JoeB1451 – I'm glad you never saw it coming…my work here is done *bows*

X-Lander1 - *blinks* how very complex. Although totally right.

Captain Chameleon – Thank you…17 more days till results *gnaws fingernails*

OK…I am so so so so sorry that this got put on the back-burner for so long, but I have this lack of inspiration. I don't know where to go. OK, so now I have thought a little I do kind of know.

Chapter 11

Jack was sat in his office and, as usual his eyes were focused on anything but the paperwork on his desk. Right now he was fiddling round with a rubix cube that Daniel had given him one Christmas. The General had given permission for Miss. Rosenburg to call up some old friends who were, right now on their way to the SGC. It was an unusual move by the General and one that annoyed Jack to no end. There was a sharp rap at the door and he looked up into the face of the very man whose decision he had been mulling over.

"George," he said resignedly with only the merest hint of a grin. He had made it obvious he did not side with his Commanding Officer. General Hammond closed the door and took a seat opposite Jack, laying out a file on top of the half-finished paperwork. "What's this?"

"I know you're not happy with my decision and I'm not here to justify myself to you, let's get that clear." He said sternly eyeing Jack over the desk, "However, I would prefer it if you knew. I can't have one of my best officers doubting my motives." He shoved the file further across the litter of papers. He picked up the top sheet and perused it quickly before looking back up.

"So…simply put?"

"A section of the government stationed themselves in Sunnydale California in order to capture…demons and other supernatural creatures." He was obviously having a hard time with accepting the existence of such things but he took it all in his stride. "The project wasn't approved but it went ahead anyway in secret. They did things that the United States is not to proud of." He pushed over a colour picture – the grainy quality a silent testimony to the fact that it had come from a security camera of some kind.

"That's…?"

"Miss. Rosenburg and Miss. MaClay." Verified Hammond, "They and a group of friends were solely responsible for the destruction of the initiative." He got up to leave and a look of understanding passed between them, it made Jack wonder if he had known about this all along.

Willow stood in the command centre above the 'Gateroom oblivious to the people moving around her. There was a haunted look in her eyes and a slight slouch in her posture. On his way down to his office Jonas detoured through the command centre an apple in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the other. When he spotted Willow he balanced them on a narrow ledge and walked round in front of her to face her.

"Willow…what're you…?" She cut him off with a quick 'shush' and went back to gazing almost expectantly at the Stargate. He chanced a look over his shoulder wondering what it was she could see that he could not. There was nothing there. Jonas picked up a phone and made to dial the infirmary, stopping only when the 'Gate activated. The chevrons locked down and glowed and the many people who had been going about their business had become a team well oiled by experience. A plume of liquid exploded outwards and then recoiled leaving the concrete room bathed in a softly rippling blue light.

"Receiving Tok'ra IDC." Intoned a man at one of the stations as someone stepped out onto the gangplank. He was a normal looking man, balding with well defined cheekbones and a strong jaw-line. His stance was firm, and he looked almost regal as he strode forwards with purpose. He was followed by six people bearing three stretchers between them. They wore boots that reached up to their knees, a rough almost-skirt and a top in matching beige colours. After a moment, during which the alert soldiers relaxed slightly, Willow launched herself down the stairs. Jonas dialled for a medical team.

"Oh God..." whispered Willow coming to a halt so fast she nearly overbalanced herself. She recognised two of the people on the stretchers, the third got up looking a little embarrassed to have entered in such a way. He rubbed the bridge of his nose self-consciously and ruffled his blonde hair. Up in the control centre from behind the glass Colonel O'Neill stood hands in pockets like he had been expecting this all along. Slowly he leaned forward and spoke into the microphone.

"Welcome back Space Monkey."       

Thank you for reading. Much appreciated.

Ciao

Coffee Bean

xXx