Chapter 5: Cat and Mouse
"The first thing we have to do is find out what happened to General Hammond," Daniel explained as they carefully walked back to Catherine's house. It was dark, but they still kept to the shadows just in case someone was watching. "What really happened, I mean, not what the prosecutor told the jury during my trial. I don't remember the actual act, but I don't believe I actually did it. Yes, I was the only one there, and yes my fingerprints were all over the murder weapon. That kind of makes me look really guilty, doesn't it?"
"Indeed it does, Daniel Jackson. Why are you certain that you did not commit the murder?"
Daniel turned to Teal'c, surprised. "You think I did it?"
"I did not say that. However, I would like to know what you think about what happened that day."
"I was injured during the attack on the general, and the police came to the conclusion that my injuries were the result of the struggle between Hammond and me. When the medical examiner did the autopsy on the general, he examined the blood on his body and came to the conclusion that none of the blood on Hammond matched mine. If he injured me while trying to defend himself from my attack, wouldn't some of my blood have gotten on him?"
"It is logical to think so," Teal'c replied.
"See? That's one reason why I believe there's something else going on here. I haven't completely ruled out that I could have temporarily lost my mind and killed the general, but I'm not leaning towards that option. So the first thing to do is to find out who killed the general."
"Do you not think that General Maybourne had something to do with it?" Teal'c asked.
"Of course I do. However, I don't think that he was the one who did it. Even back then, he didn't like to get his hands dirty. If he planned the murder, then he probably had someone else do it. More than likely, it was one of his operatives. Another thing we need to find out is just how high it went. Was the NID the only agency involved in Hammond's murder, or was the State Department, and ultimately, the President, involved in it as well?"
"Why is that important, Dr. Jackson?" Rya'c asked.
Daniel sighed. "My plan is to clear my name. The only way I can do that is by showing definitive proof that I had nothing to do with the murder, and hopefully find out who really did murder General Hammond." Daniel paused for a breath and to gather his spinning thoughts. "Whatever information I do find, I plan on taking it to President Sheffield, who I'm sure has been briefed on the Stargate project. If the President Monroe, who was in office in 2001, was in on the murder, it's going to be very hard for Sheffield to do anything about whatever information I give him, because he's not going to want to go against something that was done for the "good" of the country. However, if this murder plot originated and stayed within the NID, it's possible that the State Department and Monroe knew nothing about it, which gives me a better shot of succeeding."
Teal'c and Rya'c both looked thoughtful as Daniel finished his explanation. He opened his mouth to ask if they'd understood what he'd said, but Teal'c beat him to it.
"How do you propose we find this information Daniel Jackson?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure there are records somewhere. All we need to do is hack into the NID database, and possibly the Pentagon database, to look for anything that catches our eye. I'm sure that as paranoid as they are, they don't get rid of documents very easily for fear of discarding something useful. All we need to do is be patient and read what's there to see if we can use anything."
"Can you 'hack' into these places?" Rya'c asked, narrowing his eyes at the unfamiliar word.
"Yeah, I can. I learned a trick or two in prison, which will help me do that. Don't worry, if the information is there, I'll find it."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, each man lost in his own thoughts. Teal'c and Rya'c traveled with their staff weapons, but they were concealed in the long cloaks the two Jaffa wore. Daniel was carrying the handgun, which was currently tucked into the waistband of his jeans. They were careful as they walked, scouting out the way with practiced movements, watching for possible ambushes. If Maybourne's men decided to attack them now, in the dark, they were as ready for them as they could be.
As they reached Catherine's front yard, Daniel suddenly stopped.
"Something's wrong," he said as he scanned the neatly manicured, but darkened yard.
Catherine's car was still parked in the circular driveway, just as it had been when they left. Ernest's car was parked in the garage, just as it had been before. The front porch light was on, as were several other lights in the house. Daniel couldn't see anything out of place, but he had a strange feeling that things weren't they way they'd left them.
He turned to Teal'c and Rya'c and noticed that they were also surveying the scene. Suddenly, Daniel was glad to have them on his side, if only to not have to fight the NID on his own. Worry and fear for Catherine, Ernest and Robert churned in his gut, but he didn't have time to give in to it, not yet.
"Daniel Jackson, someone has been through here," Teal'c intoned, pointing at one of the flowerbeds by his feet.
Daniel blinked a few times to moisturize his contacts, before focusing on the flowerbed. There, between the roses, Daniel could see what could only be footprints.
"Damn," he exclaimed. "We have to get it there."
"Not so fast, Daniel Jackson. We must secure the perimeter first."
"We don't have time for that, Teal'c. If Maybourne's men already made it here, then they know that we'll be coming back sooner or later," Daniel pointed out. "They're probably still in the house. Except that they are expecting me to come back by myself, not with you two."
"We can use that to our advantage," Rya'c commented. "If you enter the dwelling first, you will draw their attention towards you and away from us. Father and I can take a different entrance and approach from the other side."
Teal'c smiled slightly. "That is an excellent plan."
