Title: Circles Revealed
Rating: R (Violence)
Feedback:
Spoilers: You need to have read 'Full Circle', 'Circles of the Mind', 'Splitting the Circle', 'Empty Circles' and 'Circle of Lies.' Also spoilers for Redemption parts 1 and 2
Summary: McKay finds incriminating evidence of Debbie's past, but even as she loses Jack's support, things aren't looking good for Sam…
Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognised characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Details: Jack/Other, Sam/Other UST, Sam/Jack UST, Angst, Drama, Future Season. MCKAY WARNING: Yep, he's nice in this one too, so if you don't like him, don't read this.
Author Notes: 7th in the 'Circles' Series. Please send feedback to
Archive: Gateworld,
-------- indicates flashbacks
Circles Revealed
Copyright © Ruth, 2004
He put his beer down on the floor, wondering who was knocking frantically on his door at this time of night. He hoped to goodness it wasn't that double glazing salesman…
When he opened his door, the person waiting outside didn't even wait to be asked inside. He pushed past him quickly. Jack could feel the anger radiating off of his friend before he even spoke.
"Daniel? What can I do for you?" He asked dryly.
"We need to talk," Daniel snapped.
"We do?" Jack said.
Daniel snarled, and his fist shot out towards Jack's face. However, Jack's reflexes were faster and he grabbed Daniel's wrist, stopping his fist just millimetres from his nose.
"That doesn't look like talking, Danny boy," he replied.
"Your wonderful Debbie is a cold-hearted, manipulative bitch!"
"You have some evidence to back up this theory?" Jack asked, still keeping hold of Daniel's wrist. He'd never seen him so angry.
"Debbie, your wonderful lady friend and all-round good Samaritan, has just served Sam with an order for a court martial!"
Now, he hadn't been expecting that. He loosened his grip on Daniel's wrist, his expression blank.
"She what?"
"She is taking Sam to court. Insubordination towards the two of you, would you believe it?"
"Insubordination? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Why don't you ask your girlfriend?" Daniel shouted angrily, "You can get your story straight!"
"Daniel," Jack growled, "I didn't know anything about this!"
"Oh, right!" Daniel shot back.
"Dammit, I'm telling you the truth. What exactly is Debbie accusing her of?"
"Insubordination. Using abusive language, disobeying her orders, hell, even hitting her!"
Jack ran a hand back through his hair, wishing that he would wake up soon from this horrible nightmare.
"Well? What have you got to say for yourself?"
"I didn't know, Daniel," he said, "Honest to God! How is she?"
"Who? Sam, or Debbie?"
"You know damned well who I'm talking about!" Jack snapped.
"How do you think she is? She's been tortured, she gave her life for you in order to be tortured some more, she's laying in the infirmary feeling like crap and then the Ice Maiden comes along and slaps a court-martial on her! She's distraught!"
"I need to talk to Debbie."
"Well, you'd better make it quick. The two of you have to make out your reports to senator Kinsey for tomorrow."
"Kinsey?" Jack snarled, "What the hell is he doing in all of this?"
"He's Debbie's new best friend. He's wanted Sam out of the SGC for years, Jack, and Debbie's just handed him the perfect opportunity!"
"Wait a minute…she wants me to do it with her? Charge Sam? She's said that she was insubordinate towards me?"
Daniel clapped his hands together, slowly, sarcastically.
Jack swallowed, pulling on his coat.
"Daniel, I will not stand up in front of a court and let Sam lose her job. I haven't got the faintest idea what Debbie is going on about."
"Well, you're the only one with the slightest chance of talking her out of it," Daniel said, his voice more sad now than angry, "You'd better knock some sense into her before anybody else, because believe me there's a long queue, and it's getting longer every day."
McKay sat in front of his computer, staring aimlessly at the screen. Damn that woman. Stupid cow. What the hell was she doing, trying to hurt Sam? She'd not done a thing to her, but now they were all caught up in her hate campaign!
Sam's position wasn't looking good. He knew this, as did Sam. He wished that there was something he could do to help her. Still, maybe there was. He could do some digging, couldn't he? See what he found out about the infamous colonel. His mind made up, he brought up the search engine and typed in her name.
As he scrolled down the list of results, his eye fell on something interesting. After reading a few paragraphs, his face broke into a smile. He printed out the sheets, and put them into a folder.
"Bingo," he smirked.
"Jack!" Debbie smiled, as he walked into her office, "I haven't seen you for so long! It's great to have you back here."
She tried to pull him into a hug, but he stood rigidly still.
"What's wrong?" She asked, softly.
"What's wrong? What the hell are you doing with Sam? A court martial?"
The smile disappeared, and was replaced with a frown.
"It's not just me, Jack. She behaved inappropriately towards the pair of us."
"Behaved inappropriately? What are you talking about?" He shouted.
"Poor Jack," Debbie said quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder, "You were unconscious for most of it. Little bitch thought she could get away with being rude to me, if you weren't listening."
"Don't call her that," he said, "And I want you to tell me exactly what is in your report. Now."
"Why?" she asked innocently, "Don't you believe me?"
"No!" he yelled, "What are you putting in the damned report?"
The ship opened, and they heard the familiar noise of jaffa footsteps. The sand did little to muffle their danger, and Sam felt adrenaline begin coursing through her veins.
"How many?" Debbie asked, peering through the cover of a large shrub.
"At least 12," Sam replied, "I think there could be more."
"Did I ask you?" Debbie said, hotly.
Sam frowned at the woman next to her.
"Do you not think you could lay aside your intense hatred of me for just a second? There are slightly more important things going on here, Colonel."
"That? That's not insubordination! You'll have to have more than that!"
"Oh, I do," Debbie said, her mouth turning up into a smile.
"Why the hell didn't you sense his presence?" Jack asked, casting a look of disdain over at her.
"It's not like a light switch," Sam replied, "You can't just flip it on and off!"
"You usually feel it!" Jack continued, "The one thing I could rely on was for you to feel it!"
"Well, I'm sorry I've been such a disappointment," She said sarcastically.
"Not half as sorry as we are," Debbie said.
"Oh, go to hell!" Sam retorted, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"How about that? She told me to go to hell. That's not exactly showing respect for a superior officer, is it?"
"You asked for that one," Jack retorted.
"And you were doing exactly the same," Debbie smiled, "You're in this as deep as I am, Jack, whether you like it or not!"
"Damn you, Carter!" Debbie shouted, "I'm asking you a serious question, and you think this is FUNNY?"
Sam smirked, and looked over at Debbie.
