Chapter Twelve: New Problems, Old Enemies

Jon sat in the police station with his hands cuffed, resting them on the scratched table in a stark interrogation room. Directly in front of him was a two way mirror. Immediately upon arriving at the police station he'd demanded to be allowed a phone call but instead, the arresting officers had shoved him into this room, leaving him to stew instead. He reached for his phone, remembering he needed to call Cassie, only to recall the police had taken his phone before dumping him inside this dingy room. He hoped this would be all over soon, the last thing he wanted was Cassie to worry about him. Especially after what he'd done to her a few months ago.

He dropped his head into his hands. He knew exactly what the police were doing and he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of getting mad, nope, no sir. He was just going to sit here and contemplate the way he was feeling at the moment. It was strange: he felt so free, after all he had just killed a man… sort of. He should feel… bad or something.

The problem was he couldn't get himself to feel any regret. That… man… was someone who had earned the right to die many times over. But should he have been the one to kill him, Jon wasn't sure about that, but his soul felt much lighter. The afternoon's encounter seemed to had exorcised some of Jack's demons that haunted him.

Getting to his feet he began to pace, Jon knew he had to release some of his pent up energy or he'd do something stupid when the detective finally came to talk to him. He'd began his second circuit of the room when the door opened and Pete Shanahan walked in.

"Jon O'Neill, nice to see you again. Why don't you sit down?" He motioned to the chair Jon had vacated. "How's Sam?"

Jon lifted his cuffed hands in a mock wave to show he knew very clearly this wasn't a social visit. He fought the urge not to sneer; this was the guy who had almost taken Sam away from Jack and had turned out to be a pretty big jerk and idiot when push came to shove.

Awkwardly, Jon pulled out the chair with his cuffed hands. "She's fine, Jasmine, her daughter is growing like a weed." He smiled. "I didn't know you were still in town. I thought you would have left after things didn't work out between the two of you."
Pete returned his smile. "Well I grew quite attached to this place so I stayed." There was a heavy silence for a few minutes while Pete studied the folder on the table before him.

"What can I do for you detective? I do have places to be. Going AWOL is not on my to-do list." Jon asked after a few minutes, hating the fact he'd spoken first but he might as well get this ball rolling. He really couldn't stay here all night, he needed to bring Jack up to speed with what had happened.

"Let's see: we have a dead body and a woman who was bound and knocked unconscious in an alley. Then there's a gun with your prints on it that matches the bullet pulled out of the dead guy. You tell me what I can do for you?"

Jon bit his lip, fighting the urge to sigh. This was going to get very complicated and he had to get Jack in on this incident, who knew what was happening to the body and where the-

"Mr. O'Neill. I'd like to hear you side of the events, but right now it's looking pretty bad for you." Pete rested his hands on the table looking intently at Jon.

"It's Cadet." This time Jon did sigh. "Listen up, I will tell you everything but I need to make a call. I was supposed to meet Cassie tonight; she'll be worried about me."

Pete's eyes narrowed. "You can make your call when and only when we're done here. If you are as innocent as you claim, the evidence will back you up. we'll let you go so why don't you make this easy on both of us. Tell me what happened in that alley."

Knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere with Pete until he talked, Jon got started. "I was on my way to Frankie's on Main Street. This time of year with all the shoppers and people downtown to look at the lights it's hard to find a parking place. So I parked away from downtown and decided to walk. It was about eight blocks. I was halfway to Main Street when I heard a scream and then a woman calling out for help. So I entered the alley to help her. By the time I got there the guy had either recaptured her or regained control of her. He had his arm around her neck and pointing a gun to her head while he dragged her towards a white van."

Pete made some notations on his notepad. "Did you know or recognize the woman?"

"Not at first." Jon explained rubbing his eyebrow. "It was dark in the alley but when they got closer to the van I saw her in the headlights. It was then I recognized her as Major Pain- ah Major Lawson."

Pete looked up started. "From your tone I assume you and the Major didn't get along. She's an instructor at the academy, isn't she?"

"No, we didn't really get along, we had a run in my first year. She was bashing some scientist and Cassie and I set her straight. The Major didn't appreciate being shown up by two Fourth Years." Jon shrugged. "The two of us developed a begrudging respect over the last year or so. We agreed to forget the earlier incident; it no longer mattered. Eventually, we decided to disagree about the scientist."

Someone knocked on the door, but Pete finished his writing notes before turning to call out for the person to enter.

Jon wondered what was going on now and involuntarily clenched his hands into fists. Once he realized what he had done, he released them and laid his palms on the table, waiting to see what would happen next.

Another detective entered the room, passing Pete another folder before looking directly at Jon and then leaving the room. Pete didn't look at the folder but continued to write. "Continue your story? You were in the alley and you recognized the major… What happened next?"

