating Daniel. "A kiss," he demanded, talking to the audience.

"Go fuck yourself," Daniel retaliated.

Mitchell loved the theatrical, and as Daniel rebuked him he turned back to the audience.

"It seems my Daniel needs some correction. Any suggestions, friends?"

Daniel continued to pull against his restraints. The effort served only to make his wrists and shoulders ache as he struggled to maintain his balance.

Daniel could hear voices in the room shouting out, "Correct him with the cat, make him scream for mercy!"

Mitchell walked back to Daniel. Putting his hand on Daniel's head, he ruffled his hair playfully. Then Mitchell fisted Daniel's hair, yanking his head back suddenly, ripping a cry of pain from him. Licking Daniel's ear slowly, starting at the lobe and finishing at the soft curve at the top of his ear, he released him, but Daniel didn't have the strength or the will to hold his head upright.

Mitchell walked over to the table and picked up his preferred method of inflicting pain.

Daniel could hear the high pitched hiss as the cat-o-nine tails accelerated through the dead air. As the metal spheres tied to the nine lengths of leather struck his bare flesh, a myriad sparks of pain hit Daniel's brain as all his pain receptors fired off all at once. The second strike bit deep into the flesh, the metal balls ripping at Daniel's skin as Mitchell pulled the cat back. The third and forth strikes hit, and Daniel could hear someone in the distance screaming out for mercy. As he closed his mouth, Daniel realised it was him who was screaming. And as Mitchell had told him he would, he was begging for mercy.

By the time he was released from his restraints, Daniel was unconscious and barely breathing. His body slumped to the floor as the guards ushered the Elite out of the room. Mitchell instructed three of the guards to pick Daniel up and take him to his room.

Daniel lay where the guards had placed him, face down on Mitchell's bed, his back a mass of blood and cuts. Mitchell disappeared into the bathroom. Reappearing moments later with a towel soaked in water, he dabbed gently at Daniel's back. The pain brought Daniel back to consciousness again.

Mitchell crooned at Daniel as his eyes flicked open, "Daniel my beloved, I want to tell you how well you have done. The Elite were impressed with your ability to take pain. A lesser man would have died from the flogging I gave you. But now you must get better, regain your strength, my love. I will send for Dr.Franchetti to attend to you, my beloved. The next time our union will be more... physical."

Mitchell kissed Daniel gently on his cheek. As he licked his lips, he tasted the saltiness of Daniel's tears.

~~

That was Daniel's first night with Cameron Mitchell. Drugged, sold and beaten. The stuff of nightmares. Only his nightmare had not ended with that one night.

Cameron no longer drugged the 'merchandise', Daniel mused. He wondered why that was. Maybe, despite it resulting in one or two 'losses', Cameron's guests had preferred the adrenalin of seeing the fully-aware subjects being sold off. He didn't know.

~~

Sheppard did as Jack had told him, driving the sleeping Elizabeth back to the hotel.

At the hotel he parked the car outside the main doors, passing the keys to the valet on duty. He opened the rear door. Even lying in an alcohol induced sleep, Sheppard had never seen anything more beautiful then Elizabeth Weir dressed in red silk, her dark hair framing her pale complexion.

"Would you like some help, sir?" The concierge spoke perfect English, thank god. He wasn't in the mood to explain in Italian.

"No, thank you. I think I can manage to get the lady back to her room on my own. By the way, could you point me to her room? She is booked in under the name 'O'Neill'."

Sheppard pulled on Weir's arm. As he sat her up she moaned and opened her eyes.

"Where the hell am I?" Putting her hands over her face, she continued, "Where's Jack and Daniel? Oh my god – Daniel. That horrible man... the Prince...I have to go back." For the first time Weir looked at the man who stood beside her. "Sheppard! What the hell are you doing here?"

Sheppard smiled. "And it's nice to see you again as well, Dr Weir. Now if you give me your hand, I'll help you to your room."

"No, I need to go back to the villa. What Jack and Daniel have planned - it's wrong. Daniel will be hurt, and not just physically. His mental health is at risk. You don't understand..."