"I'm going to die. We're all going to be tortured to death…or worse, by the most brutal system lord who has ever roamed the planet, and you know what really pisses me off?"
Debbie looked angry.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company!"
"She was lying. Being sarcastic. Now, as a minor officer, is she or is she not required to be polite and show respect when addressing a senior officer?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
"There's more, Jack. You were unconscious for most of this. You were hurt badly. I was so scared, and she…" Debbie sniffed.
"Oh, save me the theatrics!" Jack groaned, "What else?" ---------------------
"What are you gonna do?" Sam laughed, "Hit me? Go ahead."
Debbie bit her lip and sat back down again, as far away from Sam as she could possibly manage.
"You're not worth the effort," she snapped.
"No, and if Jack hasn't told you about Charlie yet, he clearly thinks the same about you!"
"Which reminds me," Debbie said, sidling closer to him again, "You still haven't told me who Charlie is."
"That isn't the issue here," he said, "Are you done?"
"No, not quite."
"He's getting worse," Sam said quietly.
"Well, that's obvious," She snapped again. "Ba'al mentioned something about a better offer for Jack's freedom."
Sam paled, but Debbie didn't notice.
"Really?" She choked.
"Hm. Well, whoever the hell it is, I wish they would just get on with it! He clearly doesn't have that much time left!"
"Maybe it's not that simple," Sam stammered.
"Showing a lack of concern and thought for your condition," Debbie barrelled on, oblivious to the fact that Jack's face was turning an angry red.
"You don't get it, do you?" he asked, "The reason she was showing a 'lack of concern' or whatever the hell you're going to call it, is because she was the one who made the better offer! The only reason we got out of there alive was because she bargained with him! She would stay if he let us go!"
"And why would she do that?" Debbie asked, "She doesn't like either of us. How can you know that she isn't making it up?"
"I don't have time for this," he said, turning around to leave, "And you can stick that report. I'm not helping you do this."
"You have to, I've already told Senator Kinsey…"
"He can stick it too!" Jack shouted, "I…am…not…helping…you! Got it?"
"Jack," she purred, "You have to. You wouldn't want the Joint Chiefs finding out how you seduced your new 2IC, would you?"
Jack's eyes widened.
"Are you blackmailing me?" He asked. "As I recall, Colonel, it was you who was sprawling all over me in O'Malley's that night, and I will happily tell the court that!"
"You'd still lose your job, though," she said, with an acid smile.
"You know what?" Jack asked, quietly. "I don't give a damn any more. I'm sick of this job, and I'm sick of you. Do your worst."
And with that, he left the room. Debbie smashed her fist angrily into her desk. She'd been counting on his support to strengthen her case. Damn him, she should never have gotten involved with him in the first place. Now she would have to bring them both down. The little bitch and her CO, rotting in a military jail somewhere. She rubbed her hands together, and sat down to make a phone call.
"Senator? Yes, it's Colonel Welling. I'm afraid we've had a bit of a problem with Colonel O'Neill."
Sam sat back in her chair, happy to be back in her lab. The familiar humming of her machines and the smell of coffee relaxed her. She had peace and quiet, having no idea where McKay had gone and not really caring about anyone else.
She smiled as she looked over at McKay's desk. Someone had changed his computer background. He was going to flip when he saw it. It was a picture of Buffy the vampire slayer with his head superimposed on top of it. He was holding a crossbow in one hand and an axe in the other. She had to admit that the idea of McKay taking down a Goa'uld was laughable, but it didn't belittle the fact that he had saved her life.
That smarmy doctor she had hated for many months when she first met him, when he'd got her electrocuted and shamelessly flirted with her. He had been the one who had freed her from that nightmare. Jeez, her life was so screwed up. She looked back at her own computer, and the half-written report on the screen. She was nervous about having to face Debbie in court. The woman had friends in high places, and seemed to be able to get away with murder - she didn't suppose that justice for her was going to factor highly in this equation.
Just as she was considering this, there was a knock at the door. She swallowed nervously and closed the report down on her computer.
"Come in," she said.
Jack sidled in, and closed the door gently behind him.
"Colonel?" she asked, her defensive walls instantly shooting up around her.
"I know I'm the last person you want to see at the moment," he began.
"Second to last." She interrupted. Undeterred, he continued.
"But I want to talk to you. It's the least I deserve, but I'd be grateful if you'd listen to me."
"Go ahead," she murmured, "I'm listening."
"I had no idea about the court martial," he said, waving a hand at her to stop her reply, "And I certainly don't support it."
"Your lady friend won't like that," Sam said.
"No, she doesn't. And it looks like she's stabbed me in the back as well. I'm set to lose my job too, if things go her way."
"If you're looking for sympathy, Colonel," Sam said dryly, "You've come to the wrong woman."
"I'm on your side!" he said, desperately, "Can't you see that?"
"No!" she said, trying to stand up but hissing in pain as her bad leg protested. Jack stood helplessly in front of her, wishing he could help her but knowing that it wouldn't be well received.
"All I'm saying is…if you need my help, which I'm sure you don't want to admit, I'm here. I'm not going to agree with Debbie, I'm not going to help her win this case. All I want you to think about is this. If we're divided in court, she's going to slaughter us. If we can work together at this, we might just be in with a chance."
"Why should I believe you?" She asked, "You just want me to help you keep your job!"
"No, I don't give a damn about the job! I'm getting too old for this…but if you're going down, Debbie is going to take me down with you. I think our chances would be improved if we worked together."
"I don't trust you any more," Sam said, her eyes shining with tears that she angrily fought back.
"I know," Jack replied, closing the distance between them, "And I don't trust myself half of the time! But just tell me this. You felt the same when we were with Ba'al, didn't you?"
She nodded.
"So then… why? Why did you do it, Sam? You saved my life, and I sure as hell didn't deserve it."
"No, and I certainly wouldn't have done it," an angry voice from behind him said.
Jack turned around to see McKay standing in the doorway, a folder tucked under his arm.
"Doctor," he said, making an attempt to be civil. McKay ignored it.
"Is he upsetting you?" he asked Sam.
"No," Sam said, sitting back down in her chair again as her leg began protesting in earnest, "No, he's not. Could we please have a few more minutes?"
McKay looked between the two of them, and his scowl deepened.
"You've got five minutes," he snapped at Jack, "And then I want you the hell out of my lab."
He strolled out, slamming the door behind him. Jack watched the doctor retreating, open-mouthed.
"Is he always like that?" he asked.
