Author Notes: Sexual violence and language warning

"Welcome back, Major Carter."

"Thanks, Ranal. It's great to be back." Sam was trying hard to keep her voice even and calm. In reality, she wasn't glad to be back. This was the fourth cakewalk mission Jack had sent SG-1 on since he assumed command of the SGC. He said it was so they could get use to being a three-man team under her leadership. She thought it was because he didn't trust her. Even Daniel and Teal'c had gotten tired of revisiting old haunts.

"Where is Colonel O'Neill?"

"Actually Jack is General O'Neill now. He has assumed command of the SGC while Colonel Carter has become the leader of SG-1." Daniel was getting bored explaining the changes in the team dynamics. He was ready to introduce Sam as Colonel Carter, SG-1 team leader and SGC second in command. He was beginning to wonder if Jack was ever going to let that happen. He understood why Jack wanted to protect them all, especially Sam, but this was getting ridiculous. Daniel decided if Jack didn't send them on a real mission after this one he was going to threaten to tell Sam what Jack had really said before he was enveloped in the ice! Daniel knew Jack didn't want Sam to know he said a lot more then just good-bye, and that he said it to Sam only.

"That is wonderful news. Congratulations Colonel Carter!" Sam smiled a gracious, but not happy, smile.

"Thanks Ranal."

"The Constilnal has asked that we go to the palace. He has arranged a special reception for you. There are many trade issues he wishes to discuss."

"Sounds lovely." Sam knew there was too much of the O'Neill sarcasm in her answer but she was beyond caring. Daniel gave her a reproachful look. She rolled her eyes and mouthed 'sorry'.

The palace was just as she remembered it, except emptier. Ranal led them into a small room that included a table filled to overflowing with fruit and cheese. There were also several glasses of wine. None of them ate or drank. It hadn't been long since lunch and SG-1 had learned to be careful eating off world years ago. They began to get restless waiting.

"Ranal, do you know how much longer it will be until the Constilnal will be here?"

"No Colonel, I'm sorry. I'm afraid since your last visit the Constilnal has lost faith in my service. He does not confide in me as he once did. His new advisors are very strange men."

"You don't sound like you approve of the changes." Daniel was trying to be diplomatic. He sensed a great deal of disapproval in Ranal's words.

"I wouldn't want to criticize the Constilnal. He has always been a wise leader. I do wonder about some of the decisions made by his new advisors, but I am sure he still knows best. I am just no longer privy to the reasons behind his actions so it makes it easier to questions those actions."

"That makes sense. I am sorry you no longer hold the place of favor you did when we last met."

"As am I. I will go and see if I can find out how much longer you will be asked to wait."

"Thank-you Ranal." Sam felt better letting Daniel handle Ranal. She was too frustrated over being here to deal with petty politics. Ranal left and closed the door behind him. Within moments, SG-1 heard a bolt on the outside of the door shut. Teal'c was the first to get to the door.

"We have been locked in this room." Teal'c turned to look at Sam.

"Great! What now?" Sam looked around the room. There were no windows or other means of escape. The only way in or out of this room was the now locked door. Just as she was getting ready to ask Teal'c to blast them out a gas began to enter the room from under the door. All three members of SG-1 were out cold before they could get into their packs.

As Sam began to emerge from the dark depths of her mind, she knew things weren't right. Her arms ached. Her back was sore. Her head was fuzzy. As she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Teal'c across the room from her. He was awake. His arms were chained to the wall above his head.

"I am glad you are awake, Colonel Carter."

"Thanks Teal'c. Daniel?"

"Over here Sam." Sam turned her head to the right, making stiff and sore neck muscles scream in protest. Daniel was also chained to the wall with his arms above him. Sam figured she must strung up the same way, explaining her aches and pains. Based on her aching, they had been chained for several hours.

"I guess things changed since we were last here, huh?"

"That seems to be a fair assumption, Colonel Carter."

"Has anyone been in here since either of you came to."

"No." They both answered in unison.

"Then I guess we wait for an explanation and look for an opportunity to.." The opening of the door interrupted her words. The Constilnal entered. His robes were more elaborate then the members of SG-1 remembered from their last visit.

"Constilnal. I wish I could say it was a pleasure but I think your hospitality has taken a turn for the worst." Why did Jack's words have to come popping out of her mouth at times like this? With all of the great leadership skills she could have acquired as Jack's second-in-command why did she inherit the sarcasm!

"Ah, Major Carter. I have been told that you now lead SG-1. I am sure many of your old friends will be disappointed that General O'Neill now hides on Earth." As the Constilnal moved closer to Sam she could feel why things had changed. He was a Goa'uld!

