Chapter 12:

"I will tell you nothing!" Hill screamed back.

"You right again!" Stone turned to look at Kingston and Tarkove. "He must see the future! Don't you agree?"

"Boss, can we watch this time around?" Kingston was quick to ask.

"Da, I bet you fifty bucks that Agent Hill here will break in less than five minutes!" Tarkove added.

Stone turned back to Hill, an evil grin on his face. "Oh, I think it will take less than that!"

Hill looked at the three men outside his cell, not knowing what to think. "You can't torture me, any way I have had training, I can with stand torture."

Stone grinned. "Oh, we have not interest in torturing you, Agent Hill!"

Hill was visibly relieved.

"We are going to watch as a Jaffa, interrogates you!" Stone added after a moment.

Hill was now visibly shaken, and almost looked green.

"Come on guy, let's leave agent Hill in peace. He has a big day tomorrow!" Stone walked to the desk and picked up the 416, then walked out, with Tarkove and Kingston trailing behind. As soon as the door closed, Stone turned to Tarkove. "No one enter the brig, understood?"

"Da, boss!" Tarkove said as he took up a position near the door.

"I will send someone to relief you shortly!" Stone said over his shoulder as he and Kingston walked away.

"Captain Stone!!" Stone heard called from behind him as he was about to enter the infirmary of the Prometheus. Turning in the doorway, Stone saw Colonel Ronson walking towards him.

"Sir!"

Ronson stopped less than a meter from Stone. "Captain, I have been told by my security officers that you have commandeered my brig, and your men are refusing to let my people enter it!" Ronson was pissed.

"Yes, sir!" Was Stone's only reply.

"Captain, there is a fine line! And you just crossed it!" Ronson was now fuming.

Stone took a moment to look at the Air Force officer. "Sir, contact General Hammond, log you complaint with him!"

With that Stone turned to enter the infirmary.

Ronson felt that the discussion was not over and grabbed Stone arm, and before he knew it, lay on the floor with Stone's right knee on his chest and a Mk.23 under his chin. "Never grab me or my men!"

Ronson looked into the eyes of Stone and saw the same as Hill had just two hours before, and like the NID agent Ronson felt the fear. He knew that Stone would not hesitate to kill him.

With that Stone holster his weapon, stood up and entered the infirmary. As the door closed behind him, officers rushed to help Ronson up.

The Prometheus landed at the same runway in Alaska as it had when it picked up the two F-23C, for the next three hour it sat there. Then a C-17 landed.

Stone came down the ramp with the rest of his operation team members, they were twelve, four of them were lightly wounded. Agent Hill was among them, cuffed behind his back; his eyes were bound over and gagged.

The C-17 taxied toward where the Prometheus stood, then the ramp of the C-17 lowered and the first man down it was General Patrich and behind was Colonel O'Neill. Then twenty medical personnel disembark the C-17, carrying medical equipment.

"Sir's!" Stone said as he saluted.

"Captain!" Patrich returned the salute.

O'Neill walked past Stone and up the ramp onto the Prometheus, the medical personnel followed the Colonel.

Stone glanced at the group as they walked up the ramp. "Sir, what is going on?"

"The victims and prisons are going with the Prometheus to Phoenix site. The medical personnel are going with to take care of them; you wounded will also be going to there!"

"Yes, sir! What about our friend here?" Stone indicated Hill.

"Oh, you are taking him with you. Get onboard the C-17!" Patrich said. "And make sure to take the prisoner to meet our good friend as soon as you arrive!"

"Yes, sir!" Stone turned to his team. "You heard the General! Get onboard!"

Stone watch as his team boarded the aircraft, half dragging the struggling NID agent with them.

"Stone, there will be a helicopter waiting on Peterson Airbase; it will take you to Cheyenne Mountain. Hammond will be in command until I return!" Patrick's said.

"Sir?" Stone didn't understand.

"I am going with the Prometheus to Phoenix." With that Patrich walked up the ramp of the spaceship.

O'Neill first destination was the bridge, where he found Colonel Ronson.

Within minutes the two men were seated in Ronson's private quarters.

"So, Jack what it is that you want to talk to me about?" Ronson asked.

"Will, I was on the way here, when General Hammond contacted me. It is about the complaint you made to him about Captain Stone!" Jack said in a reasonable voice.

"That man should be locked up!" Ronson was quick to say.