"He's concerned for me," Sam said, "The way you used to be once."
"Sam, please…"
"You wanted to know why I saved you?" she said, wiping away a tear as it rolled down her face.
He nodded.
"I saved you, because even though you've been such a bastard to me, and you've hurt me so badly, destroyed our friendship….I still have feelings for you."
She turned away from him, missing the series of emotions that played across his face. Shock, anger, disappointment…hurt.
"I…" he began, but couldn't find the words.
"Just go," she mumbled, "Please."
He turned and left the lab, closing the door behind him. He leant back against it and closed his eyes against the onslaught of emotion that was threatening to engulf him. She still loved him. After everything he'd done, the way he'd behaved, she still felt exactly the same. He walked off down the corridor, meeting McKay halfway. The doctor offered him a glare and moved away without a word.
"Sam, I have just found something very interesting about our mutual friend," McKay said excitedly, as he closed the lab door behind him.
Sam pulled herself out of her thoughts and went over to stand beside him.
"What have you got? And did you do it legally?" She asked, eyebrows raised.
"Good stuff, and yes it was legal," he grinned.
"Well? Don't keep me in suspense!" Sam said.
"Well, records from her previous army bases - and that's nine, including her brief stint at the pentagon…"
"Whoa…are you telling me that she's been transferred nine times?"
"I am, my sweet flower," he said, earning himself a smack on the head before continuing.
"Call me that again and you'll live to regret it," she warned.
"I like it when you talk evil to me," he leered. Sam glared at him.
"Colonel Welling?" she asked, trying to divert his attention back to the subject in hand.
"Yes…her first transfer was because of abuse to a minor officer - just small stuff, bitching, bullying, the stuff she does best. Anyway, this officer reported it and Debbie got booted straight out."
"Wow," Sam said, genuinely surprised, "They dealt with that well."
"Yeah," McKay agreed, "Unfortunately you won't find many army bases with the same attitude towards it. Her second transfer was for violence towards a fellow officer…"
"Wait a minute," Sam said, "If all of this was in her file, why the hell did General Hammond let her on this base?"
McKay shrugged.
"Third, fourth and fifth transfers were all for bullying and abuse-related incidents, none resulting in her being demoted or even suspended."
"I don't understand," Sam said quietly, "She's been making people's lives a misery for so long, and yet she's still managed to make Colonel. You've seen all the medals she has - valour, bravery…"
"It's a twisted world," he quipped.
"What about her last four transfers?"
"Well, number six was another assault. And these have all been on minor officers. Numbers seven through nine were bullying again - that's why she got chucked out of the pentagon."
"But, all of these charges against her," Sam said thoughtfully, running a hand back through her hair, "Nobody should be able to get away with it. The law shouldn't be allowing it! It's almost as if there's…"
"Somebody who wants to keep her in the system," McKay finished.
"Kinsey," Sam snarled. "Of all the two-faced, lying…"
"Easy, tiger," McKay said, "I then decided to do some digging in her phone records. Lots of interesting stuff there, a lot of pizza deliveries, which would explain the truck-crushing thighs…"
Sam snorted, and McKay enjoyed the sign of amusement on her face that he hadn't seen for a very long time.
"But there was some other stuff that made me sit up. She's been making very frequent calls to the NID, at least one or two a week."
"The NID are always trying to pull us off of the programme," she muttered, "What the hell have I done now?"
"It doesn't end there," McKay said, "The NID calls she's been making are to two separate contacts. There's two different phone numbers."
"Two? You mean there's two people trying to keep her in the system?"
McKay nodded.
"Well, it's enough to know that she's working for the NID," Sam said, beginning to get a little more excited. "Keep this under your hat, Slayer."
"What did you call me?" He asked.
"Nothing," she said innocently, "I didn't say anything."
"I think perhaps you did," he said, moving closer to her, "And you know how much I hate that name."
"Me? Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about. C'mon, McKay, get the hell off of me!"
"Oh, my beautiful rose, why do you tease me so?"
Sam looked incredulously at him.
"My beautiful rose?" she asked. "You're losing your touch, Slayer."
"Hey!" he said, "I told you not to call me that!"
"What are you gonna do about it?" Sam smirked, enjoying winding him up.
"You'd better start running, peg-leg," he warned.
Three weeks later…
"Major Carter, do you understand what you are being accused of here today?"
"Yes, I do."
"How do you plead on the charge of insubordination towards a superior officer?"
"Not guilty."
"Now, can you please explain to us what happened on the morning of your capture?"
"We arrived on what appeared to be a safe planet. However, before we got very far we heard the sound of jaffa footsteps that were approaching. Colonel O'Neill sent Teal'c and Dr Jackson back to the gate and ordered Colonel Welling and myself to remain with him."
"Did you question why he asked you to remain with him?"
"He's my superior officer," she said dryly, "I'm not permitted to question him."
"But, I understand that your once strong friendship was in ruin by this stage. Did you never wonder why he asked you to remain with him? After all, if your trust in each other was gone, why did he want you with him?"
"Objection! How is Major Carter supposed to know what her CO is thinking?"
"Please try to keep to the subject in hand," the judge advised.
"Major Carter, what were relations like between yourself and Colonel Welling as you hid from the jaffa?"
"Obviously we were all nervous. Colonel O'Neill asked a question, Colonel Welling believed that I answered him out of turn."
"Did Colonel O'Neill address the question to you personally, Major Carter?"
"No, but he didn't address it personally to Colonel Welling either."
"Is it true that you then said to Colonel Welling: "Do you not think you could lay aside your intense hatred of me for just a second? There are slightly more important things going on here, Colonel."
"Yes, it is," Sam nodded.
"Do you think this is an appropriate way to address a superior officer?"
"I was merely making a suggestion that she lay aside her personal emotion in order for us to focus more on the job in hand."
"Which was?"
"Not getting captured and subsequently killed." She shot back.
"Is there not a more diplomatic way that you could have phrased this?"
Sam sighed.
"Probably, but to tell you the truth, when you're facing an army of jaffa and possibly a System Lord, diplomacy is the last thing on your mind."
A snigger ran through the courtroom. The judge called for order.
"Major Carter, there is no need for sarcasm. Please answer appropriately or we will be forced to remove you from the courtroom."
"Is it true that you can sense the presence of a Goa'uld symbiote?"
"Yes, usually I can."
"But not on this occasion."
"No. I only felt it when it was too late, and he was right on top of us."
"Do you know why?"
"Objection!"
"Sustained. Sir, please stick to the subject in hand."