"I agree. Surprise may be the only thing working for us and we have to take advantage of it," Daniel replied. He took a deep breath, considering the next move. "Teal'c, Rya'c, there's a back door to the house, accessible through the side gate. Open the gate and slip into the back yard. When you get to the door, come inside and you'll find yourselves in the kitchen. The area is apart from the rest of the house, so you should find it unguarded."
"We will do so, Daniel Jackson. What will you be doing?"
Daniel shrugged. "I'll be doing what they expect me to do, walking through the front door."
****
Daniel stepped carefully up to the porch, his heart hammering in his chest at what he'd find inside. His overactive imagination was already sprouting bloody and deadly scenarios, which he pushed out of his mind as soon as they entered into it. He didn't have time to worry, and he wasn't going to have his concentration broken by a division of attention.
He reached out and took the door knob in his hand and silently counted to three in his head before turning the knob and pushing the door open. As soon as he was past the threshold, Daniel felt an impact to the side of his head that sent him reeling to the floor. He tried to brace his fall, but only managed to land hard on his knees, grunting as he felt one of them twist painfully. He could feel a trickle of blood sliding down his cheek from his temple, and he cursed.
Immediately, instinct took over and Daniel reached back, connecting with the man he was sure would be there. Daniel heard the man's grunt as his fist connected with a part of his body, and he took advantage. He followed through and was immediately on his feet, using his body weight to push the man backwards into the now closed door. Absently, Daniel noticed that the man was holding a handgun similar to his, but it was too late to do anything about it. The man, who was as tall as Daniel and a few pounds heavier, gritted his teeth and pushed back with all his strength, causing Daniel to stumble back and almost fall when his knee threatened to give out. Instead of falling, Daniel used the man's weight to hold himself upright and managed to turn him around. With all his strength, Daniel threw the man against the door and smiled in satisfaction as the guy's head connected with the door. He slumped down to the floor, unconscious.
Daniel took out his gun, removed the safety and was about to turn around when a cold, dead voice stopped him in his tracks.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, unless you want one of these nice people to get a bullet in the head."
Daniel slowly turned around to face the living room, his blood turning to ice as he saw a man dressed in black from head to toe holding a gun to Catherine's head. Catherine was sitting on the love seat, her hands and feet bound with grey tape, a gag over her mouth. Beside her, Ernest sat in a similar position. Daniel looked around the living room, but didn't find Robert anywhere.
"Dr. Jackson, I presume," the masked man stated.
"The one and only. I hope you haven't gone to too much trouble to find me," Daniel stated, his voice tainted with disdain. "What do you want?"
"You, Dr. Jackson. You're a wanted man, apparently. I have orders to take you into custody."
"How nice. Who's pulling your chain, is it Harry? Because if it is, you can just tell him to go to hell."
Daniel's jaw tightened as the man dug the gun into Catherine's skull, making her wince. She kept her eyes on Daniel, reassuring him that she was okay.
"I wouldn't be so sure. You might have been able to knock out my partner over there, but I'm not as easy to take out. When I walk out of here, you will be with me."
"Oh, I don't think so," Daniel said, a smirk on his face.
Suddenly, blue energy rushed towards the man, knocking him away from Catherine. He writhed on the floor, until his body gave out and he succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Great timing, Teal'c." Daniel headed towards Ernest and Catherine, undoing their bonds as he checked them out. They both looked fine, not a mark on either of them.
"There were four of them originally," Catherine said as soon as Daniel took off her gag. "Two of them left and took Robert with them. They said that the 'boss' wanted to talk to him."
"Damn, this happened way too soon. Who knows what they'll do to Robert."
"Robert Rothman has been taken?" Teal'c asked as he and Rya'c joined the others in the living room. "Did the attackers say or do anything else, Dr. Langford?"
"They caught us by surprise a few minutes after you'd left. They apparently didn't see you, because they came in here looking for you. Robert tried to fight them, but they knocked him out. When one of the men realized who he was, he ordered the other two to take him, but he didn't say where. Then they tied us up and decided to wait for you."
"How did you know they were here?" Ernest asked.
"The yard had been disturbed and it tipped us off. Are you hurt?" Daniel asked.
"No, just frightened. We're fine."
"What are you going to do now? I don't think you planned on them getting here so soon." Catherine got up from the couch and laid a reassuring hand on Daniel's shoulder.
Daniel swallowed hard. "I don't know, but we can't stay here anymore. We've brought enough trouble into your house already. Pretend that nothing is wrong. The police shouldn't get involved in this, until I fail to show up for the meeting with my parole officer next week. When they come looking for me, just feign ignorance. We'll take them with us," Daniel added, pointing to the two unconscious operatives. "Who knows, maybe with a little persuasion, they'll be tempted to talk."
"Where are you going to go?"
"I'm not sure, but I've got an idea."
****
Voices and other assorted noise penetrated the fog in his head, making Robert wince as full consciousness slammed down upon him. For a split second, he couldn't remember what had happened or where he was. After some thought, however, he had no difficulty remembering what had happened at Catherine's house. Fear gripped him suddenly at the thought of something happening to Catherine or Ernest, but he choked it down. Now was not the time for fear.
