Jack had disappeared into the far recesses of the Prometheus. On board were hidden pockets of corridors only allowed for the highest ranking officers. Jack was suspicious of this mission all along and this was the only opportunity he would get without Whitted hounding his every step. He knew General Landry had his hands tied and what Jack was about to find out, needed only be heard by him until he deemed necessary for his team.

"Ok Woosley, this is the most secure line in the entire known galaxy. No one knows about this communication system and you can quit trying to trace how I'm doing this, so come clean. Why are you not even part of this mission?"

Woosley smirked at O'Neill, knowing he was right. He was trying to trace how O'Neill found out how to contact him without NID knowing.

"Off the record General O'Neill. Whitted is gaining power throughout the NID and with the President. You and I have never been on great terms, but I know that Whitted is up to something and there are people that are disappearing for asking questions. I know Whitted is behind it, but I can't prove anything. Yet. So I'm going to say this once O'Neill and I'll deny I even spoke to you about this if this ever comes up. If you can prove that Whitted has, shall we say, plotted against National Security; then you'll have my full backing. I'm locked out from this project and I don't like it. I don't trust anyone that holds secrets the way he does and yes, don't say it, neither do you. But at least you know I'm your enemy it certain ways, but I don't like the fact that, we, can't even touch Whitted. He has the Presidents full cooperation and the President has no ideal what Whitted is even doing. So watch your back General, or you could disappear also. That's all I can give you, so what ever information you can get to put Whitted down, will convince the President that we had no knowledge of his actions."

"That's what I love about you Woosley. Never do your own dirty work, let someone else do it. Alright, I'll see what I can find out. But you better be prepared to wash your hands of this whole situation. I won't be responsible if something, as you say, happens to our little buddy if my people are in danger. Ra is dead and I don't think it was an accident."

"Ra? There was never any report of Ra to NID, stated Woosley. When did this happen?"

"Boy, you really are out of the loop. For the record Woosley. We captured Ra and Quetesh. Quetesh has been removed from one of my people, one Ms Vala Doran and Ra was suspiciously killed by Whitted. So to get you up to speed. SG1 is investigating what happened while Ra was under guard. Two: Whitted wanted my team arrested, removed or whatever you call it, so he could put himself in charge. Three: It ain't happening, no way, Jose. Four: I'll mutiny and take my chances before I let that twit take over this ship or mission; and Five: He ain't got the balls to go against me or my team or anyone else on this ship. So get this straight Woosley, your boy is going down."

Woosley was quite for a few minutes and smiled back at O'Neill, which O'Neill perceived that he and Woosley were in agreement.

"Ok, General. Balls in your court. Now don't contact me again unless you have something I can use. Woosley out."

Jack ended the transmission and thought he had to act fast. His instincts kept telling him, that Whitted was more dangerous than ever.

INFIRMARY

Daniel and Sam where still waiting in the room watching Vala. They both would not leave her side. Sam was slightly sleeping. She was haunted by nightmares of Vala opening her eyes and pleading for Sam to kill her. Sam suddenly startled awake, thinking she heard something or someone. Daniel was asleep in his chair when Sam looked around to see if she was alone. She looked over to Vala and she was awake and staring at Sam. Sam moved closer to Vala and moved the sweat soaked hair from Vala's face.

Barely audible, Vala was trying to speak. "Sa……m? Sa…….m?

"I'm here Vala, I'm here. I'm so………..I'm so sorry."

Vala suddenly felt like her mind was being split in half. Something was trying to stop her from speaking. She was barely hanging onto a clear thought.

"I'm…………dy-dying. Le……..t me go."

"No, no. You hang on. Don't let them win Vala. Fight, fight them. We're taking you back to base. Please don't leave us." Sam was pleading for Vala to fight for her life.

"No………nothing………I ………….can……..t …………..live." Please, dest……..roy me."

Vala closed her eyes as if there were so heavy to stay awake.

"Vala! Vala!

Daniel awoke at hearing Sam speak. He rose from his chair to see what was wrong with Sam or he hoped Vala was awake.