Sheppard pulled Weir out of the car. As she stood up she stumbled into him. He wrapped his arms around her to stop her falling. Regaining her footing, Weir stood on her own. She didn't need any help, and most certainly not from him.

"I can get to my room myself, thank you. I'm not drunk, just jet lagged."

Sheppard smiled. "Yeah, that's it. You're jet lagged - but only if you've bottled it. I'd say you've had at least eight glasses of bottled jet lag."

Elizabeth pouted. "I may have had a few glasses of champagne, but purely to maintain my cover at the party."

"Oh, you were maintaining your cover were you? On this mission that was so classified that Jack didn't feel it was pertinent to take his bloody team with him."

Weir leant on the car as she reached down and slipped her shoes off one by one. Holding them in one hand, she walked towards the hotel. Sheppard stood and watched as the tall, elegant woman he was becoming fond of stubbornly walked across the gravel drive towards the hotel, the odd "Ooo" and "Oww" barely audible as the small stones dug into her feet. Sheppard walked towards her. Sweeping her up in his arms, with little protest from her, he carried her the rest of the way into the hotel.

Weir searched her purse for the card to open her suite door. "I know I put it in here when I left. Damn, where is it?"

Sheppard pulled the purse from Weir's hands and began to rummage around in the inner sanctum. Weir leant back against the wall, happy she didn't have to carry on the search for the lost key.

"Why do you women carry so much junk in your purses?"

"Hey, that's not junk. There are things I may need."

Diving his hand into the unfamiliar territory of a woman's purse, Sheppard pulled out what looked to him like a black pen. "You need this for what?"

"Oh, please. Now you're just showing your ignorance. Mascara - every woman carries mascara."

Sheppard replaced the mascara and pulled the key card out of the purse with a flourish. Opening the door, he suddenly crumpled to the floor.

~~

Daniel opened the door to the closet that used to be his. He was disturbed to find it exactly as he left it. Picking out a pair of pants and a shirt, he laid them on the bed, then went into the bathroom to shower. Mitchell had expensive tastes, even in shampoo, and Daniel did so want to wash away the memory of his physical, and to soothe his aching ass with the cool water.

Daniel soaped his body, the small bubbles appearing then bursting as he scrubbed viciously at his skin. He wanted, he needed, to rid himself of the memories.

"You know that never works don't you, Daniel?"

Daniel froze for a second. Even with the warm water flooding over his body, he shivered. "Cam, why have you had me brought here... to your room, I mean?"

"I promised the Prince I would look after you, and this is the safest place I could think of."

Picking up a large bath sheet, Mitchell mockingly covered his eyes with his hand as he held the towel out to Daniel. "Look Daniel, I don't want to jeopardise the little rescue mission you and Jack have devised, but if the Elite ever got wind of what I've done, I'd be the one floating in the Tiber. You know how unforgiving they can be."

"If that's supposed to make me feel sorry for you Cam, you can forget it."

Daniel switched off the shower. Mitchell watched Daniel's silhouette through the opaque shower screen as he wrapped the bath sheet around his body.

When Daniel stepped out of the shower, Mitchell was sitting in an armchair in the bedroom.

Daniel felt self conscious as he walked into the room, feeling Mitchell's eyes scanning his body.

He sat on the bed opposite Mitchell. "Where's Jack?"

"Safe."

"Your safe and my safe aren't the same."

Mitchell shook his head. "Safe is safe. If you must know, he's sleeping safe and sound in his bed. Probably dreaming of raping you again."

"I know it wasn't him who raped me."

"Do you really? And can you prove that?"

"I'll ask him."

"Oh, you'll ask him. And what do you think? Do you think he'll admit something like that? Hell, I bet it's been his plan all along. It turns some men on, you know."

"Not Jack. Jack's not like that. He loves me."

Mitchell laughed heartily. "Love! He loves you?"

"Yes!" Daniel slipped the shirt on. He felt better talking to Mitchell if he were clothed.