He still didn't know where he was, though. He was face down on a moving vehicle of some kind. The jerky movement of the floor beneath him, coupled with the foul smell of the vehicle confirmed his suspicion. He could feel his hand tied behind him, and even though he couldn't feel a binding at his feet, Robert was sure that his ankles were bound as well.
Robert opened his eyes, fully expecting to see Daniel lying on the floor beside him. He was surprised when all he saw were the boots of someone else. Robert craned his head to glace at the owner of the boots, and noticed the man watching him intently.
"Where are we going?" Robert asked.
When no answer was forthcoming, Robert repositioned himself on the floor so that he was sitting with his back to the nearest wall, facing the man in front of him. He could see the back of the head of the man who was driving, but if he'd heard what Robert has asked, he hadn't said a thing. Robert turned his head towards the back of the van, but was sitting too low on the floor to be able to look out the window.
He was pretty sure he knew where he was going, though. The men had entered Catherine's house looking for Daniel, so they had to either be NID agents or associated with the Air Force. By the way they handled themselves, Robert could tell that they were professionals, which meant that the men weren't likely to have been hired from the outside.
He sighed, resigning himself to his fate. For right now, at least. He closed his eyes and thought back to what happened at Catherine's house, hoping that the men who had stayed behind hadn't hurt Catherine or Ernest.
They'd been caught completely off guard while they'd been sipping coffee at the dining table. Two of the men had come in through the front door, while the other two had entered through the back. Robert had tried to defend himself, Catherine and Ernest, but had been unable to. He'd been knocked around a bit and knocked out without knowing what had been done to either of them.
Their fate, more than anything, had Robert worried right now. There were only two men in the van with him, which led him to believe that the other two had stayed behind to wait for Daniel. Unlucky for them, Teal'c and Rya'c would also be there, giving Daniel the distinct advantage. Robert only hoped that they hadn't been too late to save the couple.
****
"Where are we going, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel looked up from where he'd been intently studying the screen of his laptop and regarded Teal'c, who had just exited the room where their two 'guests' had been uncomfortably situated. At the front of the small vessel, Rya'c manned the controls, carefully flying along the eastern coast of the United States.
"Oh, we're going to my grandfather's house in Virginia. It's on the coast and has plenty of ground around it, so you will be able to land the Tel'tak."
"Will there be anyone inhabiting the house?" Rya'c asked from the pilot's seat.
"No, it's abandoned. Well, it is now. Nick rented the place when he left it, but the family that used to live there moved out in the last six months. I kept track of the house because it was Nick's, and because it was a place to go to if I needed to get out of Colorado. That was the house my mother grew up in, where my grandfather and grandmother lived until my grandmother died and later, my grandfather committed himself to the mental institution. It should still be furnished, but without working water or electricity," Daniel explained. "My grandfather told me about the place when I used to visit him in the mental institution, but I haven't been there since I was little."
"Does anyone know about this place?"
Daniel thought about it for a moment, before shaking his head. "I don't think so. I mean, it was my mother's family's house so at one point, a lot of people knew of them and where they lived. Relatives of the various families that have lived there after my family vacated it know about the house, but they have no reason to return. No one at the SGC knows about it either, not even Jack or Sam. I never thought to mention it, because it didn't seem important."
"It seems like a good place from which to plan our strategy," Teal'c commented as he returned his gaze to the control panel. He raised his eyes back to Daniel as a thought struck him. "I do not understand the laws of your country very well. However, as a former prisoner, shouldn't your government want to keep track of you?"
Daniel's expression darkened momentarily as he remembered the conversation he'd had that morning with his parole officer.
"Yeah, they do keep track of me. I'm supposed to check in with a parole officer once a week. If I don't, they'll hunt me down and throw me back in prison."
Tealc's eyes narrowed. "You will not be able to tell this 'parole officer' about what you are doing, correct?"
"No, I won't. I probably won't show up to the next meeting and then I'll have both the NID and the state of Colorado after me."
Daniel was quiet for a moment as he studied the serious set to the Jaffa's face.
"Teal'c, I appreciate you doing this for me, because who knows where I'd be right now if you hadn't been here, but don't you have more important things to worry about? I mean, you're leading a rebellion against the Goa'uld. My legal problems shouldn't matter all that much."
Teal'c did not answer right away. Instead, he glanced to his left, where Rya'c also watched him intently.
"I am not the only qualified Jaffa to lead our rebellion, Daniel Jackson. There are many warriors who are worthy and knowledgeable." He paused and regarded Daniel with a gaze so intense that it made him slightly self conscious. "I may have a lot of brave warriors at my side, but I do not have many friends. Because of that, I value the friendships I do have and have pledged to do what I can for those few people, as I know they would do for me."
Daniel was speechless for a moment as he returned Teal'c's intense stare. He nodded his head in acknowledgement and gratitude. "Thank you for everything, Teal'c, Rya'c. I will say it now, just in case I'm not able to say it later."
Both Jaffa bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the gratitude, before Teal'c smiled.
"I would much rather be here, doing something, rather than be with O'Neill and listen to his impatience at not being able to do anything to help."
Daniel chuckled at the image. "Yeah, I bet. An antsy Jack is the worst kind to have around, especially if his hands are tied.
