Hammond nodded. "How's the condition of your ankle, Major?"

For a moment Carter thought he was nodding because of her response, but then she saw a nurse, standing quietly out of the way, prepare a hypo. Her first instinct was to reject the question and offer an opinion, but she stopped herself and moved her foot carefully. "It's good, Sir," she said as steadily as she could.

"When you last returned through the stargate, outside of your team and the airmen on duty, how many other officers did you see?"

Carter played the scene over again in her mind. She'd been disoriented but she'd seen... "Two, Sir."

"How many officers did you hear?"

This was trickier. She tried to calm herself before she spoke. "One, Sir."

"How many people went through the gate, Major?"

She knew the answer to that was a no-brainer. "Three, Sir," she said.

Hammond looked grim as he nodded. He took a step back as the nurse approached. Carter winced as the needle bit her arm, not liking at all the nurse's smile as she turned and walked out the infirmary. "Get dressed, Major. Briefing in thirty minutes."

"Sir? Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

"No, Major. You have your orders." Hammond turned, not even acknowledging Doctor Fraiser as she waited outside.

"Janet?" Sam glanced at Fraiser as she returned. "What's up?"

"That's Doctor Fraiser, Major," she replied sourly, removing the ugly and redundant straps. "You may wash here. Your uniform will be delivered shortly."

Carter looked about as she clambered awkwardly out of the bed. There was a metal basin with a towel and a small bar of soap beside it. Janet watched her dispassionately as she slipped out of the white gown she'd been dressed in.

"Why the formality, ah, Doctor?" Carter didn't like the way the morning was shaping up; especially when Janet was unhappy.

"Security."

"Oh?"

A nurse arrived with a pile of clothes, and an airman waited outside. "You'd best get dressed and go directly to the briefing room."

...

"Take a seat, Major." Hammond didn't look up.

Carter took the only empty chair. The few personnel that were there were in full uniform and sitting to attention; even Colonel O'Neill. She glanced around the table. The briefing was strictly military; no Daniel or Teal'c, but the Pentagon was represented, and... she raised an eyebrow at the insignia on Hailey's uniform.

"The Tok'ra," Hammond began, looking up, "The Tok'ra instigated certain covert operations some months ago which ultimately led two days ago to the elimination of several former NID operatives. Until now, the purpose of these operations have remained classified at the highest level." Hammond paused. "This is a heads-up, people." He looked around the room. "The NID operatives had been compromised. The reports before each of you remain classified. The assassinations were deemed necessary even by the Tok'ra. These operations were led by one of their own named Kéla. Until recently only three people within the SGC knew the other identity of this Tok'ra." None too happy, Hammond turned to the woman from the pentagon. "Colonel?"

Now in a crisp, clean uniform the nurse-turned-Colonel opened her file. "We assigned an officer we could trust to work with the Tok'ra. Their first assignments were routine and a complete success. It was agreed to extend the relationship, to accelerate certain operations to a higher priority. These were also successful." She paused. "Until the last mission, when their operative was taken."

Sam looked for reactions: no one moved. Colonel O'Neill sat stiffly, eyes straight ahead. Hammond watched the Colonel, and Hailey looked down at the closed file in front of her.

"Security has since been tightened. Some of our own officers here have been questioned and their motivations scrutinized," the Colonel glanced about her. "Believe me, if you think we have acted unjustly, know that the orders came from the top. With the General's permission, please open your files now."

Hammond nodded. "Until such time as I deem fit, everyone inside this room is under the strictest orders. I cannot stress enough the importance that we recover or terminate the Tok'ra operative."

Carter opened the file in front of her. The first page was just an index of code-names for the operations and the status of each. The second had a picture of Hailey and detailed, in part, her selection and the process that led to her involvement. The third...

Hammond turned to Hailey. "Major?"

"Thank you, Sir. As we know," she began, "the Tok'ra only accept willing hosts for their symbiotes. On occasion it is necessary to recruit from somewhat unusual and unexpected quarters. Seven months ago Colonel Maybourne became a host." Hailey paused. Since she saw Colonel O'Neill continue to stare straight ahead, Carter decided to stay quiet as well. "The Tok'ra decided that the knowledge he possessed would be... useful. At that time I was assigned to SG-5. It was agreed between the SGC and the Tok'ra that I might be of use to Colonel Maybourne within the Tok'ra Alliance.

