The Report, part 14: Past Sins

They hit the embarkation ramp with a thump, shaking the entire structure. The iris slid shut, but not before a staff weapon blast shot through, leaving a smoking crater just to the left of the control room window.

"Little trigger happy, weren't they." O'Neill looked at it and winced.

There was the hollow sound of a couple of objects hitting the iris, and then the wormhole disengaged.

"What happened?" General Hammond walked in.

"The usual; got ambushed, captured and rescued." O'Neill smiled, "But we did bring Jacob back."

Hammond looked at Clark, who simply smiled, "It was just as the Colonel said. Oh, and I did get these." He lifted the pack from his back and opened it, revealing a selection of Zat's and shock grenades.

"Nice!" O'Neill whistled, "Where'd you get them from?"

"Let's just say their previous owner won't miss them." Clark smiled slightly.

Dr. Fraiser walked in, "Ok, Infirmary, the lot of you."

O'Neill's face fell, "Can't you give us a chance to relax a little for once?"

Hammond shook his head, "You heard the Doctor Colonel; Infirmary."

Dejected, O'Neill led the way.

"So how was it?" Hammond fell into step beside Clark.

"Just like old times." The other General smiled.

After Dr. Fraiser had finished prodding and poking them, General Hammond ordered the returned team to take the night off before debriefing the next day.

"You think they'll let us back into O'Malley's?" O'Neill looked at Carter and Teal'c.

"I have not been banned." Teal'c' face was unmoving.

O'Neill smiled sarcastically, "Smart ass." He turned to Clark and Chavez, "Would you care to join us?"

"Sure." Clark nodded.

O'Neill looked round, doing a head count, "Ok; Carter, you take Teal'c and Jonas in your car, the General and Major Chavez can come with me."

Carter nodded, leading the way towards the locker rooms so the could all get changed into something a little less suspicious then BDU's.

"General Clark." Freya was waiting for them when they came out, "I just wanted to thank you; I would never have survived if not for your help and guidance."

"Don't be so hard on yourself; you have more strength in you than you give yourself credit for." Clark smiled warmly.

"Thank you." Freya smiled back, "Maybe I will be able to go on another mission in the future. Goodbye." The Tok'ra turned and headed to the gate room.

"You've created a monster…" O'Neill shook his head.

O'Neill's drove his SUV down the road leading from the base to the town, Clark sitting next to him, with Chavez in the back. The car rounded a corner, a police roadblock coming into view.

"Now what's all this about?" O'Neill raised an eyebrow. He brought the car to a stop, and was surprised when the officers manning the barricade pointed their guns at them, "What the hell?"

"John Kelly, this is Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard; exit the vehicle with your hands in the air, and walk slowly towards us." A voice ordered over a loud hailer. O'Neill was confused, and looked to Clark for answers.

The others mans face was flat, resigned. He unbuckled his seatbelt and went to open his door.

"What the hell do you think your doing John?" Chavez went to stop him.

"This isn't your fight Ding." Clark looked at him, "Call Dan Murray, but don't, under any circumstances, involve the President; the last thing he needs is a scandal."

O'Neill watched, jaw agape, as Clark got out of the car, and slowly walk towards the awaiting Marshals. They had him lay on the ground while they handcuffed him, then put him in the back of the cruiser.

To Be Continued...