"What about my love for you? That's just as real as Jack's...yeah it may be different but it's no less real."

"Real? Real... Oh yes, Cam, it's very real... and I have the scars to prove just how real it is."

"You know I'm not the 'buy him an island' type of guy."

"You know about Isis? But how?"

"Jack bought it off a... how did he put it... 'an industrialist who went bust'."

Daniel looked shocked.

"It belonged to me, all of it - the island, the house, the furniture - it was all mine. The bed where you and Jack made love - that was my bed. You weren't fucking him, you were fucking me."

Daniel grabbed his pants and pulled them on. He walked quickly to the door. Trying the handle, he found that it was locked.

Mitchell continued to taunt him. "Every time he stuck his tongue down the back of your throat, it was me..."

Daniel banged on the door.

"Every time his hands caressed you, it was me..."

"Stop Cam, please stop..."

"Every time he stuck his cock up your ass, that was me..."

Daniel's confusion was replaced with anger. He flew at Mitchell. Grabbing him by the lapels, he wrenched him from his chair and pushed him with all his weight towards the bed. The two men fell onto the bed with Daniel on top. Daniel lifted himself up to straddle Mitchell's body.

"Come on Daniel, you know you want to - take your best shot."

Daniel shook his head. "No Cam, that's not who I am. I'm not you and I will never be you. I can't get off on someone else's pain. When Jack and I make love, that's just what it is – love. And even when it gets dirty and messy and painful, it's still Jack and me making love. You can never understand that, and even if you make me or force me or drug me it still won't come anywhere close to what Jack and I have together."

For the first time ever, Daniel didn't feel scared. He felt terrified and elated and more in love with Jack then ever.

Mitchell was not to be denied his revenge on Daniel. He bucked his hips up so Daniel could feel how much he wanted him.

Daniel stood up. Leaving Mitchell lying on the bed, he went and sat in the chair Mitchell had vacated, pulling on his socks and shoes as hurriedly as he could.

Mitchell rolled onto his side, propping his head up on his bent arm. "I could have him killed, you know."

Daniel stopped still. "I know you could. I know what you are capable of...I've seen it...I've seen the evil that lurks in your soul. Leave him alone Cam, leave Jack alone! "

Mitchell felt the fear in his throat subside. For the briefest of moments, he had thought that he had lost his hold on Daniel for good. But now he had something better than pain to control Daniel with; he had Jack and Daniel's fear of losing him.

Mitchell lay back on the bed and laughed. "So we have two Daniels. I wonder which one will win."

"There is only one of me, and I belong to Jack."

"And do you think Jack would want you if he knew the real you? Perhaps I should tell him what his Daniel is capable of, how you would perform for me."

"No, you drugged me. When I... it wasn't me."

"Hey, you don't have to convince me. It's Jack you have to convince, and to that end I plan on showing him this on the plane to Qaatar."

Daniel whirled to look at the large plasma screen TV which hung over the large fire place that dominated the bedroom. As it flashed into life Mitchell pressed a button on the remote.

It was the torture chamber Daniel had been taken to on his first night.

"I love home movies, don't you Daniel? Watch."

Daniel couldn't take his eyes off the screen. He felt sick as he watched, he wanted to turn away, but couldn't. Mitchell watched with delight at Daniel's unease as he watched himself on the screen.

Mitchell turned up the sound. "I love this bit..."

"Turn it off, Cam. I get the message."

"I'm really not showing you this to hurt you Daniel, just to remind you who and what you are. I don't want you to get hurt when Jack rejects you for being a..."

"Everything you did to me was forced on me. Every pain, every humiliation was forced on me. You tell Jack whatever you like - he will be on my side. He will never leave me."

"And are you completely sure of that, Danny? Are you sure that Jack will understand when I show you being fucked by members of the Elite and loving every minute of it?"

Daniel stood to remonstrate with Mitchell. "That's not true...that's not true. I was forced. I hated every damn minute."

Mitchell motioned to the screen again. "Really, Daniel? Only looks to me as if you are really enjoying this..."

