Takes place during and after the episode 'Upgrades,' with a radically different outcome to that episode. I've messed around with the overall timing of the show, making Kinsey the Vice President a couple of years early, and bringing Agent Malcolm Barrett in before he appeared in the series. Also, Harry Maybourne is loose and is sort of only a semi-baddie.

Samantha Carter gazes into Jack O'Neill's eyes through the force field that separates them. She is trapped, with Jaffa approaching behind her, and the entire structure set to blow up in a few minutes.

He could still run—he might even make it out—but he won't go without her.

"Go!" she begs him. "Please, sir... go..."

"No!" he cries. He turns back toward her and she sees his expression as he realizes what is going to happen. She is going to die, and he knows in that instant just how much he cares for her. The shock of that knowledge is like a blow, and he is frozen...

Fate intervenes when the force field is unexpectedly disabled. She is too stunned to move in that first second, but he grabs her and they run.

~x~

In the debriefing, back at the SGC, they sit silent, as far from each other as possible, refusing to meet one another's eyes.

A fuming General Hammond reads them the riot act. She, Daniel and the Colonel have broken so many regulations, Hammond has to have a list to be sure to cover them all! Disobeying orders! Endangering non-military persons! Endangering the security of the base! Leaving the base without permission! Engaging the Stargate without permission! Assaulting Air Force personnel during the use of the gate (even though the control room techs protest that they are fine)! Going off-world against specific orders! Appropriating Air Force materiel—weapons and explosives—without permission! Risking their own lives and the life of another (specifically Teal'c, as it was he who came to rescue them)! Lying to their commanding officer! Lying to the base CMO!

Samantha keeps her eyes on the table.

None of them have ever seen General Hammond this angry. He finishes the list and throws the piece of paper down on the table, sits there a moment, breathing hard, his furious gaze moving from one to another of the three miscreants. One highly-charged, silent moment passes. And then the hammer falls.

Charges are being filed against Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. Dr. Jackson is being dismissed from his position with the SGC. The orders have come directly from Washington. Hammond's argument that they were under alien influence has been dismissed as specious. Carter and O'Neill will be tried in court martial. Until further notice, they are confined to base, and are banned from levels 27 and 28. Jackson has eight hours to clear any personal possessions from the base, and vacate his office, lab and quarters.

"This is the best I could do for you," Hammond says warningly. "Do not step out of line, or you will be incarcerated. Officials are on their way here from Washington to oversee the process, as well as my actions in this matter. You will be questioned closely as to your behavior." Hammond comes to his feet and they all follow suit. "Dismissed!"

Hammond asks Teal'c to stay, and the others leave the briefing room silently. Both O'Neill and Carter stand at attention and salute solemnly before they go—a gesture which the General returns before he turns and stalks into his office.

Daniel looks crushed and does not acknowledge his teammates as they all leave. Samantha follows him into the lift and O'Neill steps in behind them. The silence is deafening until O'Neill finally speaks;

"It'll be all right, kids. This is some kind of mistake..."

His voice trails off uncertainly, however. The others say nothing.

She follows Daniel to his office. Somewhere along the corridor they lose O'Neill, but neither comments.

Daniel gazes distractedly around his cluttered space.

Two SFs arrive and enter to stand just inside the door. "I'm sorry, Dr. Jackson. Our orders are to see that you don't pack any artifacts."

"Some of these things belong to me," he objects. "They have nothing to do with the Stargate! They came from digs here on Earth!"

"I'm sorry. You'll have to talk to General Hammond about that."

Daniel's eyes are red as he turns to Samantha. "They aren't going to let me take anything, are they?"

She shakes her head sadly. "No."

There is nothing they can say to comfort one another, so she leaves shortly and heads for her lab. It is locked and guarded. The SF gives her a sorrowful look. Not sure what to do next, she finally decides to go to her own quarters. O'Neill is standing against the wall outside the door.

"I'm locked out of my office," he says.

She nods. "My lab is locked, too. Daniel got into his office, but there are two guards there to make sure he takes only personal stuff."

"Can I come in?" he asks as she opens the door.

She pushes it wide. "Why not?" He follows her inside.

He looks around the room. There are generally no security cameras in private quarters, but he wants to be certain. When he is assured they are unobserved, he goes to her and looks into her eyes. Slowly he raises his hands and gently cups her face. When she makes no move to withdraw, he leans in and kisses her, tentatively at first, and then more deeply. His hands fall to her shoulders and then wrap around her and pull her close. She responds by sliding her hands between their bodies and up around his neck. Her fingers slip into the hair at the back of his head, sending chills down his spine.

At last he raises his head, and releases her. They are both a little breathless as they part.

"I'm sorry, Carter," he says softly. "Forgive me—I just needed to do that."

"It's okay," she says, and there are tears in her eyes. "Thank you."

His brows go up in surprise. "For what?"

"For not leaving me back there on the ship. For staying with me."

"I'd have never left you, Carter. I couldn't—because, I couldn't live..."

"Shh." She puts her hand over his mouth. "Don't say it. We can't say those things..." Her voice trails off and they gaze at each other. Finally they both look away. She licks her lips and he runs a hand through his hair. They each take a step apart.

He clears his throat, turning his eyes around the room, looking at nothing. From his pocket he takes a folded piece of paper and hands it to her. "The General gave this to me just before the briefing," he says.

She opens the paper and reads what is written there.

Colonel. Major. President Hayes has suffered a mild stroke. Kinsey is now Acting President. He has named NID Director Roland Niles to oversee the Stargate program—Niles will arrive in a few hours. You must leave SGC immediately. I believe your lives are in danger. You need to disappear until I can work this out.