SG13 The Suicide Squad

by Cesar A

First in series. Prisoners form SG-13, the lives of the members of SG-1 and the SGC will never be the same again. Characters from JAG and West Wing appear.

3. Part 3

Chapter 3: The First Mission

SG1 stood in the gate room waiting to get the go ahead from General Hammond to start the mission. Jack stood to one side watching his team prepare to go off world. Teal'c was checking his staff one more time, and Carter and Daniel were speaking in hushed tones. Jack noted with some interest that they were definitely in one another's personal space.

"Wonder what's so interesting?" he thought to himself and decided that Daniel was just filling Sam in on what they had talked about.

"So there really is a chance that you might be...ah...pregnant." Daniel asked nervously.

Sam shook her head "Janet just gave me the morning after pill."

Daniel sighed in relief, and he saw Sam's reaction to it and quickly added "It's not that I don't want children one day." He said quickly "It's just that I think that it's just too early in our relationship to start thinking along those lines. Don't you?" he asked nervously wondering if he was saying the right thing.

"He said relationship" Sam rejoiced inwardly, he thought of them as a relationship. She should have figured Daniel was not the type that went in for a one-night stand.

"No, I agree with you Daniel." Sam took a breath hoping for the right answer and continued "At least not yet."

Daniel smiled and nodded "Not yet." He agreed with her and saw that this time Sam sighed in relief. It was obvious that Sam did want children, but they both knew it was too early. They both turned when the overhead speakers came on line.

"Chevron 1 locked."

"So how about dinner when we get back." Daniel whispered

Sam smiled staring at the spinning gate "Are you asking me out on a date Dr. Jackson?"

"Yes Ma'am" Daniel teased

"Pick me up at seven." Sam smiled happily

"Sharp" Daniel smiled as well

"Chevron Seven locked." Suddenly the Star gate whooshed into life.

They waited impatiently for General Hammond to give the okay to move out, the sooner this mission was over the sooner they could go out on their first date.

"SG-1 you have a go. Godspeed." The General intoned

Jack saluted towards the General "Okay campers, let's get this show on the road."

They walked through the shimmering light and straight into a group of waiting Jaffa.

"Oh shit." Jack thought as he came out the other side putting his hands up

The others did the same as Daniel muttered, "I thought this planet wasn't inhabited."

"Silence" one of the Jaffa immediately hit Daniel with his staff knocking the air out of his lungs.

General Hammond stood by Staff Sergeant Siler wondering what was wrong.

"They should have sent the MALP back through by this time."

Siler shrugged "I don't know sir." He admitted confused. SGC policy had changed a bit in the last few months after losing three MALP's in a month. Now whenever a team went through the first thing they were supposed to do was send the multi million dollar piece of equipment back.

Getting an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach the general turned to another technician "Activate the MALP."

"Yes sir."

The screen flickered into life as General Hammond saw his team being led away from the Stargate by a group of Jaffa.

General Hammond swore under his breath "Record this sergeant."

"Tape is already running sir." Siler told him also worried

Hammond stared at the screen his eyes never leaving the picture "Didn't we run a scan this morning sergeant, before we sent SG1 through."

The sergeant nodded "Yes sir we did a scan at 0700 hrs this morning our time, it's mid-afternoon on the planet. There was nothing there."

The general sighed, "So they either just arrived as well, or they were outside the MALP's tracking range."

"They might have been hiding in the structure that the MALP detected sir." The sergeant agreed, "It was at the limit of the MALP's range. We might just not have been able to pick up heat signatures from that distance."

"How far is the structure?"

"Ten clicks sir."

"Damn, what's the status of our other teams." Hammond demanded

Picking up a clipboard the Sergeant shook his head "SG teams 2 through 7 are off world teams 8 and 9 are on stand down and are off base some of them are out of the city on leave. Teams 10 and 11 both have injured personnel in medical and team twelve is off world. Teams fourteen through seventeen are helping the Rayults after that earthquake on T7X920."

"Damn." The general muttered "Recall teams 8 and 9 immediately leave's cancelled make arrangements for those people out of the city to have a way back here as soon as possible."

"There is another alternative." A voice called to them

Hammond turned and dismissed the man immediately "Not now Colonel Kennedy, I don't have the time."

Kennedy came forward "Sir we do have one SG team here, and ready to move out at a moments notice." He reminded the general

Hammond looked back at Kennedy "Are they ready?" he asked seriously

"Only one way to tell sir. I'll go see them immediately."