"Now, Major Carter. You were trapped on Ba'al's ship in a small cell, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"And you and Colonel Welling ended up having an argument. Could you tell us what this was about?"
"The argument was a result of my not sensing the presence of the symbiote. Colonel Welling believed that it was my fault that we had been captured, and saw no shame in pointing this out."
"Yes, but you then told her to "go to hell." Is this correct, Major Carter?"
Sam swallowed nervously.
"Yes, it is correct."
"This is not really an appropriate way to address a superior officer, is it?"
"No, it is not." Sam admitted.
"So you agree that she has good grounds for this accusation against you."
"Objection!"
"I will not tell you again!"
"What happened after this, Major Carter?"
"The jaffa came and took myself and Colonel Welling away," she said, stuffing her hands into the pocket of her coat to try and stop them from shaking. This was the part that she was not looking forwards to.
"Took you where?" the lawyer asked.
"The torture chamber," Sam answered grimly.
"What happened to you in this chamber?" he continued.
"Objection!"
"Your honour, Major Carter may have revealed information of a sensitive nature to…"
McKay fidgeted in his seat, resisting the urge to jump up and yell something at the prosecution lawyer.
"Silence! Please continue, Major Carter."
"He attempted to retrieve information from me."
"What kind of information?"
"Personal information. Ba'al is a master manipulator. Any information you give him about your personal life can be used against you."
"In what way?"
"Drug-induced hallucinations. They make you believe that you are talking to someone you love, telling them what they need to hear. The whole situation is so realistic that you shouldn't be able to tell the difference."
"And did this happen to you, these hallucinations?"
"No. He quickly got tired of my silence and decided to go for a more…direct approach."
"And what would this be?"
"A knife," she answered simply.
"What happened to you, Major Carter?"
"Ba'al has a special gravity chamber. He activated it, held the dagger up in the air, pointing at me, and let go of it."
Jack clenched his fists tighter in the viewing area. Why she was being made to re-live this was beyond him. He glared at the back of Debbie's head, sitting just a few rows in front of him.
"Did you lose consciousness?"
"Not immediately, no. The dagger hit me in the hollow of my shoulder. This is enough to cause severe pain and bleeding, but not enough to kill in one shot. I passed out a few moments later."
"Do you remember where you woke up?"
(In Jack's arms)
"I was back in the cell again. Colonel O'Neill was conscious, Colonel Welling was not."
"What did you talk about?"
"Nothing," Sam lied, "I wasn't very talkative, we didn't really know what to say to each other."
"Please, Jack," Sam said softly, curling up in the corner again, "Just leave me alone. I've gotten used to it."
"And then what happened?"
"Colonel Welling was brought back to the cell after being tortured by Ba'al. She informed Colonel O'Neill and myself that she hadn't told him anything important. This, I later found out, was a lie."
"How did you find this out, Major Carter?"
"Colonel Welling had revealed to Ba'al personal information regarding my relationship with Colonel O'Neill."
"What kind of information?"
"That we weren't the friends we had used to be." She answered shortly.
"What happened then?"
"The hallucinations I told you about are introduced by a liquid. It has powerful properties that confuse the mind. He made me drink it. Then he threw another knife at me."
"This liquid you spoke of, it confuses the mind?"
"Yes, it does."
"Then how can you be sure of anything that happened afterwards?"
Sam swallowed again. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Let's move on a little further," the lawyer smiled, "Colonel O'Neill had been taken to the chamber. You and Colonel Welling were both conscious, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"Now, you two must have had things to talk about, surely."
"Not really."
"But this was the second time you addressed her in an insubordinate manner, is it not?"
Sam smirked, and looked over at Debbie.
"I'm going to die. We're all going to be tortured to death…or worse, by the most brutal system lord who has ever roamed the planet, and you know what really pisses me off?"
Debbie looked angry.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company!"
"I was a little short with her," Sam admitted.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company! That seems more than a little short, Major."
"Being repeatedly stabbed and tortured can do that to you," she snapped.
"I see. So you admit that you were insubordinate towards Colonel Welling?"
"I…"
"Answer the question, Major Carter!"
"Yes, I suppose I was, but under the circumstances…"
"Thank you. No further questions, your honour."
Sam bashed her head against the cold wall of the courtroom. God damn it, she was screwed. The slimy prosecution lawyer had tricked her into admitting her guilt. Damn. Damn. Damn! She still had to face another round of questioning from the defence lawyer, which she hoped would be less incriminating.
She grimaced as a spasm of pain shot up her leg and dug around in her pocket for some painkillers. Just as she swallowed one, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Hey," he said quietly.
She watched him suspiciously.
"Yes?" She asked.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that again," Jack said, "It's not something anybody should have to do."
"Yeah, well," she said, leaning back against the wall.
"You're…doing well," Jack offered, trying to be helpful.
She laughed bitterly.
"I am screwed," she said slowly, and deliberately. "That lawyer just got me to admit that I have been insubordinate towards Debbie and then cut me off as I was trying to explain myself. She's got a lot of friends in high places, Colonel. I'm not going to come out of this courtroom victorious, and she knows it. She's just prolonging the agony."
"You don't know that!" Jack protested.
"Yes, Colonel, I do know that. What about you, hmm? Your name hasn't been mentioned in vain, not once! What was that crap you were telling me about losing your job?"
"Yeah, well when Debbie takes the stand, you'll know what I'm talking about," he said, and walked away.
As she left the courtroom several hours later, Sam felt physically and mentally drained. Having to recount her capture by Ba'al again was not something she had relished doing. To make matters worse, it was Debbie's turn tomorrow…and her little runt of a lawyer.
She left the courtroom through the back of the building. She knew that the others meant well, but she couldn't face them this evening. Standing accused of insubordination by an officer who had a serious problem with her, and contacts in all the right places, she wasn't in the mood for petty reassurances.
Once outside, she took a deep breath of the evening air and leant back against the side wall. She was so tired. Of everything - the case, Debbie, Jack, the job. Still, she thought grimly, the last one probably wouldn't be bothering her for much longer.
McKay watched her. He had decided not to follow her, knowing that she needed some time alone. He could see she was scared and nervous. All he wanted to do was go up and put his arms around her…but he was the last person she would want comfort from. He looked forwards to the events of the next day. Despite his concern for Sam, a smile played around the corners of his mouth. Oh yes, Colonel Welling was in for a rather large shock…
To Be Continued…
Author Note: Sorry this took so long, I've been away for a while. Please send feedback to We're coming close to the end now…keep your ideas about Debbie's fate coming!
