Title: Heroes (8/10)
Author: Karen
Rating: R (for violence and some non-graphic sexual scenes. Whoo hoo!)
Pairing: D/J
Disclaimer: Not mine, not a one.
Category: Angst, Romance, Light Humour.did I mention the angst?
Spoilers: YES! Up to and including 'Heroes' and then we swerve merrily off
into my own little world.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive. If you want to.
A/N: This is an episode 'fixer' or 'what if'. I haven't seen the ep or read
a transcript, so it may be a little out of whack when the episode airs. In
my head, everything is hunky-dory and certain events never happen. Period.
Oh, and I'm working on the supposition that Cassie is a senior in high
school.
Dedications: This is completely and totally inspired by the wonderful D/J
vids at www.gypsy-gateway.com, specifically 'Words He Doesn't Say' and
'I'll Be Good To You'. Go check out the final one in the trilogy 'It Is You
(I Have Loved)' that's just been released! Wonderful, wonderful vids,
thanks for the inspiration and all your kindness to a D/J newbie, Amy.
Part 8.
It took a lot to shock General George Hammond into speechlessness but he couldn't help but notice nearly all of the times it had happened over the last seven years SG1 had somehow been at the bottom of it. This time was no exception. He watched with an open mouth as his flagship team stumbled through the stargate, drenched in blood in the company of his CMO that he had been assured had died on the rescue mission and Selmak of the Tok'ra looking none too happy to be there. Silence reigned as the gate shut down and SG1 looked at the marines training their weapons at them and then at their CO. "Hi, honey, we're home!" Jack took off his cap and wiped his forehead with a grunt as he ambled down the ramp towards the General. He waved at the gun-toting airmen. "Really, don't get up."
General Hammond looked past his 2IC at Carter walking down the ramp with her arm around a pale faced Janet and then at the equally white faced Daniel Jackson and ever stoic Teal'c. "What the hell have you people done now?"
Jack looked mortally offended. "Why does everybody keep asking that question? Just for once can you people have a little faith that." He trailed off under Hammond's quelling look. "Never mind."
"Colonel O'Neill, we had reports that you and your team stormed the Tok'ra command base and took several of their people hostage, is this true?" Hammond held his breath as he stared piercingly at O'Neill's suddenly guilty face. *Please say no, please say no. Just for once let the reports be wrong*
Jack glanced at his team and then back at Hammond. "Stormed is such a strong word. I'd go more with 'visited with extreme prejudice', sir. Teal'c?"
"I believe DoctorFrasier requires medical attention, O'Neill. Should our priority not be to ensure her comfort and well-being?" Teal'c side-stepped Jack's attempt to bring him down with him with the skill of a seasoned diplomat and put out a hand to steady Janet and Sam as they stumbled slightly. "I believe medical attention is required *now*."
"Doctor?" Hammond swallowed his questions with an effort, took his first proper look at his CMO and nearly had a heart attack as he realised it wasn't mud she had dripping off her uniform but blood. "Sweet Jesus. Medics!"
"I'm alright, sir, just a little dizzy." Janet tried to smile as her medical personnel rushed towards her. "There's not a scratch on me."
"Yeah, *now*." Jack's quiet mumble had Hammond swinging round to glare at him again and he gave the irate CO an innocent grin. "I coughed."
"Get Doctor Frasier to the Infirmary." Hammond stepped aside as the medical team carried Janet past him and laid her protesting strongly onto a gurney. "Colonel O'Neill, I want SG1 and your guest in my office in two minutes for a full report. Senator Kinsey is also anxious to hear your explanation of your most recent actions."
"Oh, hell." Jack stopped trying to look amused and his head dropped onto his chest with a mournful sigh. "This day's just never gonna end."
"Sir, with respect, I think Teal'c should be allowed to escort Daniel to the Infirmary." Sam nodded her head towards her friends and widened her eyes meaningfully. "I don't think they should be allowed to speak to the Senator until they've been cleared medically, sir."
"Doctor Jackson, are you injured?" Hammond looked Daniel over carefully and narrowed his eyes at the whiteness of his face. "Are you hurt, son?"
"General, Carter has a point." Jack moved to block Daniel from Hammond's assessing eyes and raised his eyebrows meaningfully as he muttered. "The by- the-book-gotta-tell-the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth part of SG1 might be better out of the way for this one, sir."
Hammond rubbed an absent hand over his waist as he felt an acid burn start in the pit of his stomach. "This better be good, Colonel." He raised his voice as he made a mental note to pay a visit to the Infirmary himself before the end of the day and get them to check for an ulcer. "Teal'c, please escort Doctor Jackson to the Infirmary and remain there until I send for you." He waited until the Jaffa had led the silent Daniel away and then gestured to the last two remaining members of SG1. "Colonel, Major."
Jack passed his guns to a waiting airman. "Selmak?" He waited until the Tok'ra had moved past him before falling in step with Sam. "Remind me again why I keep doing this job?"
