Chapter 29:

Stone walked on the ramp at the SGC, following half the team and the rest was behind him.

Hammond was in the control room. "Colonel, what happen?"

"Sir, the entire population of the village has been killed." O'Neill made way as medical personnel rushed to Stone. Making him lay on stretchers and wheeled him away, under protest.

Hammond walked into the gateroom just as Stone was being taken away to the infirmary. "What happen to Sergeant Stone?"

O'Neill handed his P90 to the armory personnel. "He was providing over watch with Carter, while we check out the village. While there, we were attack by a large group of people, Stone and Carter were also attack. Stone took a blow to the head. Sir."

"Briefing in one hour, dismissed." Hammond stalked off to the infirmary.

Stone was placed on the examination bed, and Frasier cut the bandage away. "Well, we will need to take a MRI scan, just to be sure."

"Come on doc. It is just a flesh wound." Stone insisted.

"Where is your medical degree? Mister, You will do as I say, understood?" Frasier's voice allowed not argument.

"Yes, ma'am." Stone knew when he was beaten.

"Relax, sergeant. You in luck, Jacob Carter, came through the gate about an hour ago, I am sure he is ready to heal the wound for you." Frasier looked over to the door. "In fact, here he is. General!"

Stone tried to get up, but Frasier stopped him. "Stay down, you almost as bad as you uncle!!"

Major Carter was with her father. "Dad, this 1st Sergeant Michael Stone, he saved my life today."

Jacob Carter shook Stone hand. "Sergeant, thank. How long have you been with the SGC, I don't remember seeing you before."

"I'm not with the SGC, I am with Forlorn Hope." Stone replied.

"Not with the SGC. Forlorn Hope, I don't think I have heard of it. But no matter, I will fix your wound up." Jacob said as he took up the Goa'uld healing device. Within a few minutes Stone's wound was healed.

"Thank you, sir." Stone was allowed to get up now without hindrance.

Frasier handed Stone a note. Stone read it. "What??? Medical leave for two week's."

"Yes, sergeant. You can have light duty, no combat. Is that understood?" Frasier was determined, not giving an inch.

"Can I at least work with the intelligence sector for the two weeks?" Stone pleaded.

Frasier looked at Stone. "Alright, you can do that. But watch you self! I will be watching you."

Stone knew that he could get no further, and retreated from the infirmary. Samantha and Jacob Carter walked him out. "So, sergeant. I have never heard of Forlorn Hope. What is it?"

Stone looked at the older man. "I think it is best if you talk to General Hammond. Sir."

Jacob bowed his head, and as he raised his head, his eyes glowed. "I am Sel'mac. It is an honor to meet you Sergeant Stone."

Stone had been told about the Tok'ra and the Goa'uld, but still it was strange. "Likewise, sir."

"Dad, I didn't know you were visiting." O'Neill called out as he met them in the hallway.

Jacob bowed his head. "Jack, I got in just before you did. Had to fix up, Sergeant Stone here."

"Yes, he has always gotten in trouble when I am not looking out for him." O'Neill said smugly.

"What do you mean? Jack."

"He is my nephew. The older son of my older syster." O'Neill explained.

"Sir, why have we never met any of your relatives, outside of Stone here?" Carter got in.

"Well, because we don't talk. Stone and myself, haven't talked to the rest of the family in years. I haven't seen any of them in twenty years, Stone in … How many years?" O'Neill asked.

"Since I was eighteen, when I joined the army. Sixteen years." Stone said softly.

"There you see, a dysfunctional family, the O'Neill's."

"Stone, I seem to recall meeting a man under the name Victor Stone some twenty years ago." Jacob said.

Stone let out a deep breath. "My father."

Jacob looked at Stone, a frown on his face. "Well, I understand why you are not talking. Victor Stone is a multi-millionaire, owner of a large share in the military industry."

"Yes, sir. He inherited after my grandfather, Arnold Stone. My brother and sister, plus myself got thirty million each when the old man died." Stone said.

All three looked at Stone. "Mikey, I knew that you had gotten an in-heritage from the old buzzard, but thirty million."

"Shit, it has been in a bank since I was eighteen. I have never touched a cent of it." Stone said with distaste.

The three companying Stone sensed that he didn't want to talk about this.

