Seven days later SG1 came back through the gate. They were mildly surprised to find Jack was not there waiting with Hammond. "SG1 was it successful?"
"Yes sir. We found some devices to study, and found a tablet with several gate addresses we don't think we have. Maybe some more allies or at least technology or trading partners." Sam replied.
"Glad to hear it. Debrief in thirty minutes."
"Yes sir." Sam replied as they walked toward the door.
"Doctor Jackson, will you come to my office as soon as you turn in you gear please?" Hammond asked.
Glancing at Sam, Daniel said "Yes, sir. Be right there."
Twenty minutes later, Sam and Teal'c came into the briefing room. They could see through the window that Daniel and Hammond were still talking. Sam looked at Teal'c. "Wonder what is going on?"
"I could not offer an informed guess Colonel Carter." Teal'c replied.
Sam smiled as she sat down to wait.
A few moments later the door opened and Daniel came out carrying a large envelope. Sam could see that he had been very upset. He did not even acknowledge her or Teal'c when he went by and out the door.
Sam looked at Hammond. "Sir?"
"Doctor Jackson has to take care of some things. He will be exempt from debrief." Hammond said as he sat down.
After the debrief Sam went to hunt Daniel up. She found his lab dark and closed up. Surprised, she checked a few other places. Not finding him, she went back to her lab to check on things. She had a few things to do before she needed to get home. On a whim, she called the entrance checkpoint and found that Daniel had signed out almost immediately after his talk with General Hammond. She dialed his cell and got no answer. She left a voicemail telling him to call, shut down the lab and left.
The next day Sam was in her lab when she decided to find Daniel. His lab was closed. She knocked but received no answer. Odd. She then went to find Teal'c.
He was in the gym sparring with members of SG3. He acknowledged her presence with a nod, but did not take his eyes off his opponent. After Teal'c had taken down his opponent and they had bowed to each other, he walked over to her. "Colonel Carter, may I help you?"
"Have you seen Daniel? I was kind of worried about him."
"No I have not. I am concerned as well. I am also concerned that no one on this base other than General Hammond seems to know the location of General O'Neill."
Sam looked at him in surprise. Teal'c had apparently been prying to try and get information. "I think I am going to talk to General Hammond again" She said as she turned to walk out. Teal'c was immediately in step with her.
When they got to the office, they were surprised to see Daniel there, talking to Hammond. Sam could sense the mood was somber. Hammond looked up at her, then visibly sagged and waved them in.
"Colonel, Teal'c, have seat." Hammond said.
Sam looked closely at Daniel. She could tell he had gotten very little sleep. She watched as he gathered up papers and placed them in a folder, ensuring that no one could see what was on them as he did.
"Sir?"
"A few days ago, a Tok'ra operative came and asked for our help. There was word of another Anubis style super ship that was being constructed. We assume Ba'al has obtained most of his technology." He looked at them, to gauge their reaction. "They asked for help infiltrating the base, and taking out the ship."
Sam looked at her team and then back at Hammond. "Do we need to be ready to help sir?"
Hammond looked down and Sam caught Daniel sagging back into his chair out of the corner of her eye. "Sir, what is going on?"
"General O'Neill went on the mission Major."
"What?! By himself?" She asked incredulously.
"The Tok'ra requested him specifically. It was felt that based on the security at the base being set up for a large frontal assault; a one or two man team could get in." Hammond stated.
"Sir, that sounds crazy. And why did the Tok'ra ask for the General? They know how he feels about them." Sam asked, her agitation growing.
Hammond looked down. "Yes, they are aware that of how he feels about them, but never the less, they asked, and he volunteered. He left twelve days ago to meet a Tok'ra operative with a ship to insert him onto the planet."
Sam looked surprised. "What Tok'ra would Jack trust enough to….Oh my God! It was Dad wasn't it?" She asked.
"Jacob did not trust the mission or the Tok'ra specifically asking for Jack. He felt the only way to ensure someone watched Jack's back was for him to do it." Hammond replied. He paused a moment, then continued. "Both Jacob and Jack have been missing for over ten days now. I was forced to report Jack as officially MIA yesterday."
Sam's heart dropped to the floor. "Sir, let us go get him." She pleaded
"I am sorry Colonel. It is too dangerous. That is why Jack went alone. In fact, he specifically requested that no one be allowed to follow him based on the danger. I am sorry."
Teal'c now spoke up. "General Hammond, you have only mentioned they are missing, you have not stated they are dead. Is it not possible that one or both of them will complete the mission and return?"
"Right now, Teal'c, anything…" Hammond was interrupted by the Gate beginning to spin and alarms going off indicating an unscheduled activation. They all got up and ran to the control room as the vortex formed. Walter engaged the iris.
A moment later he looked up. "Tok'ra IDC sir."
Hammond turned to the stairs. "Open it"
As the all ran to the gate room, they watched as Jacob stepped through. He immediately went to his knees. SG1 ran up the steps to grab him as Hammond yelled for a medical team.
Hammond walked up the ramp. Jacob opened his eyes and looked at him. "I'm sorry George. I lost him." He then slipped into darkness. Sam felt like she had been punched in the gut. She vaguely remembered the medical team coming to take Jacob to the infirmary and Teal'c helping her up.