"Where are we, Rya'c?" Daniel asked as he got up from his seat and approached the navigation console, Teal'c following behind him. Daniel narrowed his eyes as he studied the readouts. "We seem to be in Virginia already."
"I believe that we are. Which house belongs to your grandfather?" Teal'c asked.
Daniel moved over to the window of the Tel'tak, trying in vain to spot the house Nick owned. He hadn't been here since he was seven years old, and had definitely not flown to it at the time. This part of the coast was littered with houses, so picking out the right one was going to be a bit tricky. Luckily for them, the coast was well lit and the houses were clearly visible from the air.
"Are you sure they can't see us, Teal'c? What about satellites and stuff?" Daniel asked.
"We are cloaked, therefore undetectable," Rya'c answered. "Only the most finely tuned instruments can detect a cloaked vessel, and I do not believe your planet has those instruments."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Daniel said and continued to look at the houses dotting the coast.
Nick's house wasn't very big, but it wasn't tiny either. It was situated at the end of a stretch of houses, close to a hill. Daniel could see the hill in the distance, so he knew they must be getting closer.
"Rya'c, can you slow down a bit. I need to look for something in particular to spot the house."
The young Jaffa complied with the request, giving Daniel more opportunity to look.
"There it is!" he triumphantly yelled. "Rya'c, you can land the Tel'tak on that hill directly in front of us. It has a flat base that faces away from the main part of the neighborhood. The hill is unstable, so the residents never venture too close to it. Nick's house is right beside it."
Rya'c complied with Daniel's request and landed the Tel'tak where Daniel indicated.
"Are we sufficiently out of the way to allow us to exit the ship without drawing attention to ourselves?" Teal'c asked.
"I think so. Look at that line of trees up there. They'll block us from the view of the beach and the hill behind us will block us from the view of the houses. We should be okay."
"Very well. I will leave the Tel'tak cloaked in order to avoid detection."
"Okay," Daniel said, and gathered up the stuff he'd brought with him. It wasn't much, just a small bag of clothes and his lap top. He'd bought two extended batteries for it, but he knew he'd have to recharge them at some point. Hopefully he'd be able to rig something on the Tel'tak.
When he was finished, he walked over to Teal'c and Rya'c who were standing by the inner door, ready to exit.
"Is the ship still cloaked?"
"It is," Teal'c replied.
"Are we going to leave our charges here?"
Teal'c pondered the question for a moment. "They are locked in the escape pods, which cannot be opened from the inside. They shall not be able to escape."
"Good. Okay, off we go."
Daniel stepped out of the Tel'tak as soon as Teal'c had opened the doors, and led his small group towards his grandfather's house.
"Dr. Jackson, how were you able to distinguish your grandfather's house from all the other ones?" Rya'c asked, once they were walking on the sandy beach of the coast.
Daniel smiled as he turned to face Rya'c. "My grandfather was always a very eccentric man who was very passionate about what he studied. Do you see that mask on top of that fence?" he asked, pointing to the house nearest to them.
They could see a wooden fence surrounding a spacious back yard that led down to the beach. At the northeast corner of the fence, they could see a good sized mask displayed there, almost as if it were waiting for visitors.
"I see it," Rya'c replied.
"That's a replica of a Mayan ceremonial mask that my grandfather found in Belize when he was in his twenties. He liked the mask so much that he had a replica made in concrete and set it on the fence to ward off evil spirits." Daniel laughed as he remembered the story. "Of course, he had to make it big enough so that people would notice it. That's what my mother told me, at least. She used to laugh about that story, calling her father a crazy, old coot. That's how I knew it was Nick's house."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, Daniel leading the way out of the beach and onto the paved street. When they reached the front fence of the house, Daniel stopped and frowned. He reached out and grabbed the door, wincing as it slid loudly towards him.
"At least this part of the house is unlocked," he commented and walked into the front yard.
He looked around, amazed at how well the place looked. It was immediately apparent that no one resided in the house, but it didn't look as shabby and as abandoned as one might expect. The people that had lived there must have moved out only recently. The yard was slightly overgrown, but not badly. There were no flowers in the gardens, but they weren't run down either, just cleared as if someone was expected to plant at any moment. The house itself was medium sized and also well preserved. The area around it was clean and tidy and all of the windows were still intact.
Daniel walked up to the porch and reached out to turned the door know, sighing when the door didn't open. "Too bad I don't have the keys to this place."
Teal'c and Rya'c walked up behind him and stood watching. They each carried a staff weapon and nothing else. Daniel figured that if they had any extra clothing, they'd left it at the Tel'tak.
"We'll have to break in," Daniel said finally. "We'll have to do it on another part of the house, though, one where the damage won't be noticed from the street. Maybe we can try the back door."
"We can force the door open," Rya'c suggested.
"We could, but I need to be able to lock the place back up when we leave, so we need to do as little damage as we can."
"What about the windows? Is there a possibility that one of those is unlocked?" Rya'c asked.
Daniel snapped his fingers, grinning. "That's it! One of them has to be open. Let's split up and check the first floor windows. Hopefully, we'll be able to get in that way."