"Well, General Hammond wants a briefing, so let's get to the briefing room." O'Neill said, and turned to lead the way.

"Jack, if you don't mind. I would like to be at the briefing." Jacob Carter asked.

"Sure, dad. The more the merrier."

Stone walked into the briefing room behind his uncle and Jacob Carter. The first person he saw was his wife, who rushed to him.

"Michael, I heard that you got hurt!" Amanda said as she looked him over.

"General Carter here, fixed me up." Stone pointed to the Tok'ra. Jacob turned to Amanda. Stone made the introduction.

"General Jacob Carter, meet my wife Amanda Nash-Stone. Amanda, General Carter, the father of Samantha Carter."

"General Carter it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Please, call me Jacob." Jacob's head bowed. "And I am Sel'mac."

Amanda was less taken back than Stone had been when he had met the Tok'ra at first.

"Like I said it's as please." Amanda shook hand with Jacob.

Hammond enters the room. "Alright people, let's get started."

Jacob walked to Hammond. "George, would you mind if I stayed in on the briefing."

"That is fine with me, Jake."

After two hours the briefing was finished.

Jacob stopped Stone as he was leaving the briefing room. "Sergeant, would you mind waiting a moment?"

After everybody had left, Jacob started. "Sergeant, I would like to thank you again. And now that I know what you saved my daughter from, I own you a debt that can't ever be paid."

Stone shook the man hand. "Sir, there is no debt. You daughter is a good soldier, and a brilliant scientist; she has save the lives of everybody on Earth a few times. In fact, it is us that own her a debt."

"Son, you will understand better when you have a daughter of you own. And by the looks of it, you will not have to wait long."

"Well, Amanda is four months along." Stone said grinning.

"Four, but she is showing so much." Jacob said in wonder.

"Doctor Frasier is going to do an ultrasound tomorrow."

"So you don't know if it is a girl or a boy?"

"No, sir."

"If it is a boy, Jacob is a good strong name!" Jacob laughs.

"Jack, is a better name. Especially if it is after his great uncle." O'Neill voice came from the doorway.

"Now, Jack. Don't put any pressure on the boy, besides Jacob is a much better name." Jacob shot back.

"Gentlemen, we all know that George is the best name for a boy." Hammond said as he walked into the briefing room.

"No, Zachariah is the best name. Strongest too." Patrich shot in.

Jacob turned to the new comer. "I am Jacob Carter."

Patrich put his hand out. "Zachariah Patrich, call me Zach."

"Zach." Jacob said as he shook hands with Patrich.

"Jake, Zach is Stone's commanding officer. He is the leader of Forlorn Hope. He is here to brief you on the situation."

"I seem to remember a Patrich, Special Operation." Jacob said, thinking back to his days in the Pentagon. "But there were just rumors, never anything concrete. Nobody seemed to know anything."

Hammond turned to Stone and O'Neill. "Gentlemen, you can leave. This is going to be a informal talk between General's."

"Yes, sir." Came from both Stone and O'Neill, they then exited the room.

Stone hurried to the intelligence center on the 25 floor of the SGC.

As he entered he saw Mora, who called him over. "So, Stone. I understand that you have been assigned to intelligence temporarily. I have a mission for you and one volunteer from you team."

"No problem, I have been assigned to intelligence for two weeks. What is the mission?"

Mora handed Stone a file. "We have randomly selected a person to start the counter intelligence mission."

Stone opened the file. "Are you sure? I mean this person is a vital member of the SGC and has been for years."

Mora, didn't take this offensively. "Stone, this is random. Anybody could have been selected. Look you only need to keep the person under surveillance for forty-eight hours."

"Alright, when do we start?"

"Tomorrow, Thursday. The person has a two day leave. You will keep the surveillance, outside of house, and when ever away from the house."

"Alright, who is my contact here?"

"You wife!"

Stone walked into the ready room were his team was. "Alright, you slackers. Kingston is in charge, while I am on assignment with Intelligence."

A grown could be heard around the room. "Shut up, you wankers!" Kingston called out.

Stone grinned. "I need a volunteer, to partner with me on the assignment."

Arrsen stood up. "I go with you, chef. On the condition that I get to pick the junk food!"

"Alright. My stomach is already in turmoil." Stone replied. "We start tomorrow at six a.m., we are taking part in a security check."