Chapter 20

Daniel looked at the file on the laptop in front of him in Carolyn's office. He managed to convince Sam that he wouldn't do anything now that they had the guy in custody and that she could now do it without going against orders. 'So this is the guy who has been making our lives a living nightmare and who has been robbing Vala of her home.' He didn't know if he felt more angry or relieved that they had him in custody. It was just all too easy. Everything about this guy screamed methodical and there was nothing methodical in the way he allowed himself to be caught so easily. Something just didn't entirely add up. Geoffrey knew too much about the procedures of the security of the programme to let himself get caught so easily. Daniel looked at the psychological report and found nothing to suggest that he had obsessional tendencies but he had suffered some anxiety and had been off with stress on numerous times. There was on his record nothing too serious but enough that many of his superiors felt that he was not suitable for front line action. He changed to look at Geoffrey's areas of specialties these included weapons training, new technologies and … the last item on the list had Daniel scrambling from his chair. He needed to get to Jack FAST!

Given that the interrogation was something that generally had to be carried out by the investigating officer Cameron and Teal'c backed off and let Jack and Paul take the lead. They watched from the conference room via the cameras. This guy Geoffry seemed so unconcerned by the situation he was in and it made Cameron mad. Cameron even wondered if this guy had any comprehension as to what he had done and the pain he had caused. Teal'c looked ready to murder the guy but it took General O'Neill to talk him down. Not even Cameron could manage that the last time Teal'c swore revenge on someone – he wasn't even left in one piece. They turned their attention to the screen and watched helplessly.

Paul circled Geoffry quietly, appraisingly. He'd asked Jack to hang back by the wall and told him to keep his mouth shut. He'd only let him in as a courtesy but told him one word and he was out on his ear. Jack had the common sense to believe him. The man seemed to watch him as Paul circled him – a predator evaluating prey. Geoffrey leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms smugly. If there was one thing he learned with guys like this it was to talk to the ego not the man. This guy to Paul was all about the ego and it showed in the way he stalked Vala and in the confidence he showed in attacking Doctor Jackson. Daniel had been right in his assessment in that this guy must be some kind of showman but to what extent and what level Paul couldn't tell. Jack looked at Paul and it was as if he could read the extent of thinking going on in his mind. "Geoffrey, you took great pains to get Vala's attention why did you do that?" Jack lifted his head and covered the flash of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected this approach. Geoffrey smiled. "Detective, have you ever been in love? Haven't you ever just found someone who you knew was your perfect half?" Paul didn't answer him. The guy seemed to want to answer his own questions.

He looked to Jack. "Ah! The ever present General Jack O'Neill! Do you even know who guards your door anymore? I heard you used to be such a nice guy to us. Then you got a star on your shoulder and things changed. How's the beautiful Colonel these days. Is she getting lonely at Atlantis?" Jack looked to Paul. He wanted to answer back to him so badly. Paul shook his head imperceptively and the message was clear –'he's baiting you'.

"Vala knew who we were. You know she actually took a lot of us SF's out to coffee and slapped the bill on the Air Force. She tried to get us all to a bar but the expenses guy wouldn't let her do it. So we took her out and she drank us all under the table. She's the only person who ever bothered to ask me my name. She is the only one to ever bother to find out who I am. You know you can trust a person like that. They are true people." Geoffrey leaned back again the cuffs clanked against his thighs. He smiled at both of them. "So," Paul began, "how did you get about the base then? Seemed pretty clever that no one saw you and yet we were able to find you." Geoffry just shook his head. "uh uh! No freebies on that one. You're gonna be told what I want to tell you and no more. I want to see her and I want to see her now. I want my Vala." Jack's anger jumped and he struggled to contain himself. This was his best friend he was asking to see. The one in whom he put a bullet in and was now fighting for her life in an infirmary bed just a few corridors over. Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and bit his lip. Geoffry continued. "You see I knew from the moment I saw her that she was the one who I would love. She was the one person who acknowledged me. Her life as Qetesh showed that she had power as well as beauty and that is something to be owned by the right man. Geoffry turned to Jack and his grin widened. "I'm surprised your geeky friend Doctor Jackson took so long to even realise she was even alive and breathing. He took long enough to approach her. Now me, I wouldn't have been so dumb. I'm amazed you can even call him a man." It was with that comment Jack snapped. He slapped the man upside his head before the two marines got to him. They held him tight and dragged him out of the room. Jack was screaming obscenities and Geoffrey just laughed at him. He started to sing and that was all Paul was able to get out of him. As two marines entered the room Paul could hear him. "Hey baby, Mrs. Cold, Acting so tough didn't know you had it in you so be hurt at all, You waited too long, You should've hook me, before I put my raincoat on, Okay, I get it, Okay, I see, You were fronting because you knew you'd find yourself vulnerable around me…"

Cameron shut off the screen in disgust. They were recording this 'guy' as they had to but he never thought he would see the day when an evil so human would walk into the SGC. If this was what Vala had hoped for when she came to earth then he would help her find another home along with Daniel. Teal'c looked ready for war on this guy. He had insulted and hurt his family and that to a Jaffa was a matter that could not stand. Daniel came barrelling into the room. "Jack, where's Jack?" He looked as if he had run the whole way and he was gasping for a breath. Cameron looked at him. "He's two decks down from here why?" Daniel looked at him alarm very evident in his face.

"Geoffrey was responsible for weapons training and also testing at Area 51 more specifically small concealable bombs that could be placed on a person without detection for small undercover jobs. He was testing the Naquadah variety as of the last 6 months. The project was getting close to a prototype. I think he has it on him." The three of them glared at the blank screen for two seconds and bolted to find Jack.

Geoffrey closed his eyes and was thankful he got to have his say. She would see when he was gone such was her curiosity and he loved her for it. She would know and he would be dead." He looked at the camera and tapped his thigh again with his cuffs. The first tap had armed the explosive. He had been adding small minute traces of naquadah to his blood for months. The catalytic agent should set it off with this second tap. The Marines going for their handguns. "Goodbye Vala. I love you very much and you should have died with me." He smiled and closed his eyes. Jack was a few cabins over and trying to get a grip on himself. Paul was waiting for that to happen before he laid into him. They both heard desperate footsteps. "Jack! Jack! Get Geoffrey out into space NOW!" Jack heard the desperation in Daniels voice and knew something was up. He was about to ask why when the floor shook and the feeling of decompression hit. The explosion wasn't big enough to do much damage but oxygen began to leave the atmosphere and they were all gasping for breath whilst holding on dear life as the air rushed out of the compartment. They say in space no one can hear you scream. Vacuum tends to take that away from you. There was a tingling sensation as the Asgard beam snagged anyone in the area as part of the new safety features. They hadn't bothered to take off the tag off Paul. They arrived on the bridge gasping for air with medics clamouring onto the bridge. It was in essence luck that had saved them. It was also, Daniel realised in his muddied thoughts, over.

A/N: Can I just thank everyone who has read this and stuck with it. I'm not quite done yet but I wanted to thank you all for adding me to your alerts and reviewing or making the story a favourite. It has been mind blowing - 2,710 Hits and 722 Visitors to story: In Vala We Trust and that's just for May 2011. I can't thank you guys enough. Stayed tuned as you know I'll always write about the fall out!