"The first thing we have to do is find out what happened to General Hammond," Daniel explained as they carefully walked back to Catherine's house. It was dark, but they still kept to the shadows just in case someone was watching. "What really happened, I mean, not what the prosecutor told the jury during my trial. I don't remember the actual act, but I don't believe I actually did it. Yes, I was the only one there, and yes my fingerprints were all over the murder weapon. That kind of makes me look really guilty, doesn't it?"
"Indeed it does, Daniel Jackson. Why are you certain that you did not commit the murder?"
Daniel turned to Teal'c, surprised. "You think I did it?"
"I did not say that. However, I would like to know what you think about what happened that day."
"I was injured during the attack on the general, and the police came to the conclusion that my injuries were the result of the struggle between Hammond and me. When the medical examiner did the autopsy on the general, he examined the blood on his body and came to the conclusion that none of the blood on Hammond matched mine. If he injured me while trying to defend himself from my attack, wouldn't some of my blood have gotten on him?"
"It is logical to think so," Teal'c replied.
"See? That's one reason why I believe there's something else going on here. I haven't completely ruled out that I could have temporarily lost my mind and killed the general, but I'm not leaning towards that option. So the first thing to do is to find out who killed the general."
"Do you not think that General Maybourne had something to do with it?" Teal'c asked.
"Of course I do. However, I don't think that he was the one who did it. Even back then, he didn't like to get his hands dirty. If he planned the murder, then he probably had someone else do it. More than likely, it was one of his operatives. Another thing we need to find out is just how high it went. Was the NID the only agency involved in Hammond's murder, or was the State Department, and ultimately, the President, involved in it as well?"
"Why is that important, Dr. Jackson?" Rya'c asked.
Daniel sighed. "My plan is to clear my name. The only way I can do that is by showing definitive proof that I had nothing to do with the murder, and hopefully find out who really did murder General Hammond." Daniel paused for a breath and to gather his spinning thoughts. "Whatever information I do find, I plan on taking it to President Sheffield, who I'm sure has been briefed on the Stargate project. If the President Monroe, who was in office in 2001, was in on the murder, it's going to be very hard for Sheffield to do anything about whatever information I give him, because he's not going to want to go against something that was done for the "good" of the country. However, if this murder plot originated and stayed within the NID, it's possible that the State Department and Monroe knew nothing about it, which gives me a better shot of succeeding."
Teal'c and Rya'c both looked thoughtful as Daniel finished his explanation. He opened his mouth to ask if they'd understood what he'd said, but Teal'c beat him to it.
"How do you propose we find this information Daniel Jackson?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure there are records somewhere. All we need to do is hack into the NID database, and possibly the Pentagon database, to look for anything that catches our eye. I'm sure that as paranoid as they are, they don't get rid of documents very easily for fear of discarding something useful. All we need to do is be patient and read what's there to see if we can use anything."
"Can you 'hack' into these places?" Rya'c asked, narrowing his eyes at the unfamiliar word.
"Yeah, I can. I learned a trick or two in prison, which will help me do that. Don't worry, if the information is there, I'll find it."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, each man lost in his own thoughts. Teal'c and Rya'c traveled with their staff weapons, but they were concealed in the long cloaks the two Jaffa wore. Daniel was carrying the handgun, which was currently tucked into the waistband of his jeans. They were careful as they walked, scouting out the way with practiced movements, watching for possible ambushes. If Maybourne's men decided to attack them now, in the dark, they were as ready for them as they could be.
As they reached Catherine's front yard, Daniel suddenly stopped.
"Something's wrong," he said as he scanned the neatly manicured, but darkened yard.
Catherine's car was still parked in the circular driveway, just as it had been when they left. Ernest's car was parked in the garage, just as it had been before. The front porch light was on, as were several other lights in the house. Daniel couldn't see anything out of place, but he had a strange feeling that things weren't they way they'd left them.
He turned to Teal'c and Rya'c and noticed that they were also surveying the scene. Suddenly, Daniel was glad to have them on his side, if only to not have to fight the NID on his own. Worry and fear for Catherine, Ernest and Robert churned in his gut, but he didn't have time to give in to it, not yet.
"Daniel Jackson, someone has been through here," Teal'c intoned, pointing at one of the flowerbeds by his feet.
Daniel blinked a few times to moisturize his contacts, before focusing on the flowerbed. There, between the roses, Daniel could see what could only be footprints.
"Damn," he exclaimed. "We have to get it there."
"Not so fast, Daniel Jackson. We must secure the perimeter first."
"We don't have time for that, Teal'c. If Maybourne's men already made it here, then they know that we'll be coming back sooner or later," Daniel pointed out. "They're probably still in the house. Except that they are expecting me to come back by myself, not with you two."
"We can use that to our advantage," Rya'c commented. "If you enter the dwelling first, you will draw their attention towards you and away from us. Father and I can take a different entrance and approach from the other side."
Teal'c smiled slightly. "That is an excellent plan."