Rating: R (Violence)
Feedback:
Spoilers: You need to have read 'Full Circle', 'Circles of the Mind', 'Splitting the Circle', 'Empty Circles' and 'Circle of Lies.' Also spoilers for Redemption parts 1 and 2
Summary: McKay finds incriminating evidence of Debbie's past, but even as she loses Jack's support, things aren't looking good for Sam…
Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognised characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Details: Jack/Other, Sam/Other UST, Sam/Jack UST, Angst, Drama, Future Season. MCKAY WARNING: Yep, he's nice in this one too, so if you don't like him, don't read this.
Author Notes: 7th in the 'Circles' Series. Please send feedback to
Archive: Gateworld,
-------- indicates flashbacks
Circles Revealed
Copyright © Ruth, 2004
He put his beer down on the floor, wondering who was knocking frantically on his door at this time of night. He hoped to goodness it wasn't that double glazing salesman…
When he opened his door, the person waiting outside didn't even wait to be asked inside. He pushed past him quickly. Jack could feel the anger radiating off of his friend before he even spoke.
"Daniel? What can I do for you?" He asked dryly.
"We need to talk," Daniel snapped.
"We do?" Jack said.
Daniel snarled, and his fist shot out towards Jack's face. However, Jack's reflexes were faster and he grabbed Daniel's wrist, stopping his fist just millimetres from his nose.
"That doesn't look like talking, Danny boy," he replied.
"Your wonderful Debbie is a cold-hearted, manipulative bitch!"
"You have some evidence to back up this theory?" Jack asked, still keeping hold of Daniel's wrist. He'd never seen him so angry.
"Debbie, your wonderful lady friend and all-round good Samaritan, has just served Sam with an order for a court martial!"
Now, he hadn't been expecting that. He loosened his grip on Daniel's wrist, his expression blank.
"She what?"
"She is taking Sam to court. Insubordination towards the two of you, would you believe it?"
"Insubordination? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Why don't you ask your girlfriend?" Daniel shouted angrily, "You can get your story straight!"
"Daniel," Jack growled, "I didn't know anything about this!"
"Oh, right!" Daniel shot back.
"Dammit, I'm telling you the truth. What exactly is Debbie accusing her of?"
"Insubordination. Using abusive language, disobeying her orders, hell, even hitting her!"
Jack ran a hand back through his hair, wishing that he would wake up soon from this horrible nightmare.
"Well? What have you got to say for yourself?"
"I didn't know, Daniel," he said, "Honest to God! How is she?"
"Who? Sam, or Debbie?"
"You know damned well who I'm talking about!" Jack snapped.
"How do you think she is? She's been tortured, she gave her life for you in order to be tortured some more, she's laying in the infirmary feeling like crap and then the Ice Maiden comes along and slaps a court-martial on her! She's distraught!"
"I need to talk to Debbie."
"Well, you'd better make it quick. The two of you have to make out your reports to senator Kinsey for tomorrow."
"Kinsey?" Jack snarled, "What the hell is he doing in all of this?"
"He's Debbie's new best friend. He's wanted Sam out of the SGC for years, Jack, and Debbie's just handed him the perfect opportunity!"
"Wait a minute…she wants me to do it with her? Charge Sam? She's said that she was insubordinate towards me?"
Daniel clapped his hands together, slowly, sarcastically.
Jack swallowed, pulling on his coat.
"Daniel, I will not stand up in front of a court and let Sam lose her job. I haven't got the faintest idea what Debbie is going on about."
"Well, you're the only one with the slightest chance of talking her out of it," Daniel said, his voice more sad now than angry, "You'd better knock some sense into her before anybody else, because believe me there's a long queue, and it's getting longer every day."
McKay sat in front of his computer, staring aimlessly at the screen. Damn that woman. Stupid cow. What the hell was she doing, trying to hurt Sam? She'd not done a thing to her, but now they were all caught up in her hate campaign!
Sam's position wasn't looking good. He knew this, as did Sam. He wished that there was something he could do to help her. Still, maybe there was. He could do some digging, couldn't he? See what he found out about the infamous colonel. His mind made up, he brought up the search engine and typed in her name.
As he scrolled down the list of results, his eye fell on something interesting. After reading a few paragraphs, his face broke into a smile. He printed out the sheets, and put them into a folder.
"Bingo," he smirked.
"Jack!" Debbie smiled, as he walked into her office, "I haven't seen you for so long! It's great to have you back here."
She tried to pull him into a hug, but he stood rigidly still.
"What's wrong?" She asked, softly.
"What's wrong? What the hell are you doing with Sam? A court martial?"
The smile disappeared, and was replaced with a frown.
"It's not just me, Jack. She behaved inappropriately towards the pair of us."
"Behaved inappropriately? What are you talking about?" He shouted.
"Poor Jack," Debbie said quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder, "You were unconscious for most of it. Little bitch thought she could get away with being rude to me, if you weren't listening."
"Don't call her that," he said, "And I want you to tell me exactly what is in your report. Now."
"Why?" she asked innocently, "Don't you believe me?"
"No!" he yelled, "What are you putting in the damned report?"
The ship opened, and they heard the familiar noise of jaffa footsteps. The sand did little to muffle their danger, and Sam felt adrenaline begin coursing through her veins.
"How many?" Debbie asked, peering through the cover of a large shrub.
"At least 12," Sam replied, "I think there could be more."
"Did I ask you?" Debbie said, hotly.
Sam frowned at the woman next to her.
"Do you not think you could lay aside your intense hatred of me for just a second? There are slightly more important things going on here, Colonel."
"That? That's not insubordination! You'll have to have more than that!"
"Oh, I do," Debbie said, her mouth turning up into a smile.
"Why the hell didn't you sense his presence?" Jack asked, casting a look of disdain over at her.
"It's not like a light switch," Sam replied, "You can't just flip it on and off!"
"You usually feel it!" Jack continued, "The one thing I could rely on was for you to feel it!"
"Well, I'm sorry I've been such a disappointment," She said sarcastically.
"Not half as sorry as we are," Debbie said.
"Oh, go to hell!" Sam retorted, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"How about that? She told me to go to hell. That's not exactly showing respect for a superior officer, is it?"
"You asked for that one," Jack retorted.
"And you were doing exactly the same," Debbie smiled, "You're in this as deep as I am, Jack, whether you like it or not!"
"Damn you, Carter!" Debbie shouted, "I'm asking you a serious question, and you think this is FUNNY?"
Sam smirked, and looked over at Debbie.