Sam kept her eyes on the back of her father's head and ignored the wide- eyed looks they received from the base personnel as they followed General Hammond to his office. "I really have no idea, sir."
*********************************
If General Hammond and SG1 thought their day was bad, then they should really have tried Senator Kinsey's shoes on for the day. He had gone from mildly pleased that he had arrived at the base in the middle of an emergency to gloating pleasure when things had obviously taken a turn for the worst on the rescue mission and then to out and out euphoria when the message had come through from the Tok'ra that SG1 had lost their minds and were currently holding at least one high-ranking member of the Tok'ra council hostage and had beaten the crap out of at least three other aliens.
Now one of those self-same aliens, one of the very ones that had allegedly been held at gunpoint by the renegade team, was sitting before the Senator insisting that one of his personnel had become over-excited and misread the situation and nothing out of the ordinary had really happened. Euphoria was fast fading into deep, dark misery and Kinsey's mood wasn't being helped by the fact of Jack O'Neill smirking at him over Selmak's shoulder and then sniggering openly to his 2IC as she tried valiantly to look completely innocent of all wrong doing. "Sir, Selmak, if SG1 have violated the trust between us and caused harm to yourself or anyone under your command then you have to tell us and they will be dealt with." Occupied in looking as sincere as he knew how, Kinsey just managed to stop a snarl as Jack flashed him a wink and the thumbs up behind Selmak's back. "We can take action to ensure they never leave this planet's surface again."
"Senator Kinsey, I have told you that SG1 came to us for help in treating their injured friend and we were only too happy to oblige them in their request." Selmak's face looked anything but happy but still he forced himself to continue. "They were quite naturally distraught and emotions were running high but we were able to calm them down once they realised their friend would live. The only reason I have returned to the SGC with them is to ensure that the situation my people unknowingly created is put right."
"Ok, Senator, you've heard it straight from the Tok'ra." General Hammond leaned back in his chair and nodded to the purple-faced Kinsey. "I'm satisfied with both versions of events and I think we owe our thanks to the Tok'ra people for their invaluable aid to members of our personnel, what do you say?"
"Of course." Kinsey spoke through gritted teeth and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead as he tried to smile gratefully. "Words cannot express what we feel."
"*Bullshit*!" Jack looked up with another snarky grin from his fake cough and explained contritely. "Its kinda dusty in here."
"The President is waiting on a full report." Kinsey got to his feet and didn't trust himself to look at any of the faces that watched him in case he gave into temptation and shot the lot of them. "If you'll excuse me?" Hammons watched him leave and the minute the door closed slammed his fist on the briefing room table. "Colonel, Major, I want to know what the hell happened out there and I want to know now!" He glared at the other three occupants of the room and snarled warningly. "And don't even *think* about spinning me the same line you did that idiot."
"General, the situation has been dealt with." Selmak stood up and straightened his tunic. "I suggest we forget this entire incident ever happened and move on from here."
"The hell we will." Hammond stood as well and braced his fists on the table as he leaned into Selmak's face. "These people are under my command and I have a right to know what they've done."
Selmak looked back at Hammond and then his head dropped onto his chest with a sigh. When the man looked up again, it was the sparkling eyes of Jacob Carter that the General found himself looking into. "George, good to see you again." He turned to Sam and opened his arms. "You did great, Sam. I'm proud of you."
"Dad." Sam jumped up and went into her father's embrace with a relieved smile. "I didn't know if I'd see you again before you left."
"Jacob." Jack held out a hand as he stood and clasped the one that Jacob stretched towards him gratefully. "You saved our butts, buddy. Thanks."
"I think I owe you a few times over, Jack." Jacob patted Sam on the back and eased her out of his arms. "How's Janet doing?"
Sam couldn't make herself let go of her father's hand and squeezed it tightly as she beamed a smile. "Good. She's a little shaky but the wound completely healed and she was lucid enough when we got her out of the sarcophagus."
General Hammond sat down with a thump. "Sarcophagus? What sarcophagus?"
Jacob ignored his old friend and nodded thoughtfully. "She's going to be a little disorientated for a while yet. We've made some adjustments to the original settings to the machine and where we tried to compensate for the addictive side effects of usage the subjects are going to have to cope with symptoms of lethargy and so on for a few days." He smiled at Sam and Jack's suddenly worried faces. "She'll be fine, but it was a major injury and it's going to take time to get her back to normal."
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Hammond's roar had Jacob, Jack and Sam starting with surprise and then exchanging uneasy looks. "If I don't get a full report in the next thirty seconds I'm going to have you all arrested and locked in the holding rooms."
Jack quirked an eyebrow at Jacob and the older man nodded. "Ok, but you aren't gonna like it, sir." He gestured to Carter and Jacob to re-take their seats and took a deep breath. "Well, General, it happened like this."
