Here is another fic by Jackie. This has been archived elsewhere, and hasn't been revised the way What Fate Decrees was, so it may be familiar to some of you. Remember - review and let Jackie know if you like it - Flatkatsi.

Life In the Shadows - Part One

"It's not quite Goa'uld," said Daniel frowning.

"Not quite? How on earth is it not quite," growled an exasperated Colonel.

"Well, the writing is, but the style isn't," explained Daniel.

"And the writing says?"

"Well …"

"Crap!"

"No, Jack …"

"Daniel, back towards me, slowly."

"Uh?" was the response from a puzzled archaeologist, his eyes and his head still on the tablet he was reading.

"Daniel, I think we have visitors and they don't look too friendly."

Daniel finally looked up; he backed slowly towards Jack as several men came from the trees.

Jack's hand tightened on his gun as he eyed the men coming towards them.

Daniel fixed a smile on his face to greet the visitors.

The men spread out as they advanced and made a semi-circle around them. Jack eyed the man nearest to him; the bulging muscles on the man made Teal'c look small by comparison.

"Hello, we mean no harm, we are explorers," began Daniel, only to be cut short by the man closest to him raising the staff he carried in a threatening manner.

"Err, do you understand me?" asked Daniel as he lifted his hands quickly to show he meant no harm.

Jack moved his gun and adjusted his grip quickly, only to be halted by the confining presence of three of the men – all very large - who moved even closer.

"Don't suppose you guys speak English?" enquired Jack of them with a smile as he stilled his movements.

A movement in the trees drew their attention and Teal'c and Sam were brought forward by several more men.

"Sweet, the gang's all here," said Jack sarcastically.

The man nearest to him threw his weight into a blow with the staff he carried. Jack doubled over and gasped for breath, the blow catching him low and hard in the stomach. The man relieved Jack of his P90 and sidearm, signalling for another to do the same to Daniel.

Daniel raised his hands again, alarmed for Jack's safety. "Hey, we don't mean any harm, we come in peace."

"You are on our land. You are now our property," said one of the men, leering at Sam.

"Property?" gasped out Jack as he straightened. "Hey, we can just go back we …" Another blow, just as hard shut him up.

Sam and Teal'c were pushed towards them. They had been relieved of their weapons and packs and one of the men was admiring Teal'c's staff weapon.

"Look, we are peaceful …" began Daniel, to be cut short by the man nearest to Jack striking him with another blow.

Jack dropped to his knees this time with a groan. "Hey, that wasn't me," he complained, gasping.

He was hauled to his feet, and pushed closer to Daniel. "Move!" growled the man.

Jack and Daniel were both pushed to join Sam and Teal'c; the men circled them as they walked, following the leader.

"You okay, Carter? T?" whispered Jack as they drew level.

"Fine, Sir."

"It was not prudent to resist, O'Neill," said the Jaffa, looking as troubled as Jack had ever seen him look.

One of the men slammed his staff across Teal'c's back, causing him to stumble slightly, before he regained his footing.

Jack quickly made the 'no talking' sign and turned his attention to the trail they were following. He knew they didn't have a chance to escape at the moment. They could only bide their time in the hopes of a chance arising later.

xoxoxoxoxo

They were marched briskly for a couple of hours before they arrived at a small collection of huts, which surrounded a large stockade. They were shepherded to stand at the gate whilst it was opened.

Jack turned and made as if to object, but never got the chance when his head was thrown back by the force of the vicious blow of a staff. Teal'c caught hold of him before he hit the ground, supporting him firmly until the gate was swung open and they were pushed in.

Teal'c lowered his CO to the ground and knelt, supporting his head on his thigh, while Sam checked out the injury to his head. She mopped the blood from his face with a handkerchief, cursing the fact that all of their supplies had been confiscated.

Jack groaned and flinched as he came around. His eyes held hers for a moment before he attempted to sit up.

"Take it easy, sir," said Sam, relieved to see him conscious so quickly.

"I'm okay, good job I've got a thick skull," he groaned as he managed to get upright with a little help from Teal'c. The bruising on his stomach was already making itself felt too, and it took a moment or two before he gathered himself enough to look around.