"I'm going to die. We're all going to be tortured to death…or worse, by the most brutal system lord who has ever roamed the planet, and you know what really pisses me off?"
Debbie looked angry.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company!"
"She was lying. Being sarcastic. Now, as a minor officer, is she or is she not required to be polite and show respect when addressing a senior officer?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
"There's more, Jack. You were unconscious for most of this. You were hurt badly. I was so scared, and she…" Debbie sniffed.
"Oh, save me the theatrics!" Jack groaned, "What else?" ---------------------
"What are you gonna do?" Sam laughed, "Hit me? Go ahead."
Debbie bit her lip and sat back down again, as far away from Sam as she could possibly manage.
"You're not worth the effort," she snapped.
"No, and if Jack hasn't told you about Charlie yet, he clearly thinks the same about you!"
"Which reminds me," Debbie said, sidling closer to him again, "You still haven't told me who Charlie is."
"That isn't the issue here," he said, "Are you done?"
"No, not quite."
"He's getting worse," Sam said quietly.
"Well, that's obvious," She snapped again. "Ba'al mentioned something about a better offer for Jack's freedom."
Sam paled, but Debbie didn't notice.
"Really?" She choked.
"Hm. Well, whoever the hell it is, I wish they would just get on with it! He clearly doesn't have that much time left!"
"Maybe it's not that simple," Sam stammered.
"Showing a lack of concern and thought for your condition," Debbie barrelled on, oblivious to the fact that Jack's face was turning an angry red.
"You don't get it, do you?" he asked, "The reason she was showing a 'lack of concern' or whatever the hell you're going to call it, is because she was the one who made the better offer! The only reason we got out of there alive was because she bargained with him! She would stay if he let us go!"
"And why would she do that?" Debbie asked, "She doesn't like either of us. How can you know that she isn't making it up?"
"I don't have time for this," he said, turning around to leave, "And you can stick that report. I'm not helping you do this."
"You have to, I've already told Senator Kinsey…"
"He can stick it too!" Jack shouted, "I…am…not…helping…you! Got it?"
"Jack," she purred, "You have to. You wouldn't want the Joint Chiefs finding out how you seduced your new 2IC, would you?"
Jack's eyes widened.
"Are you blackmailing me?" He asked. "As I recall, Colonel, it was you who was sprawling all over me in O'Malley's that night, and I will happily tell the court that!"
"You'd still lose your job, though," she said, with an acid smile.
"You know what?" Jack asked, quietly. "I don't give a damn any more. I'm sick of this job, and I'm sick of you. Do your worst."
And with that, he left the room. Debbie smashed her fist angrily into her desk. She'd been counting on his support to strengthen her case. Damn him, she should never have gotten involved with him in the first place. Now she would have to bring them both down. The little bitch and her CO, rotting in a military jail somewhere. She rubbed her hands together, and sat down to make a phone call.
"Senator? Yes, it's Colonel Welling. I'm afraid we've had a bit of a problem with Colonel O'Neill."
Sam sat back in her chair, happy to be back in her lab. The familiar humming of her machines and the smell of coffee relaxed her. She had peace and quiet, having no idea where McKay had gone and not really caring about anyone else.
She smiled as she looked over at McKay's desk. Someone had changed his computer background. He was going to flip when he saw it. It was a picture of Buffy the vampire slayer with his head superimposed on top of it. He was holding a crossbow in one hand and an axe in the other. She had to admit that the idea of McKay taking down a Goa'uld was laughable, but it didn't belittle the fact that he had saved her life.
That smarmy doctor she had hated for many months when she first met him, when he'd got her electrocuted and shamelessly flirted with her. He had been the one who had freed her from that nightmare. Jeez, her life was so screwed up. She looked back at her own computer, and the half-written report on the screen. She was nervous about having to face Debbie in court. The woman had friends in high places, and seemed to be able to get away with murder - she didn't suppose that justice for her was going to factor highly in this equation.
Just as she was considering this, there was a knock at the door. She swallowed nervously and closed the report down on her computer.
"Come in," she said.
Jack sidled in, and closed the door gently behind him.
"Colonel?" she asked, her defensive walls instantly shooting up around her.
"I know I'm the last person you want to see at the moment," he began.
"Second to last." She interrupted. Undeterred, he continued.
"But I want to talk to you. It's the least I deserve, but I'd be grateful if you'd listen to me."
"Go ahead," she murmured, "I'm listening."
"I had no idea about the court martial," he said, waving a hand at her to stop her reply, "And I certainly don't support it."
"Your lady friend won't like that," Sam said.
"No, she doesn't. And it looks like she's stabbed me in the back as well. I'm set to lose my job too, if things go her way."
"If you're looking for sympathy, Colonel," Sam said dryly, "You've come to the wrong woman."
"I'm on your side!" he said, desperately, "Can't you see that?"
"No!" she said, trying to stand up but hissing in pain as her bad leg protested. Jack stood helplessly in front of her, wishing he could help her but knowing that it wouldn't be well received.
"All I'm saying is…if you need my help, which I'm sure you don't want to admit, I'm here. I'm not going to agree with Debbie, I'm not going to help her win this case. All I want you to think about is this. If we're divided in court, she's going to slaughter us. If we can work together at this, we might just be in with a chance."
"Why should I believe you?" She asked, "You just want me to help you keep your job!"
"No, I don't give a damn about the job! I'm getting too old for this…but if you're going down, Debbie is going to take me down with you. I think our chances would be improved if we worked together."
"I don't trust you any more," Sam said, her eyes shining with tears that she angrily fought back.
"I know," Jack replied, closing the distance between them, "And I don't trust myself half of the time! But just tell me this. You felt the same when we were with Ba'al, didn't you?"
She nodded.
"So then… why? Why did you do it, Sam? You saved my life, and I sure as hell didn't deserve it."
"No, and I certainly wouldn't have done it," an angry voice from behind him said.
Jack turned around to see McKay standing in the doorway, a folder tucked under his arm.
"Doctor," he said, making an attempt to be civil. McKay ignored it.
"Is he upsetting you?" he asked Sam.
"No," Sam said, sitting back down in her chair again as her leg began protesting in earnest, "No, he's not. Could we please have a few more minutes?"
McKay looked between the two of them, and his scowl deepened.
"You've got five minutes," he snapped at Jack, "And then I want you the hell out of my lab."
He strolled out, slamming the door behind him. Jack watched the doctor retreating, open-mouthed.
"Is he always like that?" he asked.
"He's concerned for me," Sam said, "The way you used to be once."