General Hammond turned and faced the colonel "I think I'll join you Colonel."

Kennedy nodded "Of course general after you sir." He said respectfully.

SG1 were roughly thrown into a cell. Taking seats, they watched as the guards turned and exited the room.

As soon as they were gone, Jack leaned forward "Okay is it my imagination or are those Jaffa part of Apophis's guards."

"You are not mistaken O'Neill." Teal'c agreed

"But Apophis is dead. Isn't he?" Daniel asked looking at the others apprehensively.

"Even so" Teal'c told them "It may take awhile for the others to realize this. They believe that Apophis is a god and that he will return to lead them once again."

"Yeah" Jack agreed, "Let's just hope that they don't find out that we were the last ones to see the old snake alive." The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

The doors opened again and Jaffa returned, looked around and pointed to Daniel "That one." He ordered.

The cell doors were opened and the others were forced to watch, as Daniel was lead away. Sam found her heart lurching when they pointed to Daniel. She wanted to be with him, go with him and protect him, but she could not. The only thing that she could do was remain strong and hope and pray for the best.

"SG 13 we have run into a situation." General Hammond began "SG 1 has been captured by a superior number of Jaffa and are probably being interrogated at this very moment."

Gabriel nodded trying to keep a blank mask on; looking at Annie, he saw her worried expression. Gabriel shook his head a fraction, trying to tell her to keep it under control. They could not give these people any ammunition that could be used against them later. Annie understood and nodded back settling back into her chair.

"You want us to go after them." Gabriel stated the obvious

"Are you ready to go?" Kennedy asked them

Gabriel looked at his team, it was members of SG1 who had treated them like human beings of worth, and it had been O'Neill himself who had stood up for them. They had to be ready Gabriel decided, no one on SG1 would be hurt, not if SG 13 had a say in it.

Gabriel nodded determinedly staring at his team, they all nodded back, "As soon as you tell us everything that we know about who took them, where they took them and a rough estimate of hostiles. After that give us one hour and we'll be ready to go."

Kennedy nodded "General I offer you SG 13 to go and get SG 1 back."

General Hammond acknowledged the offer "Thank you Colonel Kennedy, I accept your offer. Now let's get down to business."

General Hammond laid it all out for them, everything that they knew and everything that they guessed. They also showed the team the video that had been taken, Gabriel's mind returned to his training, studying everything about their captors, the terrain and the lay of the land. Making mental notes and plans for the safe extraction of the teams, theirs and his.

"It's best if we wait for night fall." Gabriel told them "How long until sundown on the planet."

The general looked at one of his Lts.

"Four hours sir." Lt Graham told him worried for SG1 especially for Major Carter.

Gabriel nodded "Good that gives us plenty of time to prepare." Standing Gabriel nodded to the rest of his team "Let's go and get ready, I want everyone dressed in black gear, and I want black face in twenty minutes. Let's move people." He ordered

Lincoln stood up "I gotta go to medical and pick up my emergency pack."

"Go" Kennedy, told him

Lincoln ran out of the room a guard hot on his heels

As the others made their way to the door, Kennedy stopped them

"Dr. Fuentes."

Gabriel stopped and looked back

"I thought you might need this." Kennedy held up a thin-sheathed sword "Your Ninja-to, I believe." Tossing it to Gabriel who snatched it out of the air and pulled the deadly blade out of its sheath.

Gabriel smiled at the gleaming blade "Yes sir, it is mine. Thank you sir."

"You can thank me by getting SG 1 back safely." Kennedy told him

"Will do sir." He said and moved out of the room

Hammond stared at Kennedy for a moment before saying "I think I may have misjudged you Colonel."

Kennedy smiled it wouldn't have been the first time that had happened "Perhaps sir, I only seek to do what is best for my country. Sometimes what I have to do is not popular or even pleasant, but I do it anyway. I will do anything to safe guard our nation."

Lincoln Washington ran into the infirmary "Doc!" he called out rushed

Janet and Daisy turned to see the large man making his way towards them.

"I need my pack, and I need it now." He told them already anxious to go

"Why what's wrong?" asked Daisy suddenly worried, she knew that their training was not over yet.