"To our knowledge, only four officers within the SGC knew the details of our last mission. General Hammond held the briefing; Colonel Maybourne and I had the assignment, with Colonel O'Neill along as observer." Hailey looked around the table. "Since our return, I now know Major Carter was also aware that we were off-world together. We were compromised.

"For the duration of the mission, Colonel O'Neill was not aware that Colonel Maybourne was a Tok'ra host." Hailey paused, waiting for an interruption that didn't come. "Sir, the object of the mission was to eliminate the former NID operatives. This was a solo operation. Colonel Maybourne's presence was for support purposes only. Upon my return to our rendezvous point, I discovered that Colonel Maybourne and Colonel O'Neill had become separated. As per his orders, Colonel O'Neill proceeded to the rendezvous point alone. Subsequently, it was determined that Colonel Maybourne had been taken by a small Goa'uld faction. Again, as per orders, we returned to base.

"We have since determined that Colonel Maybourne is being held at a location close to..." Hailey stopped, turning to Hammond. "Sir, it was and still is my recommendation that this knowledge be kept restricted. You gave me my orders, Sir: I will terminate anyone I deem a threat to our operations. Colonel O'Neill's feelings about the Tok'ra and Colonel Maybourne are well known; and Major Carter has been compromised before."

"Yes, thank you, Major. Your orders still stand, but while you're under my command I cannot send you in alone." Hammond stood. "We believe that Colonel Maybourne may not yet have been removed from... his last known location. But that is the only hope we have, so you will have to start there." He glanced at the Colonel from the Pentagon. "If you have nothing to add?" She shook her head. "Then Colonel O'Neill will lead the mission with Major Carter and Major Hailey to locate and extract the symbiote with or without Colonel Maybourne -- if either are still alive. Failing that, you will ensure that both are destroyed." At this, Hailey glanced up at him. "I know, Major, but you knew the risks when you took on the assignment. We cannot allow Colonel Maybourne's knowledge to fall into the hands of the Goa'uld." Hammond looked down. There was no file in front of him -- not even he was allowed to know. "I'll be in my office... Dismissed."

Hailey was the first to stand and salute. Carter saluted uncertainly as the General and the Colonel from the Pentagon left the briefing room.

"We've not got much time," O'Neill said. "This works on a need to know basis. When everyone's familiarized with the reports and the mission details, we move out in an hour. Questions?"

"Major, huh? Wow!" Carter regarded Hailey almost enviously. Apart from looking a bit heavier and more tired about the eyes, she'd hardly changed in the two years since she'd been made lieutenant. O'Neill didn't even blink, but Hailey did turn to face her.

"If you have anything pertinent, Major?" Hailey looked up at her. "I know your file. Everything. And Colonel Maybourne had unrestricted access. We are a good team." She paused, glancing at the Colonel. "We may have been unconventional by SGC standards, and the Colonel may disagree with Tok'ra methods, but we got our job done. If Colonel Maybourne dies... I'm certain, Major, that neither of us would care to lose..." Hailey turned to O'Neill. "With your permission, Colonel, there are certain... items I need to prepare?"

"Of course, Major," O'Neill said, returning Hailey's salute and watching her march out of the briefing room.

"Colonel?" Sam asked, "What did she mean about Maybourne?"

"Oh, trust me, Carter, you don't want to know." O'Neill shivered. "He always was a dirty old snake; and in front of the General, Hailey plays it strictly by the book. Dammit, if those two weren't made for each other."

"Sir?"

"Oh, don't be so dense, Major!" O'Neill collapsed back into his chair. "Sorry, Carter," he apologized, "It's all this procedure and the sound of... All you need to know is that we have to get Maybourne out... or kill the son-of-a-bitch trying. And don't let Hailey get to you." He shook his head. "A Major before she's twenty-whatever? Wait till we get off-world... then you'll see."

"Yes, sir."

"Now go get ready. We gate in half an hour."