"Will, god darn it. The man had lost one-fourth of his team, most of the rest are wounded. Of the thirty-two that went in only six are operational, four more are on duty wounded." Jack looked into Ronson's eyes. "Cut the man some slack!"

"Jack, he turned me down and put a gun in my face!" Ronson argued.

"Why? There must be some reason?" Jack asked, not believing that Stone would do this without a reason. Something must have triggered it.

"No reason! No reason at all!" Ronson replied, but the unease in his voice, was obvious.

"Will, tell me??" Jack pressed.

"I may have, …" Ronson hesitated. "I may have grabbed his arm when he was walking away from me!"

Jack let out a breath. "Shit, Will. He had just come out of an operation, pumped up and running on adrenaline, and you grabbed him. You lucky, he didn't kill you!" Jack shook his head at Ronson's stupidity. "Will, I know what he is feeling, you don't! You have gone you entire career, in the cockpit or flying a desk. Stone and his people are in the thick of things, often fighting enemies hand-to-hand. It is not like you are used to, you are safe!"

"That does not excuse what he did, Jack!" Ronson protested.

"Will, he showed remarkable restraint. Drop this matter!" Jack pleaded with Ronson.

"Jack, I looked into the man's eyes, they are like ice! He is a stone cold killer!" Ronson shivered at the memory. "I am telling you the man is dangerous! He scares me big time!"

"Yes, he is! A killer like me!" Jack replied.

"And I don't even know which service he belongs to!" Ronson pressed.

"Will, I am going to tell you something. Stone is my nephew, he is my older sister son."

Ronson looked at Jack for a long moment. "So, Hammond had nothing to do with this?"

A knock came on the door, Ronson stood up and opened the door. Patrich walked in, without waiting for an invitation.

Looking at O'Neill, who shook his head. Patrich then turned to Ronson. "Sit down Colonel!" He ordered in a voice that allowed no objection.

Ronson obeyed.

"Colonel Ronson, I am General Patrich."

Ronson had heard the name, whispered in the halls of the Pentagon. "Sir!"

"Fine ship, you command, Colonel!" Patrich said.

"Thank you, sir! What can I do for you?"

Patrich looked at Ronson, the glanced questionly at Jack.

"Ronson made a mess of it, sir!" Jack replied.

"Jack!" Ronson was surprised by O'Neill's words.

"Colonel?" Patrich asked Ronson, fixing him with a hard gaze.

"I may have made a mistake, when I grabbed the Captain arm." Ronson force to admite.

"Look, I understand, Colonel. But you must understand also, the people under my command are the best, but they are in an horrible situation." Patrich sat on the edge of the desk. "They are fighting a battle that was until recently thought to be unwinnable, and even with the latest developments, the outcome is still uncertain!"

Ronson made as to speak, but stopped as Patrich held up his hand to stop him.

"For over to forty years, we have been fighting a battle with in part our own government, not knowing who to trust. Always being on edge, always ready. It takes its toll; Captain Stone has been fighting under my command for ten years. He is the longest serving member of the covert action group. The next person has eight years; it is Captain Stone second in command." Patrich looked at Ronson. "The average life time of the covert action group members is two years."

"You are saying that you are fighting against the government?"

"No, I am not! We are fighting against people that have betrayed the people, betrayed all of the people on earth! And, yes, some of them are in our government!"

"I can't listen to this!" Ronson made to stand up, but Patrich pushed him back down.

"Colonel, you took an oath. You swore to defend you county against all enemies foreign and domestic!" Patrich say as he kept his hand on Ronson's shoulder.

"Will!" Jack said. "Those people that were brought on board, some of them are American. They were being used for think which I shudder to think about. This was done with the permission of certain parts of our government. I have children, three to be exact, Charles, Jacob and Grace. I do not want them to be used in this manner."

"And what does that have to do with Captain Stone?" Ronson asked.

"Let me ask you one question, Colonel!" Patrich said. "Would you be ready to take Captain Stone's place?"

Ronson starred at Patrich. "I am not trained for that!"

"No, you are not! You are the first commanding officer of Earths space force! In less than ten years we are going to be faced with a battle in space protecting earth, sacrifices must be made. You are going to be part of that; you are training the people who will fight the battles. Stone and people like him are buying us time and time is was we despritely need!"

Patrich turned to O'Neill. "Jack, you must get to the C-17!"

"Yes, sir!" O'Neill cast a glance at Ronson.

"The Colonel and I, will continue our discussion!" Patrich opened the door and let O'Neill out, then closed it again.

