*****
"So they still have some of this new element?" General Hammond asked the colonel. They were sitting at the briefing table. Jack was giving them his report of all the things Shaboni had told him.
"As far as she knows they do. After what we told her she came to the conclusion that the NID is overseeing research on an anti-Goa'uld biological weapon. But I think someone had more nefarious plans. They exposed her intentionally to the mixture of those two metals, and seemed intent on finding out what they could about its effects on her and developing a counteragent."
"Yes, and you don't need a counteragent if the chemicals are not dangerous to humans," Daniel added.
"Exactly," Jack raised his hand in a 'there-you-go' gesture.
"I have spoken with the Pentagon about the fact that NID was posing as the SGC to recruit foreign nationals. I've been assured that the parties responsible will be dealt with," Hammond informed them.
"It's a little late for that," Jack pointed out.
"Yes, Colonel, I'm aware of that. But there is nothing further we can do about it." The general closed the notebook he had in front of him. "How is Captain Uziel?"
"Sleeping. She is in a lot of pain."
"Sir, have we even considered trying to call the Tok'ra?" Major Carter finally brought it up.
"We attempted to contact them yesterday, Major. They could spare no one," the general explained apologetically.
"So we just quit trying and watch her die?" Daniel griped.
"We are out of options," Hammond shrugged his shoulders. Just then the phone on the wall behind him rang. He reached out and answered it, "General Hammond." His face gave nothing away. But when he looked suddenly at Jack they knew something was up.
Jack's stomach did a little flip. It must be Shaboni. Teal'c sat unmoving, and Sam and Daniel looked at each other.
Finally he said, "Send him in," and then he hung up the phone.
"It would seem that there may be one remaining option," the general said and inclined his head toward the door to the briefing room. He began to stand and they all followed suit. Suddenly Colonel Mayborne appeared from around the corner.
"Hello, Harry," Jack said with suspicion dripping from his voice.
"Jack, General, everyone," he greeted them.
"So Colonel Mayborne, I'm told you have something for us?" The general sat down indicating that everyone else should do the same.
"Yes. I do." He set a box on the table and left it there as if its presence should be self-explanatory.
"Well...what...is...it? Jack said slowly enunciating each word.
"It is all that remains of Dr. Tolla Ben Jahadi's work." He reached over and opened the box pulling two vials out and setting one on the table. Holding up the other he said, "This is the only remaining quantity of Sub Element 201 beta on the planet." He set it down and picked up the other vial offering it to Jack. "And this is the compound that he formulated to counteract the effects of his weapon on humans. I am told that is one dose of counteragent."
They all, even Teal'c, adopted similar expressions of slightly open mouths and large round eyes.
"Mayborne, if this doesn't work I'm going to kill you with my bare hands." Jack took the vial from him.
"I would expect nothing less," Mayborne said genially.
"Colonel, why don't you take that to Dr. Fraiser," General Hammond dismissed Jack, who gave one last look of warning to Mayborne and then strode swiftly from the room.
Daniel eyed Mayborne moodily. Their last encounter had been the Tollan incident, and Daniel had no more love for the man than anyone else in the SGC.
"Major Carter, I should think you would be eager to get your hands on this." The colonel tapped the top of the remaining vial.
"As much as I might want it, Colonel, I have a sneaking suspicion that it would come at too high a price," she responded flatly.
"I agree. What exactly is it you want from us?" Daniel asked.
"I would like to have been able to come in here demanding something in return for helping the Mossad woman. But the fact of the matter is that you don't have anything I want. Right now." He almost looked apologetic.
"Well, then Colonel, if that is the case, then I thank you for your generosity, and I'll ask you to be going." The general had that look where he sucked his cheeks in. It was a look he got when dealing with those he despised. He despised the politics he'd been forced to play at the hands of the NID. And he knew that this man was among the worst that he'd ever had to deal with. It wasn't because Mayborne had a political agenda. No, General Hammond didn't think that there was much that was political about Harry Mayborne. But he did have an agenda and he was the type who would do anything to achieve it. His position within the intelligence community coupled with his agenda made him dangerous. But one thing he could not ignore: Colonel Harry Mayborne had helped them with this situation. He may literally be saving the day with this counter agent. He wanted to give him credit for that, but all his years of training and experience practically screamed that giving him credit for anything good was a serious error in judgment.
