CATCH

Sam steeled herself to walk into O'Malley's.

She felt very self-conscious.

The place was crowded. Not far away, Daniel and Janet sat in a booth,
looking casual as she walked in, and as she approached the bar, Sam's
ear filled with static, then Daniel's voice.

"Sam, Lenny's going to acknowledge you, so that Kendrick's attention
is drawn to you. OK?"

"Peachy." Sam muttered as she walked towards the bar.

"Major Carter!" Lenny greeted loudly. "How are you tonight? Looking
as great as ever! Love what you've done with your hair..."

Sam smiled wanly, "Thanks Lenny." she said. His 'compliments' were
not helping, and to her he seemed to be trying too hard.

"What can I getcha, Major?" Lenny asked, as loudly as before.

"White wine with lemonade," Sam replied, "Go easy on the lemonade."

"Sure thing, my favourite Air Force gal!" Lenny responded. Sam rolled
her eyes as he turned towards the fridge.

She became aware of a man watching her, someone she vaguely
recognised. Before she could place a name, Daniel's voice echoed in
her earpiece, "Kendrick to your left."

"Enemy at 9 o'clock," she heard Janet add. It made her smile ever so
slightly, despite the situation. The doctor knew her too well.

Sam turned to catch Kendrick's eye and he certainly took the bait.

"Come here often?" he asked. She raised her eyebrows and he
chuckled. "Just kidding." He paused slightly, for dramatic effect it
seemed, before: "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"

'Fishing,' Sam thought, and that was enough to enable her to flash
him a smile.

Kendrick grinned and immediately reminded Sam of a sleazy used car
salesman. She didn't reply, but did make a show of uncrossing her
legs and then crossing them again. She fought the urge to openly
shudder at her action.

Lenny returned with her drink. "I'll get that." Kendrick said, and
took out his wallet. He opened it, revealing a large wad of cash; Sam
attempted to look suitably impressed, and it seemed to work.

"Watch out, Sam," Janet warned in her ear. "This guy's slippery.
We're keeping an eye on your glass but nothing's guaranteed."

Sam knew exactly what to do next. Flirt.

Lenny stood watching Sam.

"I have it on good authority that you're excellent company." Kendrick
said.

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows, leaned forward slightly.

"Yeah, Jack O'Neill actually."

She wanted to hit him so hard, a smack in the jaw wouldn't go amiss.
She smiled sweetly.

"You know Jack?"

"Sure do. Do you?"

"Yuhuh, guess you could say he's my boss." Whatever she had to do
tonight, Sam promised herself, she would not utter one word against
her CO.

"Seems to me he'd like something more, but then again, Jack always
wanted things he couldn't have."

Sam inwardly screamed but she smiled anyway, even managed to
laugh, "I'm not looking to break regulations. Besides, he's not my
type."

"What is your type, sweet thing?" Kendrick crooned.

Oh for crying out loud, Sam thought. She was distracted by Janet's
yelp down the earpiece.

The yelp of disgust was followed by an apology; "Sorry, Sam..." Janet
muttered in a guilty tone. Had Sam glanced over she'd have seen the
annoyed frown on Daniel's face, aimed at the doctor.

"I'm still finding that out," Sam said, a smile at her lips. It was
fake, definitely, but very well disguised.

"Look, this place is getting too busy," Kendrick, said, " I have an
apartment not far from here."

"Watch out Sam," Janet said.

"You should stay and talk here a little longer," said Daniel,
"they're not ready to trail you yet..."

"Sure," Sam smiled at Kendrick, "Why not."

"Dammit," Janet muttered as Sam took Kendrick by the arm and they
waltzed out of the bar. Daniel rested a calming hand on her arm, but
it was quivering slightly.

Janet retracted her arm and glanced around the room, from one SF to
another.

"Dr. Jackson, Dr. Fraiser," came Sgt Davis' voice through their
earpieces. "We have a visual, Major Carter and male approaching the
taxi ranks."

"It's Kendrick," Janet responded, "they're leaving for his apartment.
Prep the SWAT team, we're going after them."

"Dr Fraiser--"

"Just get the back up, Sergeant, we'll lead you there. Fraiser out."

They sat a few moments. Gradually the SFs drifted out. They were
silent in mutual anticipation, Daniel becoming more edgy as the
seconds ticked by.

"The cab is pulling up," Davis reported. Daniel was up first,
followed by Janet, who grabbed her keys.

"I'll drive."

"Sam, I hope you know what you're doing," Daniel muttered as they
hurried out into the car lot.