"Sam! Sam!" trying to shake her from the obvious misery on her face.

"Oh, Daniel." Sam fell into Daniel's arms trying desperately not to lose it. Daniel was confused at what was going on.

"Sam? What's wrong? Did something happen to Vala? Is she alright?"

Sam finally looked up and removed herself from Daniels embrace to look at him with tearful eyes.

"She's dying Daniel. She said she's dying. She awoke for just a brief moment. She's given up Daniel. She's given up." Sam looked defeated and tired.

"Sam, Sam; look at me. Sam! We aren't going to let her give up. Vala needs to know she's with us now. We need to get her back to see Dr. Lam. No one knows better on how to help Vala than she does. We have to have faith that Vala knows her way back to us. No matter what, we are not going to let Quetesh win. Vala survived her once and she will again. We have to believe that, and nothing is going to keep us from helping Vala, no matter what."

Sam nodded yes in her agreement of what Daniel was saying. Sam knew that she was tired and that she wasn't thinking rationally. But she felt so guilty about what happened to Vala and unless she believed there was a chance for Vala to come out of this whole, she would never forgive herself.

"Thanks Daniel. I – I needed to hear that. It's just. If you had heard how desperate she was, you too would of thought there was no hope."

Daniel didn't want to admit it, but he was frightened too. He had never seen Sam in such a state or Vala so defeated.

"Why don't you get some sleep. I'll watch over her, and I won't take no for an answer. If you end up in the infirmary, I'll never forgive myself, not to mention Jack would ring my neck for letting you become ill." Sam nodded briefly and swallowed back her tears.

Sam turned back to Vala stooped down to Vala's face. "We're with you Vala. No one will ever do this again. Fight Quetesh's hold on you. Don't let her win. They're worms to be squashed and you and me or going to do the squishing. You hear me. We have girl's night out and we are way overdue. Screw Quetesh. She's not in charge anymore. You are." Sam stood up and placed her hand on Vala's hand. She left to go to her quarters. But she had something or someone to see first.

PROMETHEUS INTEL ROOM

What is our destination Tau'ri? You have been most quite.

"We are headed back to SGC, the home base. There you will be able to obtain quite a bit of knowledge about SGC. I have full run on base and one of the highest security clearances. No one will question my authority." Stated Whitted smugly to himself.

Then why do I feel fear from you Tau'ri. Do you fear me or what I can do for you, or are you fearful of this O'Neill?

"How did………Ah, I understand now. Being a host you can read or feel my thoughts. No matter. The good General is becoming a thorn in my side. His people well known for their accomplishments and if they investigate too closely, then I can be found out."

I thought you were sure of your actions Tau'ri? Maybe I agreed to quickly on you being my host.

"Let's get something straight, your Highness. I chose you, not the other way around. I can control you and dispense with you if I wish. Don't under estimate me in any way. I can terminate you in certain ways even you are not aware of and don't think I don't know at the first chance, that you will try and terminate me if you get the chance."

I understand Tau'ri. We are both in agreement as far as under estimating each other. But I'm no fool. You need me as much as I need you and we both want the same thing... Crushing all those who oppose us.

"Then we will get along well together Highness. We will get along just fine."

Whitted was not aware, even in a closed off office, that some personnel were watching him. The crew was wary of strangers and they were aware that Whitted was from NID. But Whitted was an unwelcome guest and even the crew had their own rumor network. Word was that Whitted was trying to usurp Gen O'Neill's authority and a lot of crewmembers had been on countless missions with O'Neill and SG1. To them, Whitted was messing with one of their own and no one messes with SG1, no one.

Sam headed for her quarters, but she needed to find Jack. She had asked the Captain to locate him and he was sketchy on his whereabouts. Sam new something was up when Jack didn't want to be found. She was on a mission and she wanted someone to talk her out of it.

RA'S FORMER HOLDING AREA.

"Teal'c my grandmother used to say; Something smells here and it ain't me. Stated Mitchell. I just think it was too easy for Whitted to have a Zat gun handy and just kill Ra when he attacked him and the good doctor."

