Chapter 8

Daniel holds the small device in his hand. "So I'm not really sure what it does." He summarizes his talk about the Asgard device.

Jack is jarred out of his haze. "Wait a minute. Did you just say you don't know what it does?" He looks shocked.

"Can I see it again?" Sam asks. She takes the device from Daniel. "There has to be more pieces."

"Right so where are they?" Jack asks looking the Major.

Daniel turns to Jack. "You see I need to talk to Maria about that." He faces Hammond. "Sir, it would be better if I could compare notes."

Hammond looks at Dr. Jackson. "You want to bring a civilian in on this?" He ignores Jack's leave her out of it stare.

Daniel nods. "She knows where they came from and what was found with it. She also knows where the other pieces were sent." He looks absolutely convinced.

Jack shakes his head. "No, it's bad enough that the NID want her. I want her out of this." Over his dead body would she get involved with the SGC.

Hammond looks at Daniel. "I'm sorry Colonel, but I have to agree with Dr. Jackson. Miss Blake can work with him on a limited basis. Need to know only. I also want her escorted on and off base until this is settled." He eyes the Colonel.

"That's fine. I'm taking her home with me when Fraiser releases her anyway." Jack says looking at the General.

Sam looks at her commanding officer. "Um sir? Did you ask her first?" Maria didn't seem to be the move in with me type.

"No Carter, I didn't." He says looking at her. "Why?"

Sam tries to smile. "She may not want to move in with you." Teal'c raises his eyebrow but says nothing.

Jack smiles when Maria's eyes blink. He leans forward and squeezes her hand tightly. "Easy, I'm here." He sits in a chair next to her bed.

Her eyes blink several more times. Her eyes hazel are slightly red. She smiles, lightly. "Hi." Her voice is slightly weak from lack of water.

Jack looks into her eyes. "Welcome back, before you say anything, let me tell you where you are." He waits for her nod. Maria looks at him and nods her eyes trusting him completely. "You're in the infirmary where I work." He pauses for a moment to watch her look around. "No more hospital windows I'm afraid. The food isn't as bad though."

Maria laughs. "That's good to know. Why am I here?" She asks noticing her voice is horse.

He frowns at her voice. "The art pieces you were working with are related to my work." Jack is careful to avoid details. "Daniel needs you to work with him and answer his questions so we can catch the guys that shot you."

Maria nods, confused at how art could be related to his job, but willing to help. "Okay."

Jack blinks. "No questions?" He watches Fraiser hover from a distance.

Maria shakes her head. "I know what you do is Classified Jack. You work Daniel then it's obvious that his theories were correct. I won't question you, there is a reason it's a secret. I'll help the best I can but I doubt I can." She looks tired.

Jack scratches the back of his head. "Wow, I really can't keep a secret from you. You know I'm going to have to tell my boss about this."

She grins. "Go ahead. I just want to know when I can go home." She turns her head to look at the doctor.

Janet takes the opportunity to walk over. "In a few days, once I'm sure I can trust the Colonel to take home and not break you." She lifts Maria's left hand to take a pulse.

O'Neill frowns. "Oh for cryin' out loud, I'm not going to break my girlfriend doc." He looks up at Janet with an expression of love for Maria.

Maria pats his hand. "She was joking Jack." Her smile is light.

He shakes his head. "No it wasn't. You don't understand. She threatens me with Needles! Daily!" He says in a whispering shout.

Daniel walks into the Infirmary to See Maria sitting up eating blue Jell-O. He smiles and walks over. "I guess Sam has been here already today."

She smiles and nods. "Yeah, she brought me breakfast. It was nice to talk to someone other than Jack for a while." She pushes the tray table away.

Daniel sits down in the chair next to her bed. "I can imagine. Are you ready to work?" He opens his notebook.

"Yes, anything is better than staring at cement walls. What can I help you with?" Maria asks adjusting her body on the bed.

"Well I did some research on the missing items. Where did they come from in Scandinavia?" He asks pulling out his pen.

"About three hundred miles north East of Oslo, some farmers discovered them about 4 years ago. It was a donation to the US Government." Maria answers his next question as well.

Daniel nods. "Did they find any runic writing in that area?"

Maria shakes her head. "No, that's the thing there were no signs of structures ever being in that area." She shakes her head thinking.

"What happened to the notes you had?" Daniel asks.

Maria looks over. "If they aren't at the Museum they were stolen. I have copies in a safety deposit box."

Daniel gives her a surprised look. "Why? If you don't mind me asking?"

"Job security." Maria answers.