"Who are you?"

"Sam?"

"He's a Goa'uld, Daniel."

"I was told you would be able to sense me. That is why I decided you had to be restrained before we met." He glanced over his shoulder at Teal'c. "I also wanted to be sure that your Shol'va pet was restrained." Teal'c bared his teeth at the Goa'uld now standing too close to Sam. Daniel let one shiver cross his body before he regained control. Sam maintained her stoic look, she was determined to not show any fear to this monster.

"What do you want?"

"My host has informed me that since your last visit the people here have decided to make some radical changes. Apparently, they now believe that the old gods are false and the women are beginning to seek positions of power outside the home. I am going to use you, and your team, to reestablish their old beliefs."

"Over my dead body!"

"Probably." The Goa'uld smiled. "I would enjoy seeing all of you die. If I am lucky, O'Neill will come to find you. I want to take something from him that is as valuable as the host he stole from me."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel's confusion was evident.

"Do you not recognize me, Daniel? I am disappointed. After getting to know you and O'Neill so well I would have thought you would know me anywhere."

"Klorel."

"Excellent guess, Shol'va! Who would have guessed you would be the smart one?" Klorel turned back to Sam.

"First I will show the ministers that SG-1 and their new leader are weak. Then I will let the people know of my power. This world will be mine, thanks to you." His evil grin remained in Sam's mind as Klorel left the room.

"That went well!"

"Sam?"

"Well at least it isn't another boring trip to a planet we already know to well."

"I doubt this is what General O'Neill had in mind for our visit."

"I know your right Teal'c, and although I'm not happy to yet again find us in mortal danger I am glad we'll have the chance to prove we can handle this."

"Assuming we can handle this."

"Daniel, are you saying you doubt me also?"

"No, Sam!"

"Good, cause I will need both of you to get us out of here."

"You have always had our support Colonel Carter."

"Thanks Teal'c. Any ideas?"

"I have tried the restraints and found them very strong. I doubt I can break out of them."

"I agree. I also don't see any way out other then the door. Our weapons are gone, along with our radios." Teal'c and Daniel nodded along with her appraisal of their situation. The door opened again. Klorel entered followed by three high-ranking ministers they remembered from their last visit and some big looking goons bring up the rear. Sam figured the goons were the new advisors Ranal had spoken of earlier. Ranal! Sam wondered what had become of Ranal. Was he in on the whole thing or just a pawn?

Klorel walked straight towards Teal'c. He leaned in close and whispered, so only Teal'c could hear his words. "I know you always enjoyed watching my father work, Sholva. I hope you enjoy watching when it is your friend." Teal'c stretched his chains as far as possible trying to reach Klorel. Klorel laughed as Teal'c struggled against the chains.

Klorel moved over to Daniel. Again, he leaned in close. "My old host loved to embarrass you. That is how I know you won't be able to keep your eyes open. You will abandon her because you are weak." The look of confusion on Daniel's face resulted in another sick laugh from Klorel. Klorel turned to the other men occupying the too small room.

"You four have recommended many new laws, which would result in decreasing my power while allowing the women of this planet more freedom. I can not permit this to occur."

"I do not understand Constilnal. You recommended these changes."

"You must have misunderstood me. I was divinely chosen to lead our people. I will not allow you to abandon your God and give the people the powers intended only for me. I especially will not see women controlling our men. I know these three have led you down this path, so I will use them to show you why I am the most powerful and why women are weak and will cause our men to become weak." The ministers looked afraid of what was to come. Sam kept her face neutral. She knew she wouldn't like what was next but she wouldn't give Klorel the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

Klorel turned back towards Sam. He pulled a small thin knife from a scabbard on his belt. His eyes glowed and he smiled. He reached up to Sam's face with the knife. He traced her cheek with the tip of the knife. He moved the tip down her jaw to her neck. He paused on her neck.

"Leave her alone. I am responsible for the loss of your host. Come after me."

"See how her men fear for her. You can use the body of a woman to destroy her mind and the minds of those who love her. It isn't possible for any man who follows a woman to not love her and therefore lose his mind. The only one you can safely follow is your God..Me." Klorel placed the knife behind the first button of Sam's jacket. In one swift move, he sliced through all the buttons on her jacket. Daniel jerked with the sound of each button hitting the floor. Sam saw Daniel flinch. She locked her eyes on his, telling him to hold his tongue. This was her fight. He and Teal'c had to remain out of it.

