"You want me to do what?!" Mark Carter shouted at his sister and her commanding officer from across the table. "You're joking, right?"

His sister had just told him she travelled to other worlds via an alien device called the Stargate and that her deep space telemetry was a cover.

"No joke," Jack smirked.

Mark had no idea what to expect when he'd met Colonel Jack O'Neill, but the man in front of him with an incredibly dry sense of humor was not it. When Pete told him Sam had broken off their engagement because her commanding officer was forcing her into a compromising situation, Mark had been livid. He immediately reacted and followed Pete's advice about filing a report with the AFIG. Pete was a cop after all, and one of Mark's best friends; he had no reason to doubt him. But now, his gut was screaming that something wasn't right. Or maybe it was just learning every single thing he believed about the universe was wrong. Or maybe it was that while Colonel Jack O'Neill had the military-alpha thing down, there was something else—especially the way he interacted with Sam.

"Holy Hanna," Mark muttered; noticing Sam and her CO share a quick amused look. He didn't know what just happened, but some inside joke had just been shared. "Does Dad know?"

"Jacob knows," Jack said quickly, giving Sam an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Mark frowned at the exchange; he didn't like being kept in the dark.

"Dad will actually meet us on the other planet," Sam said too smoothly. "He'll explain his involvement when we get there."

"Did you know about all this?" Mark asked Pete who was sitting stiffly in the chair beside him.

"Pete knows," Sam said.

"She told me a few months ago," Pete confirmed.

"So you knew why she disappeared for days on end?" Mark didn't like that Pete had lied about this; his story wasn't adding up.

"Somewhat, but I couldn't tell you anything without breaking the NDA," Pete bristled. "Besides, I know there's something else going on."

"He's right," Sam interrupted, causing Pete's eyebrows to shoot to the sky. "There's a lot more to this than I'm telling you, more than he knows. Which is why I'd like to take you through the Stargate. I want to show you what I do and why it's so important.

OoooOoooOoooO

Jack had to bite back the grin when Pete fell predictably into their trap. As soon as Sam told Mark she wanted to take him through the Stargate, the spud started protesting.

"Carter," Jack sighed almost too dramatically, "it's your call. If you want Shanahan to go, I'll make it happen."

The look on Pete's face was priceless. He looked both like he was going to faint and like his eyes were going to pop out of his head.

"You'd do that?" Pete choked out.

"Sure," Jack lied. "If that's what it takes. I refuse to let anything drive a wedge between Carter and her brother."

Jack's gaze flickered over to Mark who was watching him closely. He'd been prepared to dislike any man who'd be friends with an asshat like Pete, but Jack found himself in a dilemma. He'd actually found Mark interesting. He wasn't a genius like Carter, but the man was clearly intelligent. And he clearly cared about his sister. Plus, unless Jack was mistaken, Mark had already started noticing the holes in Pete's story. Jack didn't like using him to get to Pete, it seemed almost as slimy as Pete convincing him to file that bogus report. But it was a necessary evil. Mark would eventually discover the truth, but then he'd realize he was a pawn on both sides. The question was what would he do when he found out.

OoooOoooOoooO

Sam materialized through the event horizon of the wormhole and immediately turned around to watch her brother come through. Like most people on their first trip, Mark stumbled out of the Stargate with a mixture of awe and seasickness. Next to him, Pete was bent over trying to not to hurl.

"Whoa! What a rush!" Mark stood up, only slightly swaying, a big grin on his face.

"I think I said something similar after my first time through," Jacob chuckled, climbing the stone steps to greet his kids.

"Hi Dad," Sam gave him a hug.

"What happened here?" Jacob held her chin in his thumb and forefinger, tipping her face toward the sun.

"I'll tell you later," Sam replied, unable to stop her eyes from cutting to Pete. She watched a darkness descend over her Dad's face as he followed her gaze.

"Don't react," Jack said beside her, so low that only she and her father could hear him. In response, Jacob gave a single nod and hid his scowl. Sam had the distinct impression Selmac was helping him curtail his reaction.

"Mark!" Jacob turned toward his son. "You don't know how long I've wanted to tell you about all of this," he pulled him into a slightly uncomfortable-looking hug.

"Hi Dad," Mark said stiffly, before finally relaxing. "Sam explained most of it. I must admit, for once, I understand the secrecy."

"You must be Pete," Jacob said extending his hand. Sam watched as Pete hesitated briefly. The smile he plastered on his face was so fake it was painful to watch. As Pete shook hands, Jacob's eyes flashed gold. "I am Selmac, allow me to welcome you to what would have been the Tok'ra's future home."

Pete jerked backward, but Selmac held onto his hand firmly.

"Holy shit!" Pete cried out, wrenching his hand away and finally stepping back two paces.

Sam smothered a laugh at the spectacle. What the hell had she ever seen in this guy?

"Might want to check your pants, Shanahan," Jack mumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Forgive me," Selmac said; however, everyone could hear the laughter in his voice. "It was not my intention to frighten you."

"You weren't kidding, we're you?" Mark asked his sister tentatively.

"Nope," she popped the 'p' at the end and grinned at him. She'd warned her brother about the blending, but knew he wouldn't grasp the gravity of what their dad had become until he saw it firsthand.

"I'm sure you have questions," Jacob said, reassuming control of his body and dismissing Pete. "Selmac and I will gladly answer all of them, but right now we've got to get moving. An operative just sent word Ba'al has discovered the location of this base."

"Ball?" Mark asked.

"Ba'al," Sam corrected him.

"Kinda tall, black hair, a real pain in the ass," Jack said unfazed. "Absolutely no sense a humor."

"He's a Goa'uld System Lord," Sam told them after giving Jack an exasperated look. "You remember, I explained about them?"

"Evil snake in the head, world domination type—"

"Sir," Sam interrupted. "Now might not be the best time."

"Okay, okay," Jack shot her a grin. "What's the plan dad?" He asked Jacob, who saw Pete's gaze darken at Jack calling him dad.

"We're going to gate to a planet called Nebbles," Jacob said as he dialed in the address. "The Tok'ra have made a few friends there. They are fairly primitive but welcoming to strangers. As far as we can tell, the Goa'uld don't know about their planet yet."

As the Stargate engaged, a blast from the sky rained down as two Death Gliders sliced through the clouds. The first blast struck a few yards away from Sam, the force of the impact launching her backwards and onto the stone steps.

"Carter!" Jack yelled as the second and third blasts sent dirt and debris into the air. He reached her just as she regained her bearings. Wrapping an arm around her back, he hauled her upwards and started toward the gate. "Time to go!" He called to the others, glad to see Daniel, Teal'c, and Jacob had grabbed Pete and Mark and we're headed through the gate.

"Sam!" Jack heard Mark call, followed by Daniel's voice telling him "Jack's got her. Trust me, he'll never leave her behind."