"Sam, please…"
"You wanted to know why I saved you?" she said, wiping away a tear as it rolled down her face.
He nodded.
"I saved you, because even though you've been such a bastard to me, and you've hurt me so badly, destroyed our friendship….I still have feelings for you."
She turned away from him, missing the series of emotions that played across his face. Shock, anger, disappointment…hurt.
"I…" he began, but couldn't find the words.
"Just go," she mumbled, "Please."
He turned and left the lab, closing the door behind him. He leant back against it and closed his eyes against the onslaught of emotion that was threatening to engulf him. She still loved him. After everything he'd done, the way he'd behaved, she still felt exactly the same. He walked off down the corridor, meeting McKay halfway. The doctor offered him a glare and moved away without a word.
"Sam, I have just found something very interesting about our mutual friend," McKay said excitedly, as he closed the lab door behind him.
Sam pulled herself out of her thoughts and went over to stand beside him.
"What have you got? And did you do it legally?" She asked, eyebrows raised.
"Good stuff, and yes it was legal," he grinned.
"Well? Don't keep me in suspense!" Sam said.
"Well, records from her previous army bases - and that's nine, including her brief stint at the pentagon…"
"Whoa…are you telling me that she's been transferred nine times?"
"I am, my sweet flower," he said, earning himself a smack on the head before continuing.
"Call me that again and you'll live to regret it," she warned.
"I like it when you talk evil to me," he leered. Sam glared at him.
"Colonel Welling?" she asked, trying to divert his attention back to the subject in hand.
"Yes…her first transfer was because of abuse to a minor officer - just small stuff, bitching, bullying, the stuff she does best. Anyway, this officer reported it and Debbie got booted straight out."
"Wow," Sam said, genuinely surprised, "They dealt with that well."
"Yeah," McKay agreed, "Unfortunately you won't find many army bases with the same attitude towards it. Her second transfer was for violence towards a fellow officer…"
"Wait a minute," Sam said, "If all of this was in her file, why the hell did General Hammond let her on this base?"
McKay shrugged.
"Third, fourth and fifth transfers were all for bullying and abuse-related incidents, none resulting in her being demoted or even suspended."
"I don't understand," Sam said quietly, "She's been making people's lives a misery for so long, and yet she's still managed to make Colonel. You've seen all the medals she has - valour, bravery…"
"It's a twisted world," he quipped.
"What about her last four transfers?"
"Well, number six was another assault. And these have all been on minor officers. Numbers seven through nine were bullying again - that's why she got chucked out of the pentagon."
"But, all of these charges against her," Sam said thoughtfully, running a hand back through her hair, "Nobody should be able to get away with it. The law shouldn't be allowing it! It's almost as if there's…"
"Somebody who wants to keep her in the system," McKay finished.
"Kinsey," Sam snarled. "Of all the two-faced, lying…"
"Easy, tiger," McKay said, "I then decided to do some digging in her phone records. Lots of interesting stuff there, a lot of pizza deliveries, which would explain the truck-crushing thighs…"
Sam snorted, and McKay enjoyed the sign of amusement on her face that he hadn't seen for a very long time.
"But there was some other stuff that made me sit up. She's been making very frequent calls to the NID, at least one or two a week."
"The NID are always trying to pull us off of the programme," she muttered, "What the hell have I done now?"
"It doesn't end there," McKay said, "The NID calls she's been making are to two separate contacts. There's two different phone numbers."
"Two? You mean there's two people trying to keep her in the system?"
McKay nodded.
"Well, it's enough to know that she's working for the NID," Sam said, beginning to get a little more excited. "Keep this under your hat, Slayer."
"What did you call me?" He asked.
"Nothing," she said innocently, "I didn't say anything."
"I think perhaps you did," he said, moving closer to her, "And you know how much I hate that name."
"Me? Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about. C'mon, McKay, get the hell off of me!"
"Oh, my beautiful rose, why do you tease me so?"
Sam looked incredulously at him.
"My beautiful rose?" she asked. "You're losing your touch, Slayer."
"Hey!" he said, "I told you not to call me that!"
"What are you gonna do about it?" Sam smirked, enjoying winding him up.
"You'd better start running, peg-leg," he warned.
Three weeks later…
"Major Carter, do you understand what you are being accused of here today?"
"Yes, I do."
"How do you plead on the charge of insubordination towards a superior officer?"
"Not guilty."
"Now, can you please explain to us what happened on the morning of your capture?"
"We arrived on what appeared to be a safe planet. However, before we got very far we heard the sound of jaffa footsteps that were approaching. Colonel O'Neill sent Teal'c and Dr Jackson back to the gate and ordered Colonel Welling and myself to remain with him."
"Did you question why he asked you to remain with him?"
"He's my superior officer," she said dryly, "I'm not permitted to question him."
"But, I understand that your once strong friendship was in ruin by this stage. Did you never wonder why he asked you to remain with him? After all, if your trust in each other was gone, why did he want you with him?"
"Objection! How is Major Carter supposed to know what her CO is thinking?"
"Please try to keep to the subject in hand," the judge advised.
"Major Carter, what were relations like between yourself and Colonel Welling as you hid from the jaffa?"
"Obviously we were all nervous. Colonel O'Neill asked a question, Colonel Welling believed that I answered him out of turn."
"Did Colonel O'Neill address the question to you personally, Major Carter?"
"No, but he didn't address it personally to Colonel Welling either."
"Is it true that you then said to Colonel Welling: "Do you not think you could lay aside your intense hatred of me for just a second? There are slightly more important things going on here, Colonel."
"Yes, it is," Sam nodded.
"Do you think this is an appropriate way to address a superior officer?"
"I was merely making a suggestion that she lay aside her personal emotion in order for us to focus more on the job in hand."
"Which was?"
"Not getting captured and subsequently killed." She shot back.
"Is there not a more diplomatic way that you could have phrased this?"
Sam sighed.
"Probably, but to tell you the truth, when you're facing an army of jaffa and possibly a System Lord, diplomacy is the last thing on your mind."
A snigger ran through the courtroom. The judge called for order.
"Major Carter, there is no need for sarcasm. Please answer appropriately or we will be forced to remove you from the courtroom."
"Is it true that you can sense the presence of a Goa'uld symbiote?"
"Yes, usually I can."
"But not on this occasion."
"No. I only felt it when it was too late, and he was right on top of us."
"Do you know why?"
"Objection!"
"Sustained. Sir, please stick to the subject in hand."