********************************
The Infirmary was buzzing with activity and full to overflowing with the injured from the rescue mission. Daniel and Teal'c had found themselves an out of the way spot near Janet's bed where she was being fussed over by her nurses and were sitting in silence watching her trying to escape prodding hands and needles as she was examined. "I believe DoctorFrasier is looking much better, DanielJackson." Teal'c nodded with approval as Janet grabbed a hand that tried to poke at her back once more and delivered a pithy comment about what would happen if she was touched again. "She is recovering from her ordeal quickly." The Jaffa glanced at his friend sitting silently beside him and frowned in concern at Daniel's wide, shocky eyes. "DanielJackson, are you well?"
Daniel started at the firm grip on his arm and looked up at Teal'c in bewilderment. "What? Did you say something?" He shook his head to clear the buzzing in his ears and tried to swallow to ease the burning in his throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said."
Teal'c leaned closer and held onto Daniel's arm as he began to shake. "I said, are you well? You have not spoken since we returned from the Tok'ra homeworld."
"I.I'm fine." Daniel tried to smile reassuringly and only succeeded in looking like he was going to be sick. "Everything's fine."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow and regarded his friend for a moment before nodding and releasing Daniel's arm. "It is often harder to accept a loved one's injuries than it is our own." He obligingly kept his eyes on Janet as he felt Daniel shudder beside him. "You care for DoctorFraiser very much."
Daniel made a strangled sound. "Yes." His hands were twisting together to mirror the snakes that seemed to have taken up residence in his gut. "Yes, I do. I thought I'd lost her forever, Teal'c."
"But you have not." The alien allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. "She is safe and well."
"I know." Daniel could feel the shaking get worse as he remembered the screaming terror of looking into Janet's lifeless eyes. "God, I thought I'd lost her."
"But she is now found." Teal'c got to his feet as he saw Jack, Sam and an incredibly unimpressed looking General Hammond march into the room. "And she will stay that way. General Hammond."
Hammond barely acknowledged Teal'c's respectful nod before turning his wrathful eyes on Daniel's beaten figure. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"
Daniel somehow found the strength to climb to his feet and meet the General's eyes, the low angry whisper from his CO setting the snakes in his belly rolling once more. "I'm sorry, General Hammond, I'll take full responsibility for the incident and submit to whatever disciplinary measures yourself and the Tok'ra feel are necessary."
"Save it, Doctor Jackson." General Hammond sliced an angry hand through the air. "Thanks to Jacob Carter effectively blackmailing Selmak with the loss of his host body, the Tok'ra have been left with no alternative but to drop all accusations and charges against you and the rest of SG1. As far as the SGC and the Tok'ra high council are concerned this incident never took place." His eyebrows rose at the relived slump of Daniel's shoulders and he hissed angrily. "I, on the other hand, know all about it and I want a goddamned explanation!"
"I."Daniel looked helplessly over Hammond's shoulder and saw Janet frowning in concern as she tried to hear the low voiced conversation over the racket in the Infirmary. "I.we.I couldn't let her die, sir. I'm sorry."
Hammond opened his mouth to reply and then followed Daniel's eyes to Janet's white face. He stared at her for a minute and then abruptly all the tension left his body. "I suppose not." Suddenly very, very tired the General rubbed his hand over his eyes and then turned on his heel to march to Janet's bed. "How are you, Doctor Fraiser?"
"Fine, sir." Janet batted away another questing hand and struggled to sit up. "If I can just be allowed to get changed I can start assessing the wounded and scrubbing up for surgery." She looked confused as her friends stared at her blankly. "What?"
"Denied, Doctor." Hammond held up a pacifying hand as Janet started to protest and turned to Doctor Warner. "Report?"
"Well, sir, as far as I can see there's no physical damage whatsoever. Doctor Frasier appears in the peak of condition and there's not even evidence of blood loss to indicate she's been injured." Warner grinned at Janet. "All she needs is a shower and some rest."
"No, I don't." Janet paused and looked down at her clothing. "Well, I could use a shower but I don't need to rest. General, I'm needed here."
"Actually the only thing needed here is Doctor Frasier's bed." Warner shrugged apologetically at his seething CO. "I recommend that she be allowed to go home and rest. Perhaps if Major Carter could.."
"Can't be spared." Jack jumped hurriedly in and thought fast. "She's needed here for the debriefing and, um, other stuff. If you're sure Janet's ok to go home then maybe Daniel and Teal'c could take her and I'll send Carter along when I can to check on her."
Hammond eyeballed Jack pointedly as Janet and Sam both protested and then crumbled when Jack jerked his head to indicate Daniel's still blank face. "Agreed. Doctor Jackson, Teal'c, take Doctor Fraiser home and stay with her until Major Carter is able to join her." He raised his voice over the babble of protest. "That's an order!"
Sam frowned. "With all due respect, sir, Daniel and Teal'c were both on the mission and they should be debriefed with the rest of us."