"I agree Col Mitchell. I have questioned the guards and they have confirmed that Whitted was alone with the doctor and Ra. They were ordered to go outside the room. If I am correct; there would be no reason for Ra to attack unless the host was awake. The doctor had strict orders to keep Ra unconscious until the Tok'ra arrived to remove the symbiote. The only way Ra would have escaped it's host, is if that someone released him."

"But what reason would Whitted wanted Ra awake? Wouldn't Whitted looked bad if Ra died after being captured? Having just one symbiote survive just to appease the powers that be, just doesn't add up."

"That is why Gen O'Neill needed answers. The circumstances leading to Ra's death are under suspect. I do believe that there are forces abound that we are not aware of." Stated Teal'c.

"I want Sam to take a look at the host and the Doctor. Where is the dead symbiote?"

"The symbiote is being held in the infirmary lab for further investigation."

"Ok, I'm going to find Sam and O'Neill. Make sure the boys clean up here Teal'c and make sure nothing happens to our little dead worm."

"Understood Col Mitchell."

"Dammit Jack, where are you?" Sam was thinking out loud and a little frustrated that she wasn't doing anything to help Vala.

"Hey, where you going Sam?" Jack had rounded the corridor and Sam practically ran into him.

"Where have you been? I've been all over this ship asking where you were." Sam had stated angrily without really noticing.

"Hey, I'm not your enemy here Sam. I was just going to see you. How's our girl doing?"

Sam knew Jack could always defuse any anger she was feeling. She didn't care about protocol this time. She hugged Jack as if he was a life line to her soul.

"Oh Jack. She woke up. She said she was dying. She's given up. We can't let her give up Jack. This whole mission is a screw up. That damn Whitted doesn't give a damn about our people. He wants to impress the powers that be and damn the rest."

Jack was thankful that Sam finally was venting her frustrations and it even gave him and ideal what Whitted may be up to.

"I know Sam. We're not going to let anyone die, especially Vala. I have my suspicions about that twit, but that's not important." Jack lifted up Sam's chin, making her look directly at him. "We are going to stick together and that means you, Daniel, Teal'c, Cam and Vala included. This has been our secret that those idiots at NID can never understand. We are going to get Vala back to base and get her the help she needs and then were going to all make plans for a long vacation. Whitted or no Whitted we need proof that NID is not aware of what he's up to. I don't believe for one second that Whitted was attacked by Ra. He had everything riding on this mission and now he has nothing but Quetesh for a prize. Quetesh would not be important, but Ra would."

Sam was in thought about Jack was saying. He was right. Why would Whitted risk his reputation that the mission was a failure? Why would Quetesh be preserved and not Ra?

"Jack, I………thanks. I just needed to vent. We can't let her die Jack. She's my friend and I'm not going to let her die without a fight. We owe her that Jack. I – I owe her that Jack. I need to help her any way I can."

"I suspect Daniel is watching over her right now or you wouldn't be roaming the halls looking for me to assure you that you're doing everything you can to help Vala."

"Yeah, I- I just need a nap I guess. Sam said smiling slightly. Jack could always make her smile in any situation.

"Then go get some sleep. I'll go sit with Vala for awhile, Ok."

Sam shook her head and said nothing more. Jack understood Sam's weariness and pain. This was a close teammate and friend. If it was any of them, Sam would still feel the same. He needed to make sure that his team, his friends were ok first. He would deal with Whitted in his own way.

Sam left the embrace of Jack's arm and headed down to her quarters. She waited until Jack rounded the corridor. Sam stopped at her door and she couldn't go in. There were too many questions and not enough answers to this whole ordeal. They had been on timeless missions and all of them had been hurt, injured and pulled together when times got tough. But none of them have ever given up to the point they wanted to be destroyed. Even in the direst situations, Sam could not remember were any of her team, her friends ever wanted to die or that she kill them. No, she had to do something. She headed down another corridor. She needed her friend back.