Klorel took a hold of her face and turned it back to him. "You aren't losing interest so quickly are you?" Sam locked eyes with Klorel and kept the neutral look on her face. She knew there was no point in responding. The knife moved back up to the top of her t-shirt. In one swipe, Klorel cut through the cotton material. Her jacket and shirt hung on her shoulders, leaving her chest exposed.

"Stop this! Don't let him hurt her! How can you just watch this!" Daniel's eyes were wide with fear. He knew he couldn't watch this! Teal'c quietly strained against the chains holding him. They were both desperate to stop this!

Klorel laughed. "Do you see their distress! They are so driven to save her they do not consider their own safety!" The knife returned to Sam's chest. Klorel drew a thin line of blood from the hollow spot in Sam's throat down to her bra, which he cut in two. Sam was now exposed to all the men in the room. She held her face steady. She refused to react.

Klorel reached a ribbon device encased hand up to Sam's chest. The gold-tipped fingers traced the same blood lined path as the knife. Klorel used the blood to draw patterns on Sam's exposed flesh. She maintained eye contact with him. She refused to back down! The muscles in her jaw tightened but she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her breakdown.

With his bare hand, Klorel reached up and caressed Sam's naked breast. As her rubbed his thumb over her nipple it began to harden.

"You will die for this action!" Teal'c pulled with all his might at the chains connected to his wrist restraints. Blood trickled down his arms as the cuffs cut into his flesh.

"Is her honor worth so much Sol'va?" Klorel laughed again. He turned to the ministers and relished the look of horror on their faces. The other men, his goons, looked excited. They obviously were hoping that Sam would be given to them when their God finished with her.

"Do you see how her weak female body responds to my touch even as her mind rebels? This is the fierce warrior you decided to follow?" Klorel's caresses turned to painful squeezes followed by a firm pull that cause a brief grimace to appear on Sam's face. Without warning Klorel felt wetness on his cheek. He reached up to wipe the spit off his face.

"You will pay for that!" Klorel backhanded Sam with enough force to knock her face into the wall behind her. She got the reaction she had expected. She blacked out as soon as her head made contact with the wall. No matter what else he did to her, she wouldn't remember it or feel it. That was the best plan she could devise.

She felt the pain in her jaw before she even realized she was moaning.

"Sam!" Daniel's yell made her head pound even louder. Didn't he understand she felt like a freshman who had gotten drunk for the first time and ended up dancing topless on a bar table. The last thing she needed was noise.

It wasn't until she tried to tell him to shut up that she realized her jaw must be broken. All she could do was grunt.

"Wake-up Sam."

"I wake." Her former English teachers would be disappointed but it got the point across and minimized the movement of her jaw.

"You're not ok are you?"

"Uh-uh." She slowly shook her head no but even that small movement increased the throbbing of her head.

Teal'c and Daniel spoke to each other about her and their situation. She tried to focus on their words but she kept slipping out thanks to the pain. She had to regain control if she was going to be able to get herself and her team out of here. As she was talking herself into overcoming the pain, she heard the door open. She lifted her head and saw one of the ministers enter the room.

"Forgive us." The small man reached up to a control panel on the wall and the restraints holding SG-1 clicked open. Daniel and Sam immediately fell to the floor. The pain in their arms as blood began to return was unimaginable. Teal'c stumbled but managed to make it to Sam before he also collapsed to the floor.

"Can you walk?" The minister was obviously terrified.

"We need a moment. Please help me remove my jacket." The minister look scared of Teal'c but he slowly approached and tentatively helped. Teal'c was beginning to get the use of his arms again. Teal'c gently placed his jacket around Sam. He helped her get her arms inside the large sleeves. It was several anxious minutes until he was able to button the jacket around her.

"Why here?" Teal'c helped Sam stand as she questioned the minister.

"What the Constilnal did to you proved his is no longer capable of being our leader. I know when you were last here you were disappointed that our women did not hold positions of power in the government but I promise you we have always respected our women. The laws for causing a woman such pain are severe. We know the importance of protecting our women. Once the Constilnal broadcast his interrogation the people rebelled."

"Broadcast?" Sam's face turned violently red. It was one thing to be molested in front of her friends but a world-wide broadcast was not her idea of good public relations. That just made the violation millions of times worse.

"Yes, I am sorry. I can promise you he will be punished."

"He is not your Constilnal any longer." The minister looked at Daniel.

"What do you mean?"

"He has been possessed by a Goa'uld."

"I doubt that will save him, but I will let the authorities know. I have arranged a ride for you back to the gate."

"Thanks. We'd like our gear before we go." Daniel put a hand on Sam's back to provide both physical and emotional support as he spoke.