Daniel watched the screen as the three naked bodies writhed together - a man on all fours, his face looking away from the camera, his ass being fucked mercilessly from behind while he sucked off the man kneeling in front of him. The camera was shaking, obviously being hand held by someone who longed to be in the middle of the action.

Suddenly, the camera lurched and a voice announced, "Okay that's enough filming, time to take my baby back."

The picture steadied as if the camera were put on something solid. Then Mitchell, naked and erect, came into the shot. The two men withdrew. As the man on all fours, hot and sweaty, turned around, Mitchell froze the shot. It was Daniel.

Daniel paled as he saw himself on the screen. "That's not me....that's not me!"

Mitchell loved to play with Daniel's mind. "Then who, Daniel, huh? Who is it?"

Daniel searched his memory. "I never... I don't remember you doing that... I mean, filming any of it."

"Oh, I only filmed the special events. You see, the man you were giving that expert blow job to, he's an ambassador. The other riding you hard, he's a member of a European royal family.

I only let the best of the Elite play with my baby."

"That never happened."

"Aww Danny, for such an intelligent man you can be so stupid."

"You drugged me. You fucking drugged me, you bastard. You knew I would never do....that, so you drugged me. Tying me up too much of a hassle for you? Or did THEY request it? And what did you get out of it?"

Mitchell grinned. "Just what I'm getting out of you now; fear of being exposed - if you pardon the pun. It always helps to have an ambassador and royalty in your back pocket."

Daniel knew what Mitchell was capable of, and blackmail was definitely on the list.

"Why won't you let me go, Cam? Why won't you let me be happy with Jack?"

"Oh please, Daniel, you'll have me crying soon. I found you, you belong to me now. How many times must we go over this before I lose my temper with you?"

"That's it, isn't it? You really get off on it. You've twisted your love for me in an evil, sick way. I always thought you were just a straightforward sadistic bastard, but it's more than that, it goes a lot deeper. You like it when I'm scared, when I beg for mercy. It turns you on. It's not really about the sex. And you will do anything, anything you can... even that." Daniel pointed to the picture frozen on the screen.

"Can you take the chance, Daniel? Do you really think that Jack will buy your story of being drugged? From the look on your face, I would say you were really into what was happening... smiling... even enjoying it."

Daniel's feeling of elation at finally understanding what made Mitchell tick had been blown out of the water by Mitchell's uncanny ability to put doubt into his mind.

Daniel knew he wasn't strong enough yet to win, but he had no intention of giving up.

Forcing a smile, Daniel asked, "What time do we leave for Qaatar?"

Mitchell checked his watch. "In about four hours."

"I really need to see Jack. Please Cam, let me."

It was only a small request, but the fact that Daniel had asked and not demanded to see Jack meant that he still accepted Mitchell's domination over him. This was a victory in Mitchell's eyes.

"And if I take you to him, what do I get as my reward?"

Mitchell patted the bed next to him.

~

Sheppard opened his eyes and quickly closed them again. A voice from behind him made him open them again.

"Sheppard, please say you're awake."

"Elizabeth, is that you?" Sheppard tried to move, but he couldn't. His body was encircled by ropes, his hands tied behind his back. Moving his fingers, he felt something soft and fleshy.

"Ow! That's my hand, buster."

Sheppard began to apologise. "Where are we?" he asked, his head throbbing.

"My hotel room. You had just put the key card in the lock. As you stepped through the door, two men jumped you."

Sheppard sighed. "Did I put up much of a fight?"

"No, not really."

"And how long have I been sitting here with you like this?"

"About two hours, and believe me it has not been comfortable. Do you know you snore?"

"I do not."

"Yes you do, and you talk in your sleep as well."

"I don't talk in my sleep, because I wasn't asleep - I happened to be unconscious. Anyway, what did I say?"

Weir smiled. "Nothing much, just your ATM number...and something about someone called Teyla...an old girlfriend, perhaps?"

"Oh god, not Teyla - not again."