"I agree. Surprise may be the only thing working for us and we have to take advantage of it," Daniel replied. He took a deep breath, considering the next move. "Teal'c, Rya'c, there's a back door to the house, accessible through the side gate. Open the gate and slip into the back yard. When you get to the door, come inside and you'll find yourselves in the kitchen. The area is apart from the rest of the house, so you should find it unguarded."
"We will do so, Daniel Jackson. What will you be doing?"
Daniel shrugged. "I'll be doing what they expect me to do, walking through the front door."
****
Daniel stepped carefully up to the porch, his heart hammering in his chest at what he'd find inside. His overactive imagination was already sprouting bloody and deadly scenarios, which he pushed out of his mind as soon as they entered into it. He didn't have time to worry, and he wasn't going to have his concentration broken by a division of attention.
He reached out and took the door knob in his hand and silently counted to three in his head before turning the knob and pushing the door open. As soon as he was past the threshold, Daniel felt an impact to the side of his head that sent him reeling to the floor. He tried to brace his fall, but only managed to land hard on his knees, grunting as he felt one of them twist painfully. He could feel a trickle of blood sliding down his cheek from his temple, and he cursed.
Immediately, instinct took over and Daniel reached back, connecting with the man he was sure would be there. Daniel heard the man's grunt as his fist connected with a part of his body, and he took advantage. He followed through and was immediately on his feet, using his body weight to push the man backwards into the now closed door. Absently, Daniel noticed that the man was holding a handgun similar to his, but it was too late to do anything about it. The man, who was as tall as Daniel and a few pounds heavier, gritted his teeth and pushed back with all his strength, causing Daniel to stumble back and almost fall when his knee threatened to give out. Instead of falling, Daniel used the man's weight to hold himself upright and managed to turn him around. With all his strength, Daniel threw the man against the door and smiled in satisfaction as the guy's head connected with the door. He slumped down to the floor, unconscious.
Daniel took out his gun, removed the safety and was about to turn around when a cold, dead voice stopped him in his tracks.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, unless you want one of these nice people to get a bullet in the head."
Daniel slowly turned around to face the living room, his blood turning to ice as he saw a man dressed in black from head to toe holding a gun to Catherine's head. Catherine was sitting on the love seat, her hands and feet bound with grey tape, a gag over her mouth. Beside her, Ernest sat in a similar position. Daniel looked around the living room, but didn't find Robert anywhere.
"Dr. Jackson, I presume," the masked man stated.
"The one and only. I hope you haven't gone to too much trouble to find me," Daniel stated, his voice tainted with disdain. "What do you want?"
"You, Dr. Jackson. You're a wanted man, apparently. I have orders to take you into custody."
"How nice. Who's pulling your chain, is it Harry? Because if it is, you can just tell him to go to hell."
Daniel's jaw tightened as the man dug the gun into Catherine's skull, making her wince. She kept her eyes on Daniel, reassuring him that she was okay.
"I wouldn't be so sure. You might have been able to knock out my partner over there, but I'm not as easy to take out. When I walk out of here, you will be with me."
"Oh, I don't think so," Daniel said, a smirk on his face.
Suddenly, blue energy rushed towards the man, knocking him away from Catherine. He writhed on the floor, until his body gave out and he succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Great timing, Teal'c." Daniel headed towards Ernest and Catherine, undoing their bonds as he checked them out. They both looked fine, not a mark on either of them.
"There were four of them originally," Catherine said as soon as Daniel took off her gag. "Two of them left and took Robert with them. They said that the 'boss' wanted to talk to him."
"Damn, this happened way too soon. Who knows what they'll do to Robert."
"Robert Rothman has been taken?" Teal'c asked as he and Rya'c joined the others in the living room. "Did the attackers say or do anything else, Dr. Langford?"
"They caught us by surprise a few minutes after you'd left. They apparently didn't see you, because they came in here looking for you. Robert tried to fight them, but they knocked him out. When one of the men realized who he was, he ordered the other two to take him, but he didn't say where. Then they tied us up and decided to wait for you."
"How did you know they were here?" Ernest asked.
"The yard had been disturbed and it tipped us off. Are you hurt?" Daniel asked.
"No, just frightened. We're fine."
"What are you going to do now? I don't think you planned on them getting here so soon." Catherine got up from the couch and laid a reassuring hand on Daniel's shoulder.
Daniel swallowed hard. "I don't know, but we can't stay here anymore. We've brought enough trouble into your house already. Pretend that nothing is wrong. The police shouldn't get involved in this, until I fail to show up for the meeting with my parole officer next week. When they come looking for me, just feign ignorance. We'll take them with us," Daniel added, pointing to the two unconscious operatives. "Who knows, maybe with a little persuasion, they'll be tempted to talk."
"Where are you going to go?"
"I'm not sure, but I've got an idea."
****
Voices and other assorted noise penetrated the fog in his head, making Robert wince as full consciousness slammed down upon him. For a split second, he couldn't remember what had happened or where he was. After some thought, however, he had no difficulty remembering what had happened at Catherine's house. Fear gripped him suddenly at the thought of something happening to Catherine or Ernest, but he choked it down. Now was not the time for fear.
