Ok guys here is Chapter 25 - hope you enjoy! Yol - I did try to double space the lines but I don't know if it is showing on here or not. Thanks to all of you for the reviews and comments - they mean so much. We still have a ways to go on this story so bare with me. Thank you again!

Chapter 25 – Friends or Enemies

Jack knew this was not going to end the way Skaara wanted it to. He knew there was no way he was spending the rest of his life floating around the people he cared about and not be able to help them when they needed it. He also knew that when Daniel finally went against the Ancients – he was sent back to Earth with his memory completely erased. He did not want that to happen to him – but if it would get him back to Samantha – then he may be willing to take the chance.

Jack could not believe how the pain he should be feeling was not there. It actually made him feel really weird. He did not like being a part of something he could not grasp and being here – in this type of reality really messed his head up. Why had he even made it to this realm? He was not a good person. He could understand why Daniel would have been chosen by the ancients because he was a good man. Jack remembered the arguments he and Daniel had each time they came across someone Daniel felt deserved another chance, no matter what they had done. Yet, Jack always pulled the M-5 or his Beretta 9 out and was ready to solve the issue that way. Then again, mentioning Daniel – just why had he looked like he wanted this to happen to himself? It was not like he could help anyone and Jack knew that Daniel not being able to help someone was as hard on him as it was on Jack.

He should not be here. He should have been left alone to die in that damn cell. This was worse than death. At least if he was dead he would not feel his loss so great. He tried not to think about them, about her. But God! What was she going through? Surely, Thor had been told by now that he was dead and if Thor knew then so did Teal'c, Daniel and Sam. How were they handling it – how was she handling it? Was the baby ok? Was there a baby? He had never even had a chance to confirm that. All he had was Thor's word that there was one. And the way the Asgard were sometimes – well no since in getting petty now.

But then again, Jack could not help but wonder how he had all these friends and allies all over the freaking galaxy but not the first damn one thought him important enough to come to his rescue until he was dead and then it was a damn spirit. God! How he hated the position he was now in. He had to get out of this – he had to figure out how to break this 'curse' and become alive again. He had to do this for Sam more than for himself. Who was he kidding? He wanted to do this for him – call it selfish if they wanted to – but as far as he was concerned he had done his time and paid for his crimes so he was ready to live the life he had wanted for the past eight years and with who he wanted to live it with.

"SKAARA!" Jack yelled the name at the top of his lungs. He had been looking for him for – well he really did not know how long since time did not really compute here but he knew he had been waiting and hunting for him for a while. Oma had also disappeared it seemed but he would find someone and whatever rules he had to break he would break them. He was going home!

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Thor listened in detail to what General Maynard was telling him. It was not only he and Maynard present – there was also a live feed coming from the SGC and from Washington in the President's office. Behind Thor, but as close to the camera as they could get stood Teal'c, Daniel and Jon. Sam was there but she felt safer across the room – not for herself but what she may say to the others who were listening. So, it seemed that Oma had pulled another trick from her bag and now Jack was not even Jack anymore.

They listened as Maynard explained how Mitchell had gotten there just in time to hear Jack take his last breath and then the next second, he watched as the sheet just kind of landed on the floor where Jack should have been. Mitchell told the President that he had heard about this happening to Daniel and the whole planet of Abydos – but to Jack – well, he just figured even in death Jack would fight it. Then he stated that they had searched all of the area for miles and had not located Kinsey. According to his aide, he had pulled out the day that he received the phone call that President Hayes was now in the middle of the investigation.

"So, that means you have a leak in the White House, Mr. President."

The words came from Jon but they all knew he was correct. That was how Kinsey had known that Daniel, Thor and General Maynard had been talking about trying to get a life together for Sam and Jack. And that also proved why he was at the SGC so fast on Jack's return. The leak was there and it was deep – how deep no one knew but they would find out. The slamming of the fist against the computer monitor made everyone in the room jump – they had not heard her approach – but they could actually feel the anger coming from her like a hot branding iron.

"When will you find out, Mr. President? When? When someone else has to lose somebody they love? Or does that even bother you anymore? That damn bastard should have been shot years ago, but oh no you just put him down a step. Do you even realize how many times Jack saved your ass from him? From the man, you feel you must allow to keep living. Does it even bother you – any of you – that Jack has been begging for retirement for over 3 years now – but no one gave a shit. Now all of a sudden, he has friends everywhere – he is dead and cannot be used by you people anymore – so he has friends gathering everywhere."