Weir couldn't resist the urge to make Sheppard feel uncomfortable. "Here we are, our lives in jeopardy, and you're having an adolescent wet dream about an ex-girlfriend."

Sheppard began to struggle with the ropes.

Weir turned her head as far as she could to see Sheppard. "Do you think that I've sat here for the last two hours and not tried to escape? God, but you're an infuriating man."

Sheppard grinned. "Does that mean you like me just a little?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I just haven't been on many dates where I've ended up all tied up on the first night."

"Oh, then I take it this usually happens on the second or third date?"

"At least my dates buy me dinner before they tie me up. Oooh!"

"What's the matter now?"

Weir fidgeted around in her chair. "I need a pee...it was all that champagne at the party."

Sheppard's head was still spinning as he turned to Weir. "Not now, not here!"

"Do you think that if I shouted, someone would come?"

Sheppard sounded exasperated. "Oh good idea, piss them off. You do know they could come in here and shoot us, don't you?"

"If they had wanted us dead we would already be dead. No, they want us alive for some reason. Now I really do need to pee. HELLO, is there someone out there? This is becoming very uncomfortable and I need to use the bathroom. THE GENEVA CON...."

"What the hell are you doin'? People who knock you unconscious don't adhere to the Geneva Convention, for the love of..."

"Hey, don't take this out on me! Blame Jack, it's all his fault."

"And how do you make that one out?"

"If Jack had left Daniel alone, Mitchell would never have found him and Seth would never have been kidnapped."

"Yes, but Jack and Daniel would have been miserable without each other, Seth and Teal'c would never have met... and neither would we."

"Oh, you do say the sweetest things. Do you really mean that?"

Before Sheppard could answer, the door opened.

~~

Jack hated the pictures on the walls of his room. He'd hated them the first time he had been a 'guest' of Mitchell's and he sure as hell hated them even more this time.

He knew that the Prince had left Daniel at the villa with strict instructions for Mitchell on how to care for him. He hoped Mitchell was afraid enough of the Prince not to go against his wishes.

Jack could hear the guard pacing back and forth outside his door as he lay on his bed still wearing his tux. He had pulled the black bow tie from his neck in a fit of temper at having to watch his Daniel put through a physical that bordered on actual torture.

But he had given his promise, his word, to Daniel to do nothing until Seth was safe, and he would keep that promise. He looked towards the window. The sun would be above the horizon soon. It would be dawn and nearly time to catch the plane to Qaatar, and the second part of the plan.

~~

"I don't belong to you any more, Cam. You sold me..."

Mitchell slammed his hand down onto the bed. "Until I hand you over tomorrow, and until the money is in my account, technically you still belong to me."

"In that case, grant me this one request. I want to see Jack, I want him to tell me that it was he who raped me last night, and that it's over. If you do that for me...I'm yours."

Mitchell licked his lips slowly. Daniel's desperation excited him, but he also knew that Daniel was lying to him. "Okay Danny, it's a deal. I take you to Jack, you ask him if it was he that fucked you. You tell him a few home truths - that you and he, it was all a big mistake. You tell him Daniel, or I give Jack an entertaining movie to watch, with you as the star. How long do you think he will want his little Danny after that, huh? To him, you'll be just a piece of filth, some dirty little secret to be forgotten, a whore"

Daniel wanted to turn away, to find a corner and to hide away, but he knew Mitchell would never allow that. "Alright, whatever. Just take me to him."

"Please..." Mitchell admonished Daniel. He walked slowly around him - he knew it would disorient Daniel, the way it always did when he played one of his little 'games'.

"What?"

"Has all my reluctant discipline been undone by your time with Jack?"

"No...but!"

"Surely you are still able to show your master respect?"

"Master...you're not my...Jack..."

"But Jack doesn't love you anymore. He let Hammond do those things to you and he watched, and he loved it. I could see how... 'excited' he was."

Daniel put his hands over his ears. "No, you're lying. You're trying to confuse me."

Mitchell lowered his voice to a soothing whisper "Why would I lie to you? Think, Daniel, when have I ever lied to you? When I told you it would hurt, did it not hurt?"