He still didn't know where he was, though. He was face down on a moving vehicle of some kind. The jerky movement of the floor beneath him, coupled with the foul smell of the vehicle confirmed his suspicion. He could feel his hand tied behind him, and even though he couldn't feel a binding at his feet, Robert was sure that his ankles were bound as well.
Robert opened his eyes, fully expecting to see Daniel lying on the floor beside him. He was surprised when all he saw were the boots of someone else. Robert craned his head to glace at the owner of the boots, and noticed the man watching him intently.
"Where are we going?" Robert asked.
When no answer was forthcoming, Robert repositioned himself on the floor so that he was sitting with his back to the nearest wall, facing the man in front of him. He could see the back of the head of the man who was driving, but if he'd heard what Robert has asked, he hadn't said a thing. Robert turned his head towards the back of the van, but was sitting too low on the floor to be able to look out the window.
He was pretty sure he knew where he was going, though. The men had entered Catherine's house looking for Daniel, so they had to either be NID agents or associated with the Air Force. By the way they handled themselves, Robert could tell that they were professionals, which meant that the men weren't likely to have been hired from the outside.
He sighed, resigning himself to his fate. For right now, at least. He closed his eyes and thought back to what happened at Catherine's house, hoping that the men who had stayed behind hadn't hurt Catherine or Ernest.
They'd been caught completely off guard while they'd been sipping coffee at the dining table. Two of the men had come in through the front door, while the other two had entered through the back. Robert had tried to defend himself, Catherine and Ernest, but had been unable to. He'd been knocked around a bit and knocked out without knowing what had been done to either of them.
Their fate, more than anything, had Robert worried right now. There were only two men in the van with him, which led him to believe that the other two had stayed behind to wait for Daniel. Unlucky for them, Teal'c and Rya'c would also be there, giving Daniel the distinct advantage. Robert only hoped that they hadn't been too late to save the couple.
****
"Where are we going, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel looked up from where he'd been intently studying the screen of his laptop and regarded Teal'c, who had just exited the room where their two 'guests' had been uncomfortably situated. At the front of the small vessel, Rya'c manned the controls, carefully flying along the eastern coast of the United States.
"Oh, we're going to my grandfather's house in Virginia. It's on the coast and has plenty of ground around it, so you will be able to land the Tel'tak."
"Will there be anyone inhabiting the house?" Rya'c asked from the pilot's seat.
"No, it's abandoned. Well, it is now. Nick rented the place when he left it, but the family that used to live there moved out in the last six months. I kept track of the house because it was Nick's, and because it was a place to go to if I needed to get out of Colorado. That was the house my mother grew up in, where my grandfather and grandmother lived until my grandmother died and later, my grandfather committed himself to the mental institution. It should still be furnished, but without working water or electricity," Daniel explained. "My grandfather told me about the place when I used to visit him in the mental institution, but I haven't been there since I was little."
"Does anyone know about this place?"
Daniel thought about it for a moment, before shaking his head. "I don't think so. I mean, it was my mother's family's house so at one point, a lot of people knew of them and where they lived. Relatives of the various families that have lived there after my family vacated it know about the house, but they have no reason to return. No one at the SGC knows about it either, not even Jack or Sam. I never thought to mention it, because it didn't seem important."
"It seems like a good place from which to plan our strategy," Teal'c commented as he returned his gaze to the control panel. He raised his eyes back to Daniel as a thought struck him. "I do not understand the laws of your country very well. However, as a former prisoner, shouldn't your government want to keep track of you?"
Daniel's expression darkened momentarily as he remembered the conversation he'd had that morning with his parole officer.
"Yeah, they do keep track of me. I'm supposed to check in with a parole officer once a week. If I don't, they'll hunt me down and throw me back in prison."
Tealc's eyes narrowed. "You will not be able to tell this 'parole officer' about what you are doing, correct?"
"No, I won't. I probably won't show up to the next meeting and then I'll have both the NID and the state of Colorado after me."
Daniel was quiet for a moment as he studied the serious set to the Jaffa's face.
"Teal'c, I appreciate you doing this for me, because who knows where I'd be right now if you hadn't been here, but don't you have more important things to worry about? I mean, you're leading a rebellion against the Goa'uld. My legal problems shouldn't matter all that much."
Teal'c did not answer right away. Instead, he glanced to his left, where Rya'c also watched him intently.
"I am not the only qualified Jaffa to lead our rebellion, Daniel Jackson. There are many warriors who are worthy and knowledgeable." He paused and regarded Daniel with a gaze so intense that it made him slightly self conscious. "I may have a lot of brave warriors at my side, but I do not have many friends. Because of that, I value the friendships I do have and have pledged to do what I can for those few people, as I know they would do for me."
Daniel was speechless for a moment as he returned Teal'c's intense stare. He nodded his head in acknowledgement and gratitude. "Thank you for everything, Teal'c, Rya'c. I will say it now, just in case I'm not able to say it later."
Both Jaffa bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the gratitude, before Teal'c smiled.
"I would much rather be here, doing something, rather than be with O'Neill and listen to his impatience at not being able to do anything to help."
Daniel chuckled at the image. "Yeah, I bet. An antsy Jack is the worst kind to have around, especially if his hands are tied.
