Sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I've been super busy with work and uni has just started back up. I've also been writing other stuff. Oh and I finally have a new laptop so I can actually write and save my work. It's very exciting. I love getting my tax return.

Chapter 6: Plans

Previously on "A Matter of Trust": Rick and Jim were beamed up to the Hammond and Kate found out that the former Mayor of New York was behind her mother's murder.

And now, the continuation…

"You said that this was the front line defense of Earth." Rick stated as he continued to look around the bridge of the Hammond. Jack nodded, "What is it defending us from?"

Jack turned to Daniel, "Daniel, you want to tell them? Or should I?"

Daniel folded his arms, "I think you should, you always put it so eloquently."

"Thank you." Jack turned back to Rick, "We're protecting Earth against alien forces that want to either a) enslave us or b) kill us."

"And which of these have Kate?"

"The ones that want to enslave us. Sort of," Daniel answered.

Rick narrowed his eyes at the man, "What do you mean, 'sort of'?"

"The aliens that want to enslave-slash-destroy us have been defeated. They were a parasitic race that infect their hosts and make them megalomaniacs hell bent on ruling the galaxy."

Jack rolled his eyes, "Is that all they were?"

Daniel sighed, "As I was saying, these Goa'uld have been defeated but there are a few that remain. Their forces aren't strong so they are staying in hiding. The Trust- the people that have Kate- has made alliances with some of these remaining Goa'ulds."

"Have you been able to find out why they want Kate?"

Sam spoke up, "Not yet. Agent Barrett said he was going to get back to me today. Last time we spoke he said he was close to finding the information he needed."

"So we just have to sit and wait?" Jim asked, breaking his long silence, no longer content in sitting back and letting Rick do all the talking.

"For the moment, yes," Sam replied. "We know it's tough, but you have to understand that we have been in situations like this before. We're not going in blind. "

Jim and Rick let out a collective sigh; they knew that it was going to be a long wait.

When Kate woke up she found herself in the cot in the bed; her whole body ached as if she had gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson and lost.

What the hell? She thought to herself. She gingerly sat up and looked around the cell for any clues as to what may have occurred while she was unconscious. When she found nothing out of place, she slumped back down onto the bed and flung her right arm over her eyes. She was tired of crying, but she was so emotionally drained that her tears just fell out of her eyes.

Kate lay there for some time until she heard the door unlock and then open. A tray of food was slid through the opening. Kate turned her head and looked at the food; it didn't seem appetizing, but the growl of her stomach told her that she needed to eat. The door slammed shut as quickly as it was opened, and Kate crawled off the cot and over to the food. It was bread and water but Kate devoured it as if it were Rick's famous roast chicken. When she was done, she moved to sit with her back against the wall that was opposite the door; she needed to regain her strength enough to overpower whoever it was that came to get her dishes. Kate needed to escape.

Rick and Jim were given the full tour of the Hammond by Jack and Daniel. Rick noticed that these two men were similar to Ryan and Esposito in that they were practically brothers. The difference being Jack and Daniel had almost fifteen years of close camaraderie; facing death together nearly every day ensured that.

When they returned to the bridge, Sam was there waiting for them.

"Barrett has found where they're keeping Kate," she said by way of greeting.

"Where?" both Rick and Jim asked simultaneously.

"In an abandoned warehouse just outside of Albuquerque."

"Oi," Jack rolled his eyes again. "How cliché. Why do they have to be so cliché?"

Sam chose to ignore his comment and went on, "Barrett has given us coordinates and a layout of the warehouse."

"How many men are in there?" Rick asked.

"He couldn't get an exact figure but he said anywhere from fifteen to twenty. All armed."

"You got a plan, Carter?"

"Working on it, sir. I'll let you know within the hour."

Jack nodded, "Get to work, we'll reconvene at…" he took a look at his watch, "…at 1600 in the briefing room at the SGC."

"Yes, sir." Sam turned to Major Marks, "Beam them back, Major."

"Yes, ma'am." Marks punched a few buttons and Rick and Jim were engulfed in a bright light along with Jack and Daniel. They rematerialized in the same spot they had left from. Jim shook his head, "That was weird."

Jack turned to Rick and Jim and clapped his hands together, "Who wants pie?"

The four men, plus Teal'c sat in the commissary quietly talking together while sampling a variety of desserts the military base had to offer. Over the years, the caterers had gotten used to the different requests that were continually made by the officers and had them put on the regular menu.

"So, Jim, how have you been?" Jack asked trying to get the man to not think about the dire situation his daughter was in.

Jim took a mouthful of his apple pie, and after swallowing, he replied, "Good, Jack. Really good. How about yourself?"

Jack shrugged, "Can't complain." Jack turned to Rick, "So, Dick, Teal'c tells me you write books. They any good?"

"I'd like to think so. Twenty-seven best sellers and counting. I have to be doing something right?"

Jack was about to reply when Master Sergeant Walter Harriman's voice came over the PA, "SG-1 to the briefing room ASAP. SG-1 to the briefing room." He dropped his spoon onto his plate.

"Let's go." The five men pushed themselves out their chairs and headed out of the commissary, determined looks on all their faces.

SGSGSG

In attendance at the briefing were all of SG-1, Jack, Rick, Jim, Landry and the leader of SG-2 (the Marine unit) and SG-5. Sam outlined their plan to rescue Kate.

"Our plan of attack is simple, SG-2 will go in and take out those guarding the outside; should be no more than five men. Then SG-5 will go in from the back and SG-1 from the front." She pulled up the blueprints of the warehouse, "We believe Kate is being held somewhere in these small rooms at the back." Sam pointed to them, "We need to get her out as quickly and as quietly as possible. When we have her, we'll have to get her out of the warehouse before we can beam her out."

"Why can't we just beam her out now?" Rick asked.

"The Trust have placed a dampening field around the warehouse. We aren't able to penetrate it. Once we have Kate up on the Hammond, Dr. Lam will examine her."

"And then what?" Jim queried.

Sam looked at him straight in the eyes, "Hope it's not too late for us to save her life."

Rick didn't like Sam's cryptic answer, "What's that supposed to mean?" Everyone fell silent, "What aren't you telling us?" he was getting angry, "I want an answer now!" Rick slammed his fist down on the table.

Sam shot a quick glance to Jack who reluctantly nodded, "Kate's been implanted with a Goa'uld. We need to get it out of her as quickly as possible if we want to have any chance of success."

Rick collapsed back in his chair and Jim paled. This was not how they wanted it to go.

Ok, this is it for this chapter. The next one will be the rescue. There's probably another 3-4 chapters left of this story. I hope to have it completed within the next couple of weeks.

If it pleases you so, please leave a review. I love knowing what you guys think.