"Now, Major Carter. You were trapped on Ba'al's ship in a small cell, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"And you and Colonel Welling ended up having an argument. Could you tell us what this was about?"
"The argument was a result of my not sensing the presence of the symbiote. Colonel Welling believed that it was my fault that we had been captured, and saw no shame in pointing this out."
"Yes, but you then told her to "go to hell." Is this correct, Major Carter?"
Sam swallowed nervously.
"Yes, it is correct."
"This is not really an appropriate way to address a superior officer, is it?"
"No, it is not." Sam admitted.
"So you agree that she has good grounds for this accusation against you."
"Objection!"
"I will not tell you again!"
"What happened after this, Major Carter?"
"The jaffa came and took myself and Colonel Welling away," she said, stuffing her hands into the pocket of her coat to try and stop them from shaking. This was the part that she was not looking forwards to.
"Took you where?" the lawyer asked.
"The torture chamber," Sam answered grimly.
"What happened to you in this chamber?" he continued.
"Objection!"
"Your honour, Major Carter may have revealed information of a sensitive nature to…"
McKay fidgeted in his seat, resisting the urge to jump up and yell something at the prosecution lawyer.
"Silence! Please continue, Major Carter."
"He attempted to retrieve information from me."
"What kind of information?"
"Personal information. Ba'al is a master manipulator. Any information you give him about your personal life can be used against you."
"In what way?"
"Drug-induced hallucinations. They make you believe that you are talking to someone you love, telling them what they need to hear. The whole situation is so realistic that you shouldn't be able to tell the difference."
"And did this happen to you, these hallucinations?"
"No. He quickly got tired of my silence and decided to go for a more…direct approach."
"And what would this be?"
"A knife," she answered simply.
"What happened to you, Major Carter?"
"Ba'al has a special gravity chamber. He activated it, held the dagger up in the air, pointing at me, and let go of it."
Jack clenched his fists tighter in the viewing area. Why she was being made to re-live this was beyond him. He glared at the back of Debbie's head, sitting just a few rows in front of him.
"Did you lose consciousness?"
"Not immediately, no. The dagger hit me in the hollow of my shoulder. This is enough to cause severe pain and bleeding, but not enough to kill in one shot. I passed out a few moments later."
"Do you remember where you woke up?"
(In Jack's arms)
"I was back in the cell again. Colonel O'Neill was conscious, Colonel Welling was not."
"What did you talk about?"
"Nothing," Sam lied, "I wasn't very talkative, we didn't really know what to say to each other."
"Please, Jack," Sam said softly, curling up in the corner again, "Just leave me alone. I've gotten used to it."
"And then what happened?"
"Colonel Welling was brought back to the cell after being tortured by Ba'al. She informed Colonel O'Neill and myself that she hadn't told him anything important. This, I later found out, was a lie."
"How did you find this out, Major Carter?"
"Colonel Welling had revealed to Ba'al personal information regarding my relationship with Colonel O'Neill."
"What kind of information?"
"That we weren't the friends we had used to be." She answered shortly.
"What happened then?"
"The hallucinations I told you about are introduced by a liquid. It has powerful properties that confuse the mind. He made me drink it. Then he threw another knife at me."
"This liquid you spoke of, it confuses the mind?"
"Yes, it does."
"Then how can you be sure of anything that happened afterwards?"
Sam swallowed again. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Let's move on a little further," the lawyer smiled, "Colonel O'Neill had been taken to the chamber. You and Colonel Welling were both conscious, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"Now, you two must have had things to talk about, surely."
"Not really."
"But this was the second time you addressed her in an insubordinate manner, is it not?"
Sam smirked, and looked over at Debbie.
"I'm going to die. We're all going to be tortured to death…or worse, by the most brutal system lord who has ever roamed the planet, and you know what really pisses me off?"
Debbie looked angry.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company!"
"I was a little short with her," Sam admitted.
"I've got to die, with only YOU for company! That seems more than a little short, Major."
"Being repeatedly stabbed and tortured can do that to you," she snapped.
"I see. So you admit that you were insubordinate towards Colonel Welling?"
"I…"
"Answer the question, Major Carter!"
"Yes, I suppose I was, but under the circumstances…"
"Thank you. No further questions, your honour."
Sam bashed her head against the cold wall of the courtroom. God damn it, she was screwed. The slimy prosecution lawyer had tricked her into admitting her guilt. Damn. Damn. Damn! She still had to face another round of questioning from the defence lawyer, which she hoped would be less incriminating.
She grimaced as a spasm of pain shot up her leg and dug around in her pocket for some painkillers. Just as she swallowed one, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Hey," he said quietly.
She watched him suspiciously.
"Yes?" She asked.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that again," Jack said, "It's not something anybody should have to do."
"Yeah, well," she said, leaning back against the wall.
"You're…doing well," Jack offered, trying to be helpful.
She laughed bitterly.
"I am screwed," she said slowly, and deliberately. "That lawyer just got me to admit that I have been insubordinate towards Debbie and then cut me off as I was trying to explain myself. She's got a lot of friends in high places, Colonel. I'm not going to come out of this courtroom victorious, and she knows it. She's just prolonging the agony."
"You don't know that!" Jack protested.
"Yes, Colonel, I do know that. What about you, hmm? Your name hasn't been mentioned in vain, not once! What was that crap you were telling me about losing your job?"
"Yeah, well when Debbie takes the stand, you'll know what I'm talking about," he said, and walked away.
As she left the courtroom several hours later, Sam felt physically and mentally drained. Having to recount her capture by Ba'al again was not something she had relished doing. To make matters worse, it was Debbie's turn tomorrow…and her little runt of a lawyer.
She left the courtroom through the back of the building. She knew that the others meant well, but she couldn't face them this evening. Standing accused of insubordination by an officer who had a serious problem with her, and contacts in all the right places, she wasn't in the mood for petty reassurances.
Once outside, she took a deep breath of the evening air and leant back against the side wall. She was so tired. Of everything - the case, Debbie, Jack, the job. Still, she thought grimly, the last one probably wouldn't be bothering her for much longer.
McKay watched her. He had decided not to follow her, knowing that she needed some time alone. He could see she was scared and nervous. All he wanted to do was go up and put his arms around her…but he was the last person she would want comfort from. He looked forwards to the events of the next day. Despite his concern for Sam, a smile played around the corners of his mouth. Oh yes, Colonel Welling was in for a rather large shock…
To Be Continued…
Author Note: Sorry this took so long, I've been away for a while. Please send feedback to We're coming close to the end now…keep your ideas about Debbie's fate coming!