"Where are we, Rya'c?" Daniel asked as he got up from his seat and approached the navigation console, Teal'c following behind him. Daniel narrowed his eyes as he studied the readouts. "We seem to be in Virginia already."
"I believe that we are. Which house belongs to your grandfather?" Teal'c asked.
Daniel moved over to the window of the Tel'tak, trying in vain to spot the house Nick owned. He hadn't been here since he was seven years old, and had definitely not flown to it at the time. This part of the coast was littered with houses, so picking out the right one was going to be a bit tricky. Luckily for them, the coast was well lit and the houses were clearly visible from the air.
"Are you sure they can't see us, Teal'c? What about satellites and stuff?" Daniel asked.
"We are cloaked, therefore undetectable," Rya'c answered. "Only the most finely tuned instruments can detect a cloaked vessel, and I do not believe your planet has those instruments."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Daniel said and continued to look at the houses dotting the coast.
Nick's house wasn't very big, but it wasn't tiny either. It was situated at the end of a stretch of houses, close to a hill. Daniel could see the hill in the distance, so he knew they must be getting closer.
"Rya'c, can you slow down a bit. I need to look for something in particular to spot the house."
The young Jaffa complied with the request, giving Daniel more opportunity to look.
"There it is!" he triumphantly yelled. "Rya'c, you can land the Tel'tak on that hill directly in front of us. It has a flat base that faces away from the main part of the neighborhood. The hill is unstable, so the residents never venture too close to it. Nick's house is right beside it."
Rya'c complied with Daniel's request and landed the Tel'tak where Daniel indicated.
"Are we sufficiently out of the way to allow us to exit the ship without drawing attention to ourselves?" Teal'c asked.
"I think so. Look at that line of trees up there. They'll block us from the view of the beach and the hill behind us will block us from the view of the houses. We should be okay."
"Very well. I will leave the Tel'tak cloaked in order to avoid detection."
"Okay," Daniel said, and gathered up the stuff he'd brought with him. It wasn't much, just a small bag of clothes and his lap top. He'd bought two extended batteries for it, but he knew he'd have to recharge them at some point. Hopefully he'd be able to rig something on the Tel'tak.
When he was finished, he walked over to Teal'c and Rya'c who were standing by the inner door, ready to exit.
"Is the ship still cloaked?"
"It is," Teal'c replied.
"Are we going to leave our charges here?"
Teal'c pondered the question for a moment. "They are locked in the escape pods, which cannot be opened from the inside. They shall not be able to escape."
"Good. Okay, off we go."
Daniel stepped out of the Tel'tak as soon as Teal'c had opened the doors, and led his small group towards his grandfather's house.
"Dr. Jackson, how were you able to distinguish your grandfather's house from all the other ones?" Rya'c asked, once they were walking on the sandy beach of the coast.
Daniel smiled as he turned to face Rya'c. "My grandfather was always a very eccentric man who was very passionate about what he studied. Do you see that mask on top of that fence?" he asked, pointing to the house nearest to them.
They could see a wooden fence surrounding a spacious back yard that led down to the beach. At the northeast corner of the fence, they could see a good sized mask displayed there, almost as if it were waiting for visitors.
"I see it," Rya'c replied.
"That's a replica of a Mayan ceremonial mask that my grandfather found in Belize when he was in his twenties. He liked the mask so much that he had a replica made in concrete and set it on the fence to ward off evil spirits." Daniel laughed as he remembered the story. "Of course, he had to make it big enough so that people would notice it. That's what my mother told me, at least. She used to laugh about that story, calling her father a crazy, old coot. That's how I knew it was Nick's house."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, Daniel leading the way out of the beach and onto the paved street. When they reached the front fence of the house, Daniel stopped and frowned. He reached out and grabbed the door, wincing as it slid loudly towards him.
"At least this part of the house is unlocked," he commented and walked into the front yard.
He looked around, amazed at how well the place looked. It was immediately apparent that no one resided in the house, but it didn't look as shabby and as abandoned as one might expect. The people that had lived there must have moved out only recently. The yard was slightly overgrown, but not badly. There were no flowers in the gardens, but they weren't run down either, just cleared as if someone was expected to plant at any moment. The house itself was medium sized and also well preserved. The area around it was clean and tidy and all of the windows were still intact.
Daniel walked up to the porch and reached out to turned the door know, sighing when the door didn't open. "Too bad I don't have the keys to this place."
Teal'c and Rya'c walked up behind him and stood watching. They each carried a staff weapon and nothing else. Daniel figured that if they had any extra clothing, they'd left it at the Tel'tak.
"We'll have to break in," Daniel said finally. "We'll have to do it on another part of the house, though, one where the damage won't be noticed from the street. Maybe we can try the back door."
"We can force the door open," Rya'c suggested.
"We could, but I need to be able to lock the place back up when we leave, so we need to do as little damage as we can."
"What about the windows? Is there a possibility that one of those is unlocked?" Rya'c asked.
Daniel snapped his fingers, grinning. "That's it! One of them has to be open. Let's split up and check the first floor windows. Hopefully, we'll be able to get in that way."