Sam's ride in the cab with Kendrick passed without a word being
spoken.

She was aware of the surveillance truck following but was grateful
that Kendrick hadn't noticed they were being trailed.

Sam quietly raised her hand to check the earpiece was still in place.
Thank goodness for wireless technology.

The cab drew to a halt outside a nondescript building, slightly
shabby but in a well lit area.

Kendrick paid the driver and got out, walking around to Sam's side
and opening the door.

Sam left the vehicle and quickly glanced around her, the surveillance
truck had parked around the corner.

She heard Daniel speak; "Sam, be careful. Hammond has sent four SFs;
they are on their way. Go easy."

Kendrick had walked up to the front door of the apartment
building, "C'mon Sam." he said with a hint of impatience.

Mistake number one, Sam muttered to herself, we're not that familiar.

Still, she walked up to meet Kendrick and the two of them entered the
lobby.

Kendrick's apartment was sparsely furnished with basic rental
furniture, obviously the landlord had spared every expense with items
that would be cheap to replace.

"It's not exactly palatial," Kendrick said chattily," But it'll do."

Do for what? Sam wondered.

"Make yourself comfortable, I just have to do something." Kendrick
said. He left Sam standing in the hallway while he went out the front
door.

Sam was quick to lock the door, not wasting any time.

She almost ran to the window in time to see Kendrick make his way to
a large RV parked in the small lot in the rear of the apartment
building.
"Kendrick has left the building." Sam said. She heard Janet stifle a
giggle.

Sam then made a sweep of the apartment, her eyes and ears open for
anything strange.

One room left to check....

As Sam opened the door, she was hit by a sickly sweet smell, an
overly floral perfume. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light in the
room, Sam made out a figure on the bed.

Approaching slowly, Sam saw the woman. There was a drop of blood
under her nose. As Sam went to check for a pulse she was startled
when the woman stirred and for a split second her eyes glowed.

Sam jumped back, her hand reaching for the purse she had strapped
across her shoulder. Feeling the reassuring weight of the zat she had
concealed there, Sam backed out the room and looked back to the
window that carried the view of the parking lot.

The RV was in view. Kendrick opened the door to the vehicle.

Sam sprung into action, first going to the front door and unlocking
it and then;

"Daniel, Janet, we have a detainee. A woman, possibly already been
implanted. Have those SF's arrived yet?"

"They are close. Sam watch out."

Sam didn't reply, she had gone back to the window, Kendrick was
nowhere in sight...

Kendrick was sitting in the RV watching the six screens that covered the
cameras installed in his apartment.

He followed Sam as she hunted around the apartment, his temper
becoming increasing volatile.

Although, he reasoned with the symbiote inside of him, he knew that
the Air Force Major was a smart cookie, she had her suspicions; she
had to act on them. It was human nature.

Still, it amused him to see her jump back when the woman on the bed
had briefly awakened. The symbiote recently implanted was still too
young to be of use but it was strong enough to be aware.

Kendrick smiled to himself, give her just a little more time, he
thought.

Kendrick finally left the RV but took his sweet time getting back up
to the apartment.

Sam was sat on the couch as Kendrick walked back in.
Her immediate reaction as she heard the door was to leap up and shoot
him, but she didn't.
Kendrick wandered over to the kitchen, "Beer?" he asked, opening the
fridge.

"No thanks, I don't drink beer," Sam replied sweetly. She did. Of
course.
"Alright then." Kendrick said, returning to the couch. He sat beside
Sam and set the beer on the table.

Sam looked briefly away, there was no chance to report back to Daniel
and Janet and she hadn't heard from them for a minute or two.

When she looked back, Kendrick had sidled closer. Sam smiled uneasily.

Kendrick leaned forward and reached for the beer bottle.
After taking a swig he brought his face close to Sam's and stared
right at her.

"Foolish." he said, his voice no longer his own. His eyes glowed.

Sam had a split second to react when she saw the ribbon device partly
hidden by Kendrick's shirtsleeve.

She jumped up, zat in hand.

Kendrick was just as quick but Sam's reflexes kicked in.

She raised the zat and fired once.

Kendrick took the charge straight on and landed backwards over the
couch.
He tried to raise the ribbon device but faltered.

Sam hollered down the mic..."HE'S DOWN!"

Seconds after Sam's message Kendrick's front door was smashed open
and four SFs stormed in. Behind them, Daniel and Janet followed,
accompanied by Teal'c.