Daniel spun around, trying to keep Mitchell in line of sight. He didn't trust him.

"Yes...yes...yes it did, but..."

"Jack professed his love for you but he hurt you when you were vulnerable, he took advantage of you. You lay on that table and your heart cried out for him and he didn't listen. He enjoyed it."

"Please Cam, can we...?"

"Please what?"

"Please...beloved...I need to see him... Jack."

Mitchell grabbed Daniel roughly by his hair. Pulling him in close he kissed him hard on the lips, his tongue forcing its way into Daniel's warm pliable mouth. 'Soon', he thought, 'Soon it will be my cock in your mouth once again, and I will claim you as my own'.

Daniel pulled back hard against Mitchell's grasp, detaching himself painfully from the vicious kiss. Daniel wiped the taste of Mitchell from his mouth.

Mitchell watched him with unbridled displeasure. "You don't like my kisses any more beloved? You know you will pay with pain for your disrespect?"

Daniel nodded. He knew he would, but all he could think about was Jack, and the only person he wanted to touch him was Jack. "I know, and right now I don't give a damn."

~~

Jack jumped as the door to his room opened. Daniel was ushered in and the door closed behind him. Jack rushed to him. Wrapping his arms around him, he lifted Daniel bodily off the floor.

"Oh god, it's so good to see you, baby. Did they hurt you? Did Mitchell try..."

Daniel stood away from Jack as soon as his feet touched the floor. Jack stepped forward - he needed to kiss and suck and lick and touch Daniel, to reclaim him. But something was wrong, something didn't feel right. Daniel was distant from him.

"They did something to you, didn't they? Tell me, Daniel. I can call Sheppard and the team. We can be out of here within an hour, back on the island in ten, just say the word."

Daniel could feel the bile rising in his throat as the memory of Mitchell invaded every happy memory he had of Isis - his and Jack's island.

"I never want to go back there.... ever. Do you hear me? Ever."

Jack was surprised by Daniel's outburst. "But you loved the island! The peace and tranquillity - you said you never wanted to leave."

"That was before...that was before. Jack, I have to talk...we have to talk. I have to tell you some things about myself and I don't know where to begin." Daniel turned away from Jack.

"Daniel, you're scaring me baby...it can't be that bad?" Jack walked over to Daniel, putting his hands on Daniel's shoulders. He wanted him to know he was there for him.

"Jack, I'm not the person you thought I was. I'm... well...oh god, how do I say this? I have done things...bad things, things that I'm not proud of."

Daniel shrugged Jack's hands from his shoulders. The last thing he needed or wanted was physical contact of any kind, especially from Jack.

"Danny, please!" Jack could feel Daniel was in pain. Not a physical pain - if it had been, he could help - but this, this was a whole lot harder to deal with.

"Whatever you've done I can't believe it was that bad."

"But Jack, you don't really know me... the real me."

Jack spun Daniel around to face him. He had to get through to him that no matter what he had done he loved him unconditionally.

Jack looked into Daniel's eyes and saw something he never wanted to see again. Such pain, such confusion, such fear... and then it all disappeared. Daniel wrapped his arms around himself, his face devoid of expression.

Jack knew it was a bad sign. Daniel was closing himself off from the world again.

"Daniel, what's wrong? Stay with me, Daniel."

Daniel sat in a large armchair. Pulling his legs up, he wrapped his arms around them and buried his head in his arms. Jack ran his hands through his hair in desperation. He ran to the door and pounded on it, shouting Mitchell's name. After a few minutes, Mitchell opened the door.

Jack grabbed him around the neck, pushing him up against the wall, turning Mitchell's head towards where Daniel sat hunched up.

Jack spat his words through clenched teeth. "What have you done to him, you bastard?"

The click of a gun being cocked at his temple made Jack release his grip on Mitchell's throat. The guard held a Magnum .45 to Jack's head. Mitchell bent forward, trying to get air into his straining lungs. He waved the guard away.