"Of course." The minister led SG-1 to a room several doors down the hall. The goons from earlier were tied up and being guarded in the room. Their gear was stacked in the corner. It didn't matter that Sam couldn't speak. She didn't have anything to say to these rat-bastards.

The ride to the gate was uncomfortable, not only because of Sam's injuries but also because the ministers accompanying them kept apologizing. All their apologizes did was remind her of her feelings of helplessness. Daniel promised to send another diplomatic team and an interrogation team to speak with Klorel.

As Daniel dialed the gate, Sam stood tall at the foot of the steps. She refused to show weakness. She had to prove Klorel wrong! One of the ministers approached her slowly from her right.

"You have proven that women can do anything men can do and more. I know I could not have withstood the pressures you have faced with half of your dignity. It is because of you that the laws we have proposed will be enacted. Our women will grow strong, like you. I hope you will one day return and see the effect you have had on our people. We will all be better thanks to you."

"Thanks." The word was slurred but it was the best she could do. She hoped he could see the appreciation in her eyes. Her heart leapt at the sound of the gate activating. Home was only a few steps away. Daniel stepped through first and Teal'c followed Sam.

"SG-1, I was about to send a search team. Why didn't you report as ordered?" Jack's tone changed as he saw the bruises on Sam's face.

"Medical team to the Gateroom!" Jack raced down the steps as soon as he let go of the intercom. The medics were rolling Sam out before Jack could get to her. Jack looked at Teal'c.

"What the hell happened?"

"Klorel had taken over the Constilnal. He decided to use Colonel Carter to convince the people we were too weak to follow. He underestimated her strength." Teal'c's proud grin was not hidden. Teal'c and Jack followed Daniel to the infirmary.

All three men sat in the infirmary waiting for the usual post-mission checks and news of Sam. As Jack paced around the room, he caught a glimpse of the bruises on Sam's chest before the curtain was drawn tighter around her. The lack of moans was bothering him as much as the sight of her bruises. Finally, the doctor came over to update them.

"Colonel Carter has three facial fractures. Her jaw will be wired shut for several weeks. The cuts to her chest were superficial and didn't require any stitches. She has a minor concussion. Because of the physical abuse she endured I will recommend a psychological evaluation before she can return to active duty." They all knew that would piss her off. Teal'c and Daniel were released immediately after their post-mission checks. Sam had to spend the night to get her jaw wired and make sure her concussion wasn't to severe.

Jack was the first person to greet her when she woke the next morning.

"So Colonel, how many concussions can you get before you begin to forget how to calculate the half-life of naquada?" Sam attempted to answer but Jack waved his finger and pointed to the small double sided white board lying on the bed.

'Funny, sir.' Sam scribbled on the board and held it up for him to see.

"I hear you get to go home today."

'Good.'

"I was wondering if you'd mind some company. Doc says you need somebody around to get you milkshakes and keep you awake."

'Thanks, but I'll be fine, sir.'

"Ok, I order you to stop writing sir every time. I promise to remember you thought it every time you wrote anything on the board. You can't avoid the Doc's orders. Teal'c, Daniel, and I will be taking turns for a while."

'You lost?'

"I won." His eyes were so tender. She melted at the site of him. He reached out his hand and she felt one finger caress the back of her hand. She knew he had heard what happened. She wanted to run from him but she knew he wouldn't let her.

"Let me take care of you Sam."

'Promise me no more cakewalk missions.'

"What? I wouldn't ever.."

'SIR!' Jack looked down at his feet and scrapped his toe on the floor.

"Promise. I just couldn't stand the thought that any of you would get hurt while I wasn't there to stop it."

'Now that it's happened let's get past it.'

"Easier said then done."

'You can't protect me so stop trying.'

"That's a tall order. I've spent seven years watching your back. It's hard to sit here waiting."

'I can't earn their respect if I don't have yours.'

"I have always respected you. I can't imagine respecting anyone more then I respect you."

'Prove it.'

"I'll do better."

'Thanks.'

"Now that we have that settled how about I go get the Doc to sign you out. I know this great ice cream place with wonderful shakes!" His smile was infectious. Sam began to return his smile but it turned into a grimace as her jaw muscles tensed.

"No giggling, Colonel." She glared at him for a moment but gave up as she saw the love and humor in his eyes. She knew she was lucky to have friends like Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c. Hopefully, she would be able to convince them to back off a little and give her the space she needed to command. She knew they meant well but her big brothers were trying too hard. Why was it easier to get a planet full of strangers to see her strength then her best friends?

She shook her head as warmth filled her chest. She knew she wouldn't trade any of her guys, no matter how over protective they acted. The worst gate trips always reminded her why she was so lucky. She had them by her side, backing her up.

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