Jon looked up at the clock again; he'd been here almost an hour now. "Look, I've been very cooperative. Please can I make a call it will be very quick."

Pete shook his head. "All in good time. Now continue." He opened the folder and studied it. When Jon didn't begin he looked up. "Finish your story and you can make your call, not a moment before then so you might as well talk Cadet O'Neill."

Shifting in his seat, Jon thought quickly trying to figure out what to say. This was where things got kinda complicated, but he decide to tell as much of the truth as possible. "The major bit her assailant and managed to call out again. She must have recognized me because she called out to my by name. He lost control and struck her. The major fell but because her hands were bound she couldn't control her descent. Her head struck the side of the van. She hit the ground and didn't move. I tried to help her but the man stepped between us and pointed the gun at me. Is she alright? Has she regained consciousness yet?"

"No, she hasn't. Finish, I get the feeling we're on the homestretch now."

"So the man pointed the gun at me. I could tell he was going to fire so I jumped him before he could. The two of us struggled over the gun and it went off and the guy died. I dropped the gun and when the officers ordered me to. Two officers on foot patrol had heard the shot and came to investigate. The rest you know."
Pete closed the file and got to his feet. He crossed the room only to he pause at the door. "Anything you'd like to add?"

Jon pretended to think for a minute. "No. About my call-"

Pete looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'll see what I can do; sit tight." Then he left closing the door.


Cassie sat in Frankie's diner with Nate and Charlie, wondering where Jon was. He should have been here long before she arrived; he'd left half an hour before she did. She had been at Jack and Sam's house watching Jazzie until Sam arrived home from the SGC.

That was two hours ago now and she was close to panicking. It wasn't like him, if something happened to delay him Jon always called. Her cellphone rested on the table and she stared at it, willing it to ring.

Nate sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sure he's fine. Maybe he got delayed or something. He's writing up the paper for mom, maybe she called him in to take a look at it."

"I heard sirens earlier what if he got hurt or something else happened. When we heard them he was already a few minutes late." Cassie said as she shredded the napkin in her hands.

Charlie reached out and stilled her hands. "Don't borrow trouble Cassie. He'll be along in a few minutes, I'm sure. The best thing to do is stay here until we know more. He's going to come here first." Charlie looked over at Nate and jerked her head toward the bathroom and mouthed. "I'm going to go look for him."

Nate gave silent acknowledgement and Charlie got to her feet. "I'm going to the bathroom."

Cassie nodded, not really paying attention to Charlie's exit.

0o0o0

The cold air outside the back of the diner hit Charlie as she stepped outside. Immediately she put up the collar of her coat as she dug in her pocket for her phone. She dialed Haruka's number. "General Shark, ma'am, have you heard anything from Jon?"

She headed in the direction she thought the sirens had come when as she listened to Haruka's answer.

"All right, if you hear anything can you let Cassie or Nate know. He's late showing up for a date with the gang and we've had no word. Cassie's a little spooked."

"I'm on my way to check out something, and if I learn anything, if I find anything I'll let you and the others know. I have to agree with Cassie: this feels pretty fishy."

Charlie had reached the blockade where a group of police cars were grouped around a coroner's van. As she approached, two uniformed officers stopped her progress.

"Please stay back, this is a crime scene."

Charlie tried to look over the officer's shoulder. "What happened here? I heard the sirens and thought I'd come take a look."

The man shrugged. "We had a shooting but they managed to collar the guy. He's in custody down at the station."

A ripple of panic went through Charlie. She'd always seemed to know when bad things happened and she had that feeling now. "What did the shooting victim look like? My friend is late for a dinner date and he was coming this way. I just want to make sure it's not him."

The two officers exchanged looks. "I doubt it's your friend unless he's in his thirties with a dark beard and mustache."

Charlie let out her breath and sagged with relief. "Nope that's not my friend. Thanks. I'll let the rest of the group know."

She turned away, heading down the street and wondering just where on Earth Jon had gotten to, but what she missed was the flash in the officer's eyes as she walked away.


The door opened to the interrogation room and Pete walked back into the room. "All right O'Neill you're free to go, but don't leave town." He dropped Jon's phone on the table and undid the cuffs.

"Very funny Pete." Jon picked up the phone and headed out the door. "Hope we don't see you for a while again, no offense."

Pete didn't reply as Jon closed the door behind him. As soon as he was out of the station he dialed Jack's phone number. "Sam, is Jack there; we have a problem. I just shot Ba'al downtown."


There are two more chapters up on my site and if you would like to check them out Google my penname and you will find me. I love to hear from you whether you liked it or loved it. :0P

Also I have published two original pieces of work on Kindle you can find a link to them on my website as well.

if I get enough review I will be pushed to add the chapter early, like Friday, instead of later next week. I have one so far this week but I think I could handle a few more.