"Your objection is noted, Major. Doctor, you're on leave until I say otherwise. Colonel, a word?" Hammond nodded to the team and Janet and walked away with Jack at his heels. He paused at the Infirmary doors and glanced back at Janet's bed. "Colonel, if I allow Doctor Jackson and Teal'c out of here with Fraiser, can I have your word that whatever situation has been stirred up these last few weeks will be resolved?" He huffed at Jack's suddenly shifty look and put his hands on his hips to lean into his 2IC's closed face. "Son, I'd have to be an idiot not to have noticed the change in Doctors Jackson and Fraiser since their relationship broke off. Now, I don't really care whether they end up never speaking again or raising an army of red-headed, be-spectacled geniuses but the next time they come back onto this base to resume their duties I want this matter sorted once and for all, is that clear?" He waited for Jack's nod of acknowledgement and bared his teeth. "And if you ever knowingly allow members of this facility that have an intimate relationship on a high risk mission together again I will hand your ass over to Kinsey myself. Got it?" Jack nodded again. "You and Carter have thirty minutes to get cleaned up and then I want you in my office and prepared to do a lot of talking. Dismissed."
Jack watched his CO walk away and then turned to go back into the Infirmary. He rejoined his friends by Janet's bed and gave a sickly grin as they all looked quizzically at him. "The General says get well soon!"
******************************
Half an hour later, Janet found herself bundled inside a blanket on the backseat of Daniel's sedan, still wearing the clothes she'd died in and staring at the back of one bald head and one tufty one. She was trying to work out exactly what had happened between General Hammond ordering her off base to Teal'c helping her into the car and the only thing she could be sure of was that she couldn't get a shower on base for another hour at least and Jack was insistent she was off the premises before he and Sam went for their debriefing. Hence the sitting in blood soaked clothing and feeling a little fuzzy round the edges. She blinked as the warm air from the heater Daniel had cranked up to full the minute they got in the car made her eyelids droop and tried to shake her head to wake herself up. "I haven't got my keys. I think I left them in my purse. In my office."
Daniel glanced in the rear view mirror and watched as her head dropped and then jerked up again as she tried to fight off sleep. "That's ok, Janet. Teal'c and I will take care of it." He reached out to the heater and made sure it was definitely on full, ignoring Teal'c's curious glance. "Just relax, we'll take you home."
Janet shook her head again and tried to speak but her tongue felt huge in her mouth and she couldn't quite remember how to form words. "I.Dan-iel."
Daniel looked in the mirror again and sighed as her head slipped to the side and her eyes closed in sleep. "I think she's out."
Teal'c turned in his seat and looked at Janet's slack face. "I believe you are correct." He turned back to Daniel as the other man moved to turn down the heater and cracked a window to let in some cool air. "I do not understand, DanielJackson."
Daniel gripped the steering wheel and shifted uncomfortably. "Warmth makes you sleepy, Teal'c." He darted another look at Janet asleep on his back seat. "Jack said there's going to be some after effects from the sarcophagus and she'll be a little weak and disorientated for a while." Daniel returned his eyes firmly to the road and fessed up. "So Jack and I decided it's probably better if Janet comes home with me so I can keep an eye on her." A long silence filled the car as Teal'c processed this new development and eventually Daniel added uncomfortably. "Just to make sure she's ok."
"You have mislead DoctorFrasier as to your true intentions and made me an accessory." Teal'c's calm statement betrayed no emotion and he eyed Daniel as he continued softly. "You are using DoctorFraiser's current vulnerability to your advantage."
"No!" Daniel stopped and forced himself to lower his voice in case he disturbed Janet. "No, of course not. I just want to make sure she's safe and well looked after."
"MajorCarter will join us as soon as she is given leave from the SGC." Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Is she not a sufficient carer for DoctorFraiser?"
"Yes, of course." Feeling more like scum every minute, Daniel shifted in his seat again. "But she's going to be tied up in base for a while." He paused and then flicked a shifty glance at Teal'c before muttering guiltily. "A really long while."
"I see." Teal'c folded his arms and tried not to look as thankful as he felt that Daniel was finally getting his act together. "And what about Cassandra? Will she not be concerned when her mother does not return home this evening?"
"Um." Daniel's guilt increased. "No. She'll be at home with Janet and me. I'm going to get her from school before going to my house."
"You are removing Cassandra from her school without permission." Teal'c was beginning to sympathise with General Hammond and winced as his head suddenly began to thump with the beginnings of a headache. "I do not believe that this is wise, DanielJackson. I was not aware that you were allowed to do this."
"I'm not." Daniel hunched further down in his seat and clenched his jaw determinedly. "But Sam can give permission and Jack seems to think that the school will only have her on record as Major S. Carter. If I need him to he's going to pretend to be Major Samuel Carter and give permission for me to take Cass."
The pounding in Teal'c's temples increased. "I do not think this is wise."