O'Neill walked up the ramp, looking back as the Prometheus lifted off and headed for space.

Stone stood at the end of the ramp, waiting.

"Mikey, that is a sight!" O'Neill said as he watches the ship begin its rise.

"And just the first of many!" Stone agreed.

As they watched the F-302's launched from the Prometheus, they were not need for the journey to the Phoenix site, and the Prometheus would need its bay's to carry back cargo.

The ramp closed, and as they were getting in their seats, the plane taxied off.

A few minutes later the C-17 was airborne, heading to Peterson Airbase.

O'Neill looked at the NID agent. "So that is our guest!"

"Oh, yeah." Stone said as he made himself comfortable in his seat.

"We have contacted Agent Barrett, he is trying to discover something about our friend there."

"Is Teal'c not available?"

O'Neill grinned at his nephew. "Oh, he is looking forward to the challenge! Too see what the NID is made up off!"

"Well, to be true, he has not had any challenge for a while." Stone replied.

"True, true! I hope it will take more than five minutes!" When Stone looked at him, O'Neill was quick to explain. "I have a bet with General Hammond!"

Stone just shook his head and tried to get some rest.

Six hours later the C-17 landed at Peterson Airbase, once the plane had been parked near a CH-47 Chinook was waiting for them; its rotor's were already spinning.

The thirteen people hurried across, dragging the fourteenth.

The flight lasted less than an hour, the Chinook landed in front of the North Portal; a Humvee was waiting for them. Stone, Kingston and O'Neill took Hill with them into the mountain.

"This is familiar!" Stone said as he and O'Neill stood looking into the interrogation room, where Hill was seated.

"Yeah, I wonder in anyone will bring popcorn!" O'Neill said.

"You know full well that this will not last long enough for us to enjoy it!" Stone shot back.

The door opened, General Hammond entered first, then came Agent Barrett and Lt Colonel Ferretti. "Gentlemen!" Hammond said as he took up a spot besides O'Neill.

"Sir!" Stone and O'Neill replied.

Barrett looked at Stone for a long while, seemed to be trying to get the bearing of him, only averting his eyes when Stone looked back.

"So, Agent Barrett! What have you found out about out friend here?" O'Neill asked to break the tension.

"Very little! What I was able to get, indicate Agent Hill was killed three years ago. What I can say for certain, he is not a current member of the NID. He is all yours!"

Hammond turned to Ferretti. "Colonel, would you please get Teal'c for us!"

"Yes, sir!" With that Ferretti was off.

Stone noticed Barrett eying him again, so he faced the NID agent head on. "Is there a problem, Agent Barrett?"

"No, there is not. Uhh, who are you?" Barrett asked.

Hammond touched the NID agent's shoulder. "I am sorry, Agent. But you don't need to know!" Hammond's voice conveyed the message that Barrett should leave it alone.

"Yes, sir!" Barrett didn't dare go against the General.

A few minutes later Teal'c entered with Ferretti and Mulder.

As soon as Barrett saw Mulder, he turned to Hammond. "General! What is this man doing here? He is a criminal!"

Mulder grinned at the NID agent's panic.

In one fluid motion, Stone turned and pulled out his Mk.23 from his tactical holster, yet held the gun by his side.

Barrett noticed the movement. A hint of fear crept in to the NID agents face.

Hammond also noticed the move, and put up his hand to signal to Stone to relax. "Agent Barrett, who is it that you think is a criminal?"

Barrett lifted his hand and pointed at Mulder. "He is former FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, he is a fugitive! He was convicted for the murder of a Marine Sergeant!"

Stone could not help himself, and laughed.

Barrett was surprised by this reaction, and looked at both O'Neill and Hammond.

"Yes, agent Barrett. This man is Fox Mulder, but he is not a killer, the man he supposedly murdered was alive until two days after the trial!" Hammond explained to the NID agent.

Stone ignored the NID agent and walked to Mulder. "I understand congratulation is in order! A girl!"

Mulder grin at Stone. "Well, Dana deserves the congratulation. But thank you." Mulder shot a look at Stone before continuing. "We want to name her Amanda, if that is alright with you?"

"I know Amanda would be honored! Thank you!" Stone said to the former FBI agent. "So how did the kid's take having a new sibling?"

"Oh, Emily and Emma, are delighted! Erik is not sure if he should be happy or sad, because it is a girl. William is happy!"