"SG 1 has been captured," he told them

Suddenly Janet felt weak in her knees; she knew in her head that what Jack did was dangerous work. She had known that since the beginning, how many times had she patched the team back together again. However, in her heart she had dreaded that this moment would ever come. Daisy held her hand; she knew how much Jack meant to Janet.

"It'll be alright Janet."

Link saw the woman's reaction as well "Don't sweat it doc." He told her "SG 13 is on the job." He said taking the large backpack from one of the nurses. Hefting it Lincoln turned and ran from the room to get dressed.

They were in their cell when Kennedy flanked by guards walked into the room.

"Okay people front and center."

As each member approached, the guard reached into a box pulling out an explosive device "Right ankle" he told them.

As the explosives were put into place Kennedy told them, "You will have forty eight hours from when you go through the gate to achieve your objective. Also keep in mind that while you are there to secure SG 1 you are also to grab any loose technology that you see lying around and bring that back as well. Understood."

"Yes sir." They said in unison

They were at the armory checking over their weapons when Gabriel told them how it was going to play out.

"Link, you and Simon are going to stay behind and secure the gate."

Lincoln shook his head "We should stick together man."

Gabriel shook his head "No, not this mission, the gate is our only way out of there. I do not want our only egress cut out from under us at the last second. After we take the gate it's up to you two to hold it. Sammy you are going to take the high ground, not too far from the gate, up high enough to cover us when we come out."

"Okay, I'm going to need a multi spectral scope for that." He told the armourer

The armourer handed him one "This sees in night vision and also heat vision."

"Good enough." Sam nodded attaching it to his high caliber rifle.

"I want each of you to have two pistols," he said turning back to the armourer "You got laser sights and any armor piercing rounds?" Gabriel asked "Oh and we are going to need silencers for the pistols."

"Where am I going to be?" Annie asked adjusting her holsters

"You are going through the front door with me." He told her handing her a silencer "What kind of combat knives do you have?" Gabriel asked loading the pistols

"Marine K-bars and some big old Rambo survival knives" he said pulling out the large wicked knife. "It has a built in compass matches, needles, thread and a couple of fishing hooks."

"Good we'll take those, and some thin stiletto throwing knives if you have them."

"Sure do, what else do you need."

"Claymores." Link said, "I'll set them up around the gate, just in case we have some unexpected visitors."

"Good idea" Gabriel nodded "We'll need grenades and some flash bangs just in case and some smoke." He added after a moments thought

"If we're going to hold the gate. This rifle is useless to me." Simon told him holding up the single shot sniper rifle.

"You're right. Think Gabriel think...." He told himself "Gatling gun and pack. Maximum fire power for a small group."

Simon smiled "My kind of guy." He said taking the gun off the armourer "Come to poppa baby."

Gabriel looked at the armorer "One last thing C-4 and a timer."

"How big a bang?" the armorer asked opening a box of plastic explosives.

"Enough to drop the ceiling down on them hopefully."

"How about some extra weapons and ammo for SG 1." Annie suggested

"Good idea, we'll need a bag for those until we can get to them." He told the armourer

"Got just the thing." The armourer told them he came back a moment later "I got two automatics and two zat guns in here."

Gabriel took the pack and threw it over his already loaded down body. "Okay that's it let's go."

Up in the control room Hammond and Kennedy waited for the team to show up. Janet and her team were already in the gate room awaiting the return with medical equipment standing by for any hurt personnel

SG 13 walked into the gate room loaded down with enough firepower to destroy half of Colorado Springs

"Don't believe in half measures huh son." Hammond shook his head awed at the amount of firepower they were packing.

"Never leave an enemy behind you alive sir." Gabriel told him "Sergeant Siler?"

"You have eight guards waiting on the other side." He said studying the latest results from the MALP, which the Jaffa had not bothered to destroy. "Two at twelve o'clock two at three o'clock and two at nine o'clock and two standing down the steps."

"Pistols and silencers" he told the group pulling out both of his making sure the safety's were off "Annie 9 o'clock is yours, twelve o'clock is mine three o'clock is yours Link and twins the other two are yours."

"Got it."

"Ready whenever you are sir." Gabriel told them gripping his pistols hard

"I just wish we had gone through a few more times." Annie told him nervously as the gate began to spin.

"So do I" Gabriel agreed, looking over at the assembled medical team he saw Daisy standing there nervously.

"Chevron six encoded, chevron six locked."

Gabriel threw her a gentle wink

"Chevron seven locked."

"God