"This is my last chance, Teal'c, I nearly lost her today." Daniel took a deep breath and pleaded for understanding. "I can't lose Janet and Cassie, I just can't."
Teal'c looked at Daniel for long moments before giving a slow nod. "Very well." He glanced back at Janet once more and then turned to stare out of the front window as Daniel sagged in relief. "I will remain with DoctorFraiser whilst you collect, Cassandra."
"Thank you, Teal'c." Daniel pressed his foot down on the gas and felt a small weight ease off his chest as the car sped up. "Thank you."
End Part 8.
Part 8.
It took a lot to shock General George Hammond into speechlessness but he couldn't help but notice nearly all of the times it had happened over the last seven years SG1 had somehow been at the bottom of it. This time was no exception. He watched with an open mouth as his flagship team stumbled through the stargate, drenched in blood in the company of his CMO that he had been assured had died on the rescue mission and Selmak of the Tok'ra looking none too happy to be there. Silence reigned as the gate shut down and SG1 looked at the marines training their weapons at them and then at their CO. "Hi, honey, we're home!" Jack took off his cap and wiped his forehead with a grunt as he ambled down the ramp towards the General. He waved at the gun-toting airmen. "Really, don't get up."
General Hammond looked past his 2IC at Carter walking down the ramp with her arm around a pale faced Janet and then at the equally white faced Daniel Jackson and ever stoic Teal'c. "What the hell have you people done now?"
Jack looked mortally offended. "Why does everybody keep asking that question? Just for once can you people have a little faith that." He trailed off under Hammond's quelling look. "Never mind."
"Colonel O'Neill, we had reports that you and your team stormed the Tok'ra command base and took several of their people hostage, is this true?" Hammond held his breath as he stared piercingly at O'Neill's suddenly guilty face. *Please say no, please say no. Just for once let the reports be wrong*
Jack glanced at his team and then back at Hammond. "Stormed is such a strong word. I'd go more with 'visited with extreme prejudice', sir. Teal'c?"
"I believe DoctorFrasier requires medical attention, O'Neill. Should our priority not be to ensure her comfort and well-being?" Teal'c side-stepped Jack's attempt to bring him down with him with the skill of a seasoned diplomat and put out a hand to steady Janet and Sam as they stumbled slightly. "I believe medical attention is required *now*."
"Doctor?" Hammond swallowed his questions with an effort, took his first proper look at his CMO and nearly had a heart attack as he realised it wasn't mud she had dripping off her uniform but blood. "Sweet Jesus. Medics!"
"I'm alright, sir, just a little dizzy." Janet tried to smile as her medical personnel rushed towards her. "There's not a scratch on me."
"Yeah, *now*." Jack's quiet mumble had Hammond swinging round to glare at him again and he gave the irate CO an innocent grin. "I coughed."
"Get Doctor Frasier to the Infirmary." Hammond stepped aside as the medical team carried Janet past him and laid her protesting strongly onto a gurney. "Colonel O'Neill, I want SG1 and your guest in my office in two minutes for a full report. Senator Kinsey is also anxious to hear your explanation of your most recent actions."
"Oh, hell." Jack stopped trying to look amused and his head dropped onto his chest with a mournful sigh. "This day's just never gonna end."
"Sir, with respect, I think Teal'c should be allowed to escort Daniel to the Infirmary." Sam nodded her head towards her friends and widened her eyes meaningfully. "I don't think they should be allowed to speak to the Senator until they've been cleared medically, sir."
"Doctor Jackson, are you injured?" Hammond looked Daniel over carefully and narrowed his eyes at the whiteness of his face. "Are you hurt, son?"
"General, Carter has a point." Jack moved to block Daniel from Hammond's assessing eyes and raised his eyebrows meaningfully as he muttered. "The by- the-book-gotta-tell-the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth part of SG1 might be better out of the way for this one, sir."
Hammond rubbed an absent hand over his waist as he felt an acid burn start in the pit of his stomach. "This better be good, Colonel." He raised his voice as he made a mental note to pay a visit to the Infirmary himself before the end of the day and get them to check for an ulcer. "Teal'c, please escort Doctor Jackson to the Infirmary and remain there until I send for you." He waited until the Jaffa had led the silent Daniel away and then gestured to the last two remaining members of SG1. "Colonel, Major."
Jack passed his guns to a waiting airman. "Selmak?" He waited until the Tok'ra had moved past him before falling in step with Sam. "Remind me again why I keep doing this job?"
Sam kept her eyes on the back of her father's head and ignored the wide- eyed looks they received from the base personnel as they followed General Hammond to his office. "I really have no idea, sir."
*********************************
If General Hammond and SG1 thought their day was bad, then they should really have tried Senator Kinsey's shoes on for the day. He had gone from mildly pleased that he had arrived at the base in the middle of an emergency to gloating pleasure when things had obviously taken a turn for the worst on the rescue mission and then to out and out euphoria when the message had come through from the Tok'ra that SG1 had lost their minds and were currently holding at least one high-ranking member of the Tok'ra council hostage and had beaten the crap out of at least three other aliens.