"He asked me to bring him here, so I did. Now if I had an ulterior motive, do you honestly think I would do that?"

Jack walked over to where Daniel had begun to rock slowly back and forth. "I was afraid this would happen. Why didn't you stop them from carrying out the physical?"

"And how do you think I should have done that? To deviate in any way from the usual would have jeopardised the plan, and the Prince is unforgiving and has many friends within the Elite."

Jack squatted down to talk to Daniel. "Daniel, can you hear me? I'll get Elizabeth here for you, hold on baby."

Daniel lifted his head and smiled. Jack smiled himself, relieved. "See, I knew you..."

As Jack spoke, Daniel put his hands nervously to his mouth and began to mumble to himself.

His voice was childlike, immature and terrified.

"Please leave me alone, I'm waiting for my mother."

Jack tried to hold back tears as he realised how far gone Daniel was - he had all but lost him. His Daniel was locked inside, in a prison of his superior brain's design. No one could hurt him now. Jack just hoped that Elizabeth could reach him before it was too late.

Mitchell stood by Jack's side. "What's wrong with him?" Grabbing Daniel by the shoulder, Mitchell shook him. "This is just one of his tricks, that's all. Daniel, you are making me very angry."

Jack grabbed Mitchell's arm, pulling him away as Daniel began to sob like a frightened child.

"For fuck's sake Mitchell, can't you see what's happened? He's withdrawn to a place he feels safe, the time just before his parents died. You carry on like that and we may never be able to get him back. Now get your guards to bring Elizabeth here at once."

Mitchell reluctantly left Jack alone with Daniel as he went to arrange the pick-up.

~~

"It's about time. Where the hell have you been? Did Mitchell send you?"

Paulo smirked at Sheppard. "The boss sent me. He said we need Dr Weir, but we don't need you." He bent down, cutting the ropes around Weir's ankles and wrists. Weir rushed past him.

"Hey Dr Weir, you're going the wrong way!"

Sheppard grinned, "Fellas, never come between a woman with a bladder weakness and the bathroom. Did Mitchell really tell you to leave me tied up here? "

Paulo looked behind him to see if Weir had returned. "Nah, Mitchell never said that. It was O'Neill who said to leave you."

Weir returned to the room, a relieved look on her face. "Right, gentlemen, shall we go?"

Sheppard moved as much as he could within the limitations of his bonds. "Elizabeth, you can't be serious about leaving me here like this."

Weir shrugged her shoulders. "It's not really my call, sorry. Oh, I am so a sucker for puppy dog eyes...Paulo, is it?"

Paulo nodded.

"Well then, Paulo, Mitchell wants me back at the villa. Those are you're orders, correct?"

Paulo nodded.

"Then unless Sheppard here is allowed to go with me, I don't go anywhere, see?"

"I see what you mean, Dr Weir, it's just that there's something really badly wrong with Daniel. He's acting kinda peculiar. He thinks he's a little kid - strangest thing I ever saw."

Weir frowned. "I was afraid something like this would happen. He's regressed. Damn, damn, damn. I warned O'Neill that something like this could happen."

"Easy there, Elizabeth. I mean, let's not go over the top with the cussing and all." Sheppard tried his best to lighten the mood.

"Paulo, untie Sheppard. I promise you, if he does anything you can shoot him. Hell, if he does anything I'll shoot him myself."

Paulo untied Sheppard. He liked Weir - she had balls.

~~

Mitchell paced the floor as Jack sat close to Daniel. Daniel was still rocking backwards and forwards.

Mitchell shouted at Jack, "Why the hell is he doing that?"

Jack snapped back, "Because he's scared of us, that's why."

Mitchell pace increased. "If the Prince finds out, he'll have us all killed."

Jack took his eyes off Daniel for the first time in hours. "Then we can't let him know now, can we?"

"And how do you propose we do that, Jack?"

"We keep Daniel away from him, at least until Elizabeth gets here."

"Paulo will be back with her soon. How good is she?"

"The best."