Jack saw Daniel a short distance away standing near two young girls who were huddled together, clearly terrified. Daniel had tried talking to them, but they just stared at him wide eyed and held each other tighter still.

Giving up with a shrug he moved back to the others.

"Ah, awake then," he commented, seeing Jack upright.

"Ya think!" snorted Jack.

"They either don't understand me or they're just too frightened," he said, sitting down next to Jack.

"Very frightened," Sam replied, looking at the two girls.

"So, Major, when are we going to get an unfriendly native warning device on those MALPs?" asked Jack.

Sam smiled and gave a small shrug with her shoulders, "Who knows, sir."

"They said we're their property," mused Daniel.

Jack snorted. "That is so not a good career move," he said frowning, causing the wound on his forehead to trickle fresh blood.

As Sam made to press the handkerchief to his head, he took it from her grasp impatiently and applied it himself.

"Not a very talkative bunch, were they?" he commented, resting his elbows on his knees.

"At least they're not Goa'uld," supplied Sam with a tiny smile.

Daniel pushed his glasses up and frowned. "Well, they're not, but they could be working subjugated by …"

"Ah ah, don't say it," warned Jack, putting up a warning hand. "I really don't want to know yet."

Teal'c had been prowling around the pen looking through the bars. He stopped briefly near the girls, but they cowered terrified at his presence, so he quickly moved away.

He came to stand besides his team, then squatted down at an impatient request from Jack.

"We do not appear to be heavily guarded, O'Neill."

Jack looked around the pen, "Don't think they need to," he said squinting. "Not much we can get up to sitting here in full sight and unarmed," he added wryly.

Teal'c acknowledged his words with an incline of his head.

"So …" began Daniel.

"So, we rest and wait for our chance," said Jack as he reclined back to the floor.

The others followed his lead. Teal'c moved a little away from them and began to kel-no-reem.

It was almost dark when more guards approached the pen, along with several new prisoners.

The people were bundled in quickly, along with a couple of jugs of water. Teal'c, without hesitation, secured one of the jugs and they shared the water gratefully. Daniel motioned to the girls, who still hadn't moved.

Jack understood his unspoken question. "Let Carter take it," he said softly.

Sam took the remaining water and approached the girls. They wouldn't take it from her, but as soon as she put it down and backed away they fell on it quickly.

The new prisoners settled down, they made very little noise and Daniel slowly approached them. They eyed him suspiciously, taking in his strange clothing with obvious curiosity.

"Hello," he said smiling at them. "Can you understand me?" Daniel noted they all looked young and strong.

One man nodded.

Encouraged, Daniel moved closer. "Can you tell me what's going on? Why did they take us?"

The man who had nodded at Daniel looked at the others frowning, before he turned back to Daniel with a shrug.

"We are to be workers," he said, the frown deepening.

"Workers? For who?" persisted Daniel.

"Them," was the simple response. The man looked as though Daniel was the simple one.

Jack had been listening and moved closer, rather unhappy with the slow progress Daniel was making.

"Who's them?" he asked with a growl.

"Our village gives us up to keep the village safe."

"Safe from whom?" demanded Jack.

The man's eyes darted nervously to the bars. "From them, the Mauran. When they need more workers they come to the village and take." He squirmed as he spoke, obviously uncomfortable.

Daniel looked at Jack, his face showing his distress, but Jack was intent on getting more information.

"Take for what reason?" demanded Jack.

"To work in the mines."

Jack gave Daniel an incredulous look and cried out, "Mines! For cryin' out loud!"

Daniel shuddered, remembering the last mine they'd been held in.

Jack muttered something else Daniel couldn't catch and turned away walking back to Sam and Teal'c.

Sam regarded her CO's face closely. She too remembered all too clearly their last trip into mines as prisoners and it wasn't something that she wanted to repeat.

Daniel gave up questioning any further and came and sat down.

"I, err, well we …"

Jack raised a hand to silence him. "Yeah, I know, we gotta get out of here, quick."

"Maybe when they move us?" asked Sam.

"Yeah, we'll have to take a chance then," agreed Jack, "get what rest you can kids," he urged as he curled himself up.

xoxoxoxoxo