Now one of those self-same aliens, one of the very ones that had allegedly been held at gunpoint by the renegade team, was sitting before the Senator insisting that one of his personnel had become over-excited and misread the situation and nothing out of the ordinary had really happened. Euphoria was fast fading into deep, dark misery and Kinsey's mood wasn't being helped by the fact of Jack O'Neill smirking at him over Selmak's shoulder and then sniggering openly to his 2IC as she tried valiantly to look completely innocent of all wrong doing. "Sir, Selmak, if SG1 have violated the trust between us and caused harm to yourself or anyone under your command then you have to tell us and they will be dealt with." Occupied in looking as sincere as he knew how, Kinsey just managed to stop a snarl as Jack flashed him a wink and the thumbs up behind Selmak's back. "We can take action to ensure they never leave this planet's surface again."
"Senator Kinsey, I have told you that SG1 came to us for help in treating their injured friend and we were only too happy to oblige them in their request." Selmak's face looked anything but happy but still he forced himself to continue. "They were quite naturally distraught and emotions were running high but we were able to calm them down once they realised their friend would live. The only reason I have returned to the SGC with them is to ensure that the situation my people unknowingly created is put right."
"Ok, Senator, you've heard it straight from the Tok'ra." General Hammond leaned back in his chair and nodded to the purple-faced Kinsey. "I'm satisfied with both versions of events and I think we owe our thanks to the Tok'ra people for their invaluable aid to members of our personnel, what do you say?"
"Of course." Kinsey spoke through gritted teeth and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead as he tried to smile gratefully. "Words cannot express what we feel."
"*Bullshit*!" Jack looked up with another snarky grin from his fake cough and explained contritely. "Its kinda dusty in here."
"The President is waiting on a full report." Kinsey got to his feet and didn't trust himself to look at any of the faces that watched him in case he gave into temptation and shot the lot of them. "If you'll excuse me?" Hammons watched him leave and the minute the door closed slammed his fist on the briefing room table. "Colonel, Major, I want to know what the hell happened out there and I want to know now!" He glared at the other three occupants of the room and snarled warningly. "And don't even *think* about spinning me the same line you did that idiot."
"General, the situation has been dealt with." Selmak stood up and straightened his tunic. "I suggest we forget this entire incident ever happened and move on from here."
"The hell we will." Hammond stood as well and braced his fists on the table as he leaned into Selmak's face. "These people are under my command and I have a right to know what they've done."
Selmak looked back at Hammond and then his head dropped onto his chest with a sigh. When the man looked up again, it was the sparkling eyes of Jacob Carter that the General found himself looking into. "George, good to see you again." He turned to Sam and opened his arms. "You did great, Sam. I'm proud of you."
"Dad." Sam jumped up and went into her father's embrace with a relieved smile. "I didn't know if I'd see you again before you left."
"Jacob." Jack held out a hand as he stood and clasped the one that Jacob stretched towards him gratefully. "You saved our butts, buddy. Thanks."
"I think I owe you a few times over, Jack." Jacob patted Sam on the back and eased her out of his arms. "How's Janet doing?"
Sam couldn't make herself let go of her father's hand and squeezed it tightly as she beamed a smile. "Good. She's a little shaky but the wound completely healed and she was lucid enough when we got her out of the sarcophagus."
General Hammond sat down with a thump. "Sarcophagus? What sarcophagus?"
Jacob ignored his old friend and nodded thoughtfully. "She's going to be a little disorientated for a while yet. We've made some adjustments to the original settings to the machine and where we tried to compensate for the addictive side effects of usage the subjects are going to have to cope with symptoms of lethargy and so on for a few days." He smiled at Sam and Jack's suddenly worried faces. "She'll be fine, but it was a major injury and it's going to take time to get her back to normal."
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Hammond's roar had Jacob, Jack and Sam starting with surprise and then exchanging uneasy looks. "If I don't get a full report in the next thirty seconds I'm going to have you all arrested and locked in the holding rooms."
Jack quirked an eyebrow at Jacob and the older man nodded. "Ok, but you aren't gonna like it, sir." He gestured to Carter and Jacob to re-take their seats and took a deep breath. "Well, General, it happened like this."
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The Infirmary was buzzing with activity and full to overflowing with the injured from the rescue mission. Daniel and Teal'c had found themselves an out of the way spot near Janet's bed where she was being fussed over by her nurses and were sitting in silence watching her trying to escape prodding hands and needles as she was examined. "I believe DoctorFrasier is looking much better, DanielJackson." Teal'c nodded with approval as Janet grabbed a hand that tried to poke at her back once more and delivered a pithy comment about what would happen if she was touched again. "She is recovering from her ordeal quickly." The Jaffa glanced at his friend sitting silently beside him and frowned in concern at Daniel's wide, shocky eyes. "DanielJackson, are you well?"