Daniel suddenly stopped the rocking. Uncurling his legs, he put his feet on the floor but kept his shoulders hunched over, his eyes lowered. Daniel whispered almost inaudibly. Jack hunched down in front of him, trying to make eye contact, but Daniel turned his head away.

"Hey Danny it's me, it's Jack. It's good to have you back." Jack strained to hear Daniel's words as he moved his lips slowly. "Bathroom, Danny, you need the bathroom? Is that what you want?"

Daniel nodded, lifting his head to look at Jack.

"Okay. Now we're getting somewhere."

Mitchell laughed sarcastically. "We're getting somewhere. How do you make that out, Jack? He's acting like a five year old. Probably pee his pants soon."

Jack was smiling at Daniel, trying to gain his trust. As he did, he admonished Mitchell.

"Hey, lay off him. It's a wonder he's communicating at all, considering..."

Mitchell was just about to lay into Jack when the door opened and Weir walked in accompanied by Sheppard. She walked over to Daniel. Jack moved away.

"Hey Daniel, it's me, Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"

Daniel moved forward and whispered in Weir's ear. Weir patted Daniel on the cheek and smiled reassuringly at him. "That's okay, I will. I'll tell them."

Standing up, she beckoned to Jack and Mitchell to follow her out of earshot of Daniel.

Keeping her voice low, she spoke to them. "You have to leave. Daniel wants you both to leave, you're frightening him. He thinks he's eight years old, and as far as he knows he can't find his parents and two strange men keep shouting at him and harassing him."

Mitchell wiped his hand across his face. "When will he be back to normal?"

Weir stood with her hands on her hips, her red silk dress defining the contours of her body. "Do you know, Mitchell, you amaze me - and not in a good way. Daniel has been so traumatised that his brain has decided to take a little vacation somewhere back in the seventies. So to answer your question, he might never recover, or he may get back to normal, whatever that is, at any time. So until he does I want you and Jack away from him."

Jack looked decidedly hurt. "What have I done?"

Weir shook her head. "Jack, I know you love Daniel, but you are partially to blame for his condition right now. And I think the best thing you can do is leave Daniel and me alone."

The two men turned to leave the room. Jack glanced back at Daniel, who had once again begun to rock. Weir sat next to him, her arms encircling him, her lips moving as she whispered reassuring words.

As they opened the door to leave, Weir spoke. "Mitchell!"

Mitchell turned to look at her "Yeah?"

"Have some milk and cookies sent up."

Mitchell nodded his head as he left the room followed by Jack.

~~

Seth waited for Noma to bring him his meal. As the door opened, he rushed up to her.

She stopped. "Seth, it is good to see your appetite has returned. I have brought you..."

Seth took the tray off her and threw it to the floor. He knew that the noise would bring the guards running. He faced the door, but as the guards ran in, Noma fell to her knees, her head bowed low, touching Seth's bare feet.

Seth looked confused as Noma spoke. "Please, Chosen one, do not have me punished. I tripped, I did not mean...I will get you some more food – please, I beg you."

Six guards had crowded into Seth's room, all staring at him. The guards began to part as a bearded man pushed his way through. One of the guards turned and saluted the man. "My lord Ba'al, we heard a noise when we entered. The girl...she must have dropped the Chosen one's food. We will take her away. Punishment will be swift."

Ba'al walked up to Seth. Lifting his foot, he kicked Noma away roughly.

Seth stepped forward. "Hey, stop that! Leave her alone, it wasn't her fault."

Noma raised herself to her knees. "My lord Ba'al, I beg your forgiveness for my clumsiness."

Ba'al searched Seth's face for any sign of fear and found none. "Is this true, Chosen one?

Did the girl drop the tray? Because if she is lying to me to protect you then she will pay with her life. But if she is just, as she said, a stupid female, then a night spent servicing my guards will be her punishment. Seth looked down at Noma and realised what he had done. If he admitted he had thrown the tray then Ba'al would have her executed. If he lied and said she had dropped the tray, she would be given to the guards to do with as they pleased.

He needed another solution.

Next: Sweet Revenge