Sam still stood with her zat trained on Kendrick, but by now her hold
was shaking. She was angry but also relieved.

She felt Janet's hand on her shoulder and flinched slightly, but the
touch had the desired effect. Gradually Sam's breathing slowed,
gradually she calmed as the SFs took Kendrick out into the van.

"There's a woman in the bedroom over there," Sam said, "She's out of
it, but has been implanted."

Janet nodded. She and Teal'c went in to the room, leaving Daniel and
Sam alone.

Sam heard Janet make a call on her cell for an unmarked ambulance
with restraints.

She walked over to the window and watched as the four SFs manhandled
Kendrick into the van. Sgt Davis stood by and looked up at the window.

He nodded at her, looked as though he was considering whether or not
to salute, and decided not to; getting into the van, he closed the
door. It drove off.

"Sam, you okay?" asked Daniel quietly.

"Actually yeah." Sam said, forcing a smile, "We got him."

"No, " Daniel said softly, "YOU got him."

She turned back to the window, shivering involuntarily. "Any news on
Jack?"

"He's still unconscious." Janet said, coming out of the bedroom, "But
stable."

Janet had kept in contact with Dr Petra May who was covering at the
Infirmary.

"What about the woman in there?" Sam asked.

Janet cast a doubtful look back, Teal'c guarding the doorway. "She
looks to be in pretty bad shape. I don't know whether it's just the
blending process or not, but pulse is very weak, she has shallow
breathing."

"Shame," Sam said and meant it, there was every possibility that the
woman had been picked out by Kendrick.

The radio Daniel carried crackled, it was Davis, what did they want
doing with Kendrick, he wanted to know.

"Holding cells." Sam said, "I'll deal with him when we get back."

Janet and Daniel glanced at each other.

A few minutes later the ambulance arrived.
The woman was carried into it, Janet hesitated, "Are you coming back
with us?"

"No," Sam replied, her mental strength returning, "You and Teal'c
head back with the her. Daniel and I need to search this place."

The radio Daniel carried crackled, it was Davis, what did they want
doing with Kendrick, he wanted to know.

"Search for what?" Daniel asked when Janet and Teal'c had left.

"Anything," Sam replied, "Chemicals - we have to find out what he
poisoned Jack with."

Daniel nodded and began to look around. He cast a glance back at Sam
and was suddenly inspired by her.

She was showing so much strength and determination.

But he actually wondered what would happen once the adrenalin stopped
running.

He exhaled, slowly, and commenced his search.

Sam and Daniel returned to the SGC, all they'd found was a few dead
larvae state symbiotes, too young to survive.

They had however had to pay off the landlord for two hundred dollars
as payment for his silence and whatever Kendrick owed him.

This affronted Daniel but Sam had found Kendrick's wallet and used
money in there.

On their return Janet met them along with General Hammond, "I'm sorry
Sam," the doctor said.

Sam's heart fell to the floor, "Jack?" she asked in a faltering voice.

Janet realised and quickly explained, "The woman in Kendrick's
apartment, she died."

Sam felt guilty for the unnamed woman but she also felt lightened,
Jack was still with them.

"Jack?" she asked again.

"No change." Janet said.

She nodded, unable to think of what to say. "Is the murderer being
held securely?" she finally enquired.

"As ordered, Major." Hammond replied.

"I have to get out of these clothes before I even go near him." Sam
said, looking down on herself, hating the outfit, hating the reason
for it.

Hammond nodded. He watched Sam leave the room and turned to
Janet, "Doctor, is there anything that can be learned from the
implanted woman's death?"

Janet shook her head, "Not yet," she said, "I will begin a
preliminary examination immediately."

"Very well Doctor, I will let you get to it." Hammond replied.

Sam had showered and changed out of her bait outfit. She reluctantly
hung it back in her locker.

"I am never going to wear those things again," she muttered with
distaste. She finished tying her bootlaces and was glad for the feel
of them on her feet.

Re-holstering her zat Sam checked her reflection and left the locker
room.

Teal'c and Daniel were 'just passing' outside. It was obvious they
were checking on her, but Sam didn't rebuke them. She just
smiled, "Fine," and walked quickly away.

She made her way down to the holding cells.

The SFs didn't even ask for her pass. Perhaps the look on her face
deterred them from challenging her, and with a glance at each other
they swiped through the security card and unlocked the door.

"Please, allow one of us to accompany you, ma'am," said one of the SFs.

"Sure." Sam said, indifferently, "But you let me handle this. Is that
clear?"

"Yes ma'am."