Daniel started at the firm grip on his arm and looked up at Teal'c in bewilderment. "What? Did you say something?" He shook his head to clear the buzzing in his ears and tried to swallow to ease the burning in his throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said."
Teal'c leaned closer and held onto Daniel's arm as he began to shake. "I said, are you well? You have not spoken since we returned from the Tok'ra homeworld."
"I.I'm fine." Daniel tried to smile reassuringly and only succeeded in looking like he was going to be sick. "Everything's fine."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow and regarded his friend for a moment before nodding and releasing Daniel's arm. "It is often harder to accept a loved one's injuries than it is our own." He obligingly kept his eyes on Janet as he felt Daniel shudder beside him. "You care for DoctorFraiser very much."
Daniel made a strangled sound. "Yes." His hands were twisting together to mirror the snakes that seemed to have taken up residence in his gut. "Yes, I do. I thought I'd lost her forever, Teal'c."
"But you have not." The alien allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. "She is safe and well."
"I know." Daniel could feel the shaking get worse as he remembered the screaming terror of looking into Janet's lifeless eyes. "God, I thought I'd lost her."
"But she is now found." Teal'c got to his feet as he saw Jack, Sam and an incredibly unimpressed looking General Hammond march into the room. "And she will stay that way. General Hammond."
Hammond barely acknowledged Teal'c's respectful nod before turning his wrathful eyes on Daniel's beaten figure. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"
Daniel somehow found the strength to climb to his feet and meet the General's eyes, the low angry whisper from his CO setting the snakes in his belly rolling once more. "I'm sorry, General Hammond, I'll take full responsibility for the incident and submit to whatever disciplinary measures yourself and the Tok'ra feel are necessary."
"Save it, Doctor Jackson." General Hammond sliced an angry hand through the air. "Thanks to Jacob Carter effectively blackmailing Selmak with the loss of his host body, the Tok'ra have been left with no alternative but to drop all accusations and charges against you and the rest of SG1. As far as the SGC and the Tok'ra high council are concerned this incident never took place." His eyebrows rose at the relived slump of Daniel's shoulders and he hissed angrily. "I, on the other hand, know all about it and I want a goddamned explanation!"
"I."Daniel looked helplessly over Hammond's shoulder and saw Janet frowning in concern as she tried to hear the low voiced conversation over the racket in the Infirmary. "I.we.I couldn't let her die, sir. I'm sorry."
Hammond opened his mouth to reply and then followed Daniel's eyes to Janet's white face. He stared at her for a minute and then abruptly all the tension left his body. "I suppose not." Suddenly very, very tired the General rubbed his hand over his eyes and then turned on his heel to march to Janet's bed. "How are you, Doctor Fraiser?"
"Fine, sir." Janet batted away another questing hand and struggled to sit up. "If I can just be allowed to get changed I can start assessing the wounded and scrubbing up for surgery." She looked confused as her friends stared at her blankly. "What?"
"Denied, Doctor." Hammond held up a pacifying hand as Janet started to protest and turned to Doctor Warner. "Report?"
"Well, sir, as far as I can see there's no physical damage whatsoever. Doctor Frasier appears in the peak of condition and there's not even evidence of blood loss to indicate she's been injured." Warner grinned at Janet. "All she needs is a shower and some rest."
"No, I don't." Janet paused and looked down at her clothing. "Well, I could use a shower but I don't need to rest. General, I'm needed here."
"Actually the only thing needed here is Doctor Frasier's bed." Warner shrugged apologetically at his seething CO. "I recommend that she be allowed to go home and rest. Perhaps if Major Carter could.."
"Can't be spared." Jack jumped hurriedly in and thought fast. "She's needed here for the debriefing and, um, other stuff. If you're sure Janet's ok to go home then maybe Daniel and Teal'c could take her and I'll send Carter along when I can to check on her."
Hammond eyeballed Jack pointedly as Janet and Sam both protested and then crumbled when Jack jerked his head to indicate Daniel's still blank face. "Agreed. Doctor Jackson, Teal'c, take Doctor Fraiser home and stay with her until Major Carter is able to join her." He raised his voice over the babble of protest. "That's an order!"
Sam frowned. "With all due respect, sir, Daniel and Teal'c were both on the mission and they should be debriefed with the rest of us."