Teal'c, who'd been thinking in similar terms, decided to communicate his thoughts on the matter. He stood up and walked behind the colonel and said in a low and even tone, "Your assistance is most appreciated. Shall I show you to the elevator?"
Mayborne got the hint. He hadn't expected it to go differently. He hadn't even hoped it would. It was nice that you could predict some things in this universe. It had symmetry. He stood up and said, "No, thank you Teal'c, I know the way." Then he nodded his head at each of them, "General, Major, Doctor," and walked out.
*****
Things were starting to feel normal again. But it was a new kind of normal. Carter had been holed up in her lab experimenting with the new metal element. Daniel had been routinely busy with the rocks 'Artifacts, Jack.', rubbings, and texts that other teams loved to bring him. Teal'c had been participating in training some of the younger SG team members in combat techniques. Teams came, teams went. Their vacation was long since over, but SG1 had been given a little extra time off from taking a mission so that the colonel could properly recover from the accident.
The counter agent that Mayborne had brought them had turned out to be helpful. Shaboni still had months of recuperation before her strength and vitality would fully return, if it ever would. But she was alive. The question of what to do with her came up, was dealt with, and put to rest pretty quickly. It would require special dispensation from the Pentagon, but if she managed to fully recover from the poisoning she would be awarded a consultant's position with the SGC. Her extensive military training and experience in intelligence made her valuable. Her knowledge of the Stargate program made her dangerous. But when confronted with the evidence of the NID's actions, the Pentagon relented and allowed General Hammond to extend the offer. She had not said no, but she had not said yes either. She had decided, instead, to take some time to fully recover from her ordeal and 'find her path.' She agreed to give them an answer in a month's time.
"Find your path?" Jack had said making a face.
She laughed at him as she gathered the few things they'd retrieved from her hotel and brought to the SGC. "It sounds foolish to you." A question.
"Well, no...not foolish." He paused. "Okay, maybe a little."
She smiled brilliantly. He was only just beginning to see the depth of that brilliance as she regained her strength. She stopped and commented, "It is only because you have already found yours that it sounds foolish."
"Actually, I think it sounds cliché," he explained.
"Of course it is." She resumed her packing with one hand. She still had a cast on her left hand immobilizing her thumb and wrist. "It would not be cliché if it were not true. I have always done one thing. I have always been a soldier. Fighting for my country was all that I knew. Things are not as they were, Jack. I am not who I was before. I do not know what is before me. But I want to understand more about the possibilities before I decide to accept being here. I do not know if this is where I am belonging."
"So do you have any idea where you are going to go?"
"I really do not yet know. I thought I would be seeing Minnesota." She looked at him sideways. "I heard that the fishing there is good."
Jack felt like laughing fleetingly, but this was not such a funny moment after all. The smile in his eyes died out a little. He'd not really gotten the chance to have much time with her. He wanted something more. But realistically he knew that was a ridiculous idea. At least he wasn't going to deny to himself that he'd felt something. It might suck that she was leaving, but in the time that she'd been near him she had changed him. For the better. He thought that because of her he just might be able to experience joy again, someday anyway. He held up a little package that he'd wrapped for her.
"You brought me a present," she asked.
"Sort of." He handed it to her. She raised an eyebrow at him in askance. "Go ahead." He waved at the package.
She tore it open and found a copy of the CD that had started the whole string of events that had led to this moment.
"Thank you, Jack. This is good music." She grinned so sweetly it pierced him.
He thought briefly to tell her of the song, Ghost Story, and how he'd heard it again because she was with him. He wanted to tell her that her being there made him hear it all the way through. That the end of the song talked about the release he'd so desperately sought from the perpetual nightly trial. He wanted to tell her that, because of her, he'd finally been able to feel the love he'd had for his wife and begin to say goodbye. That he had begun to do something more than survive at last. But he didn't say any of those things.
What he said was, "yeah, it's one of my favorites."
Fin