Sam felt the arms as they tried to encircle her, to try to calm her down but she wanted none of it. She was tired of it always being the good guy that finished last. She was tired of watching men and women die for a Country that did not seem to give two cents for them. She could barely see in front of her because of the heat of the tears in her eyes but she was going to look at every one of them and let them know how she felt and not a damn person was going to stop her.

"but then why should I expect anything different from any of you? You stood by and watched Kinsey and half of dozen other's run Jack down every time he tried to tell you that something was going to happen – that we should not be trusting everyone just because we expected them to obey the laws. We have been fighting the NID for the past eight years and still, they have more help and government support then we will while our asses are being killed and mutilated on other planets just to bring our government back alien technology. Well guess what Mr. President, General Maynard and staff, and all of you listening at the SGC – you have gotten your last help from me with any alien technology or anything else. You want to play with people's lives – I suggest you find someone else's to play with – I am no longer a part of the United States Air Force or the United States of America. Hope you all of good luck when the next Goa'uld invasion decides to take place!"

Teal'c saw Sam as she turned from the monitor and was just able to catch her before her legs gave out. She was weak from not eating and worn out from the emotional stress that she had been under. Now, knowing that Jack was not even in a position where she could mourn his death was too much for her and she had used her last bit of energy to lash out at the ones that had hurt her beloved.

Yes, they were to blame and Teal'c agreed with her. Something should have been done a long time ago to this Kinsey. In his home of Chulak – someone like that would pray for death if they had caused the dysfunction and hurt that Kinsey had caused. And yet, this government had put up with it, even giving him command when they knew what his intentions were with O'Neill. But he hoped they did not find Kinsey – not yet because in his heart the only thing that gave him solace at this moment was the fact that he would be able to pull Kinsey limb from limb while he was still breathing once he found him – and he would find him. As his brother used to say – he would die trying – and he was not planning on dying!

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General Hammond heard the words coming from his god-daughter and he wanted nothing more than to be able to take her in his arms and hold her. But he was at the SGC awaiting the new General to arrive. They had been waiting to see what was going to happen with Jack before the top men decided it was time to recommission someone else to command the SGC. He knew General Landry – knew him and his daughter. He also knew that the General and the CMO had the same problem that Sam and her father had once had.

Carolyn would rather be in any other room besides the one her father might be in. But Hammond also knew that Landry was the type of officer that would work with the men and women on this base and would not back down in front of any official no matter what they wanted. Hopefully, Landry would be able to get the three members of SG1 back here and they could all work on a way to get Jack back home for good. Because he just knew that if Daniel could end up being completely human again then he had no doubt whatsoever that Jack would. He knew the circumstances were sad but he could not help the chuckle he gave when he thought about his sarcastic friend and what havoc he was incorporating on the people of Kheb.

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Freya listened to what the leader of the Tok'ra was saying but she found it hard in her heart to listened to her. Colonel – no wait he was no longer a Colonel -he was promoted so that would make him per Earth – a General. General O'Neill was dead. They had stood by and let one of their greatest allies die without even lifting a hand to help him or his people. Why? Why were they so stuck on doing nothing to help others? Had not the Tau'ri always been there when they had needed them?

"Silence, little one. I know you had strong feelings for that Tauri but you must watch who you allow to see you show such affection."

Freya listened to Anise and she knew she was right. There were certain Tokra that felt the same about the Tauri as they did the Goa'uld and having General O'Neill gone was most pleasing to some of them. And that was when the thought hit her. What if it had been one of their own that had been the leak for Kinsey? What if they had a Tokra operative hidden in the White House of their president but he was not on the side he should be on. It could happen – it had happened before.

"Watch where your thoughts travel, your face shows too much. You must find a way to get to Major Carter, or Colonel Carter. I will help you for Selmak's sake. And also, Jacob, his daughter needs to know this. But we can not say anything for we do not know who all is involved in this."

Freya went back to her chamber and looked around. She did not need to pack anything but she had to have a reason for leaving or a diversion to help her get away. Because if she was right – and there was a Tokra involved then it would not take long before they found where Thor had hidden Colonel Carter, Teal'c and Dr. Jackson. She felt Anise become very unsteady with that thought. And once the Tokra knew then Kinsey would know. Three more lives were hanging in the balance as Freya used the crystal to make a new tunnel to get above ground and the hidden rings.