"Your objection is noted, Major. Doctor, you're on leave until I say otherwise. Colonel, a word?" Hammond nodded to the team and Janet and walked away with Jack at his heels. He paused at the Infirmary doors and glanced back at Janet's bed. "Colonel, if I allow Doctor Jackson and Teal'c out of here with Fraiser, can I have your word that whatever situation has been stirred up these last few weeks will be resolved?" He huffed at Jack's suddenly shifty look and put his hands on his hips to lean into his 2IC's closed face. "Son, I'd have to be an idiot not to have noticed the change in Doctors Jackson and Fraiser since their relationship broke off. Now, I don't really care whether they end up never speaking again or raising an army of red-headed, be-spectacled geniuses but the next time they come back onto this base to resume their duties I want this matter sorted once and for all, is that clear?" He waited for Jack's nod of acknowledgement and bared his teeth. "And if you ever knowingly allow members of this facility that have an intimate relationship on a high risk mission together again I will hand your ass over to Kinsey myself. Got it?" Jack nodded again. "You and Carter have thirty minutes to get cleaned up and then I want you in my office and prepared to do a lot of talking. Dismissed."
Jack watched his CO walk away and then turned to go back into the Infirmary. He rejoined his friends by Janet's bed and gave a sickly grin as they all looked quizzically at him. "The General says get well soon!"
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Half an hour later, Janet found herself bundled inside a blanket on the backseat of Daniel's sedan, still wearing the clothes she'd died in and staring at the back of one bald head and one tufty one. She was trying to work out exactly what had happened between General Hammond ordering her off base to Teal'c helping her into the car and the only thing she could be sure of was that she couldn't get a shower on base for another hour at least and Jack was insistent she was off the premises before he and Sam went for their debriefing. Hence the sitting in blood soaked clothing and feeling a little fuzzy round the edges. She blinked as the warm air from the heater Daniel had cranked up to full the minute they got in the car made her eyelids droop and tried to shake her head to wake herself up. "I haven't got my keys. I think I left them in my purse. In my office."
Daniel glanced in the rear view mirror and watched as her head dropped and then jerked up again as she tried to fight off sleep. "That's ok, Janet. Teal'c and I will take care of it." He reached out to the heater and made sure it was definitely on full, ignoring Teal'c's curious glance. "Just relax, we'll take you home."
Janet shook her head again and tried to speak but her tongue felt huge in her mouth and she couldn't quite remember how to form words. "I.Dan-iel."
Daniel looked in the mirror again and sighed as her head slipped to the side and her eyes closed in sleep. "I think she's out."
Teal'c turned in his seat and looked at Janet's slack face. "I believe you are correct." He turned back to Daniel as the other man moved to turn down the heater and cracked a window to let in some cool air. "I do not understand, DanielJackson."
Daniel gripped the steering wheel and shifted uncomfortably. "Warmth makes you sleepy, Teal'c." He darted another look at Janet asleep on his back seat. "Jack said there's going to be some after effects from the sarcophagus and she'll be a little weak and disorientated for a while." Daniel returned his eyes firmly to the road and fessed up. "So Jack and I decided it's probably better if Janet comes home with me so I can keep an eye on her." A long silence filled the car as Teal'c processed this new development and eventually Daniel added uncomfortably. "Just to make sure she's ok."
"You have mislead DoctorFrasier as to your true intentions and made me an accessory." Teal'c's calm statement betrayed no emotion and he eyed Daniel as he continued softly. "You are using DoctorFraiser's current vulnerability to your advantage."
"No!" Daniel stopped and forced himself to lower his voice in case he disturbed Janet. "No, of course not. I just want to make sure she's safe and well looked after."
"MajorCarter will join us as soon as she is given leave from the SGC." Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Is she not a sufficient carer for DoctorFraiser?"
"Yes, of course." Feeling more like scum every minute, Daniel shifted in his seat again. "But she's going to be tied up in base for a while." He paused and then flicked a shifty glance at Teal'c before muttering guiltily. "A really long while."
"I see." Teal'c folded his arms and tried not to look as thankful as he felt that Daniel was finally getting his act together. "And what about Cassandra? Will she not be concerned when her mother does not return home this evening?"
"Um." Daniel's guilt increased. "No. She'll be at home with Janet and me. I'm going to get her from school before going to my house."
"You are removing Cassandra from her school without permission." Teal'c was beginning to sympathise with General Hammond and winced as his head suddenly began to thump with the beginnings of a headache. "I do not believe that this is wise, DanielJackson. I was not aware that you were allowed to do this."
"I'm not." Daniel hunched further down in his seat and clenched his jaw determinedly. "But Sam can give permission and Jack seems to think that the school will only have her on record as Major S. Carter. If I need him to he's going to pretend to be Major Samuel Carter and give permission for me to take Cass."
The pounding in Teal'c's temples increased. "I do not think this is wise."
"This is my last chance, Teal'c, I nearly lost her today." Daniel took a deep breath and pleaded for understanding. "I can't lose Janet and Cassie, I just can't."
Teal'c looked at Daniel for long moments before giving a slow nod. "Very well." He glanced back at Janet once more and then turned to stare out of the front window as Daniel sagged in relief. "I will remain with DoctorFraiser whilst you collect, Cassandra."
"Thank you, Teal'c." Daniel pressed his foot down on the gas and felt a small weight ease off his chest as the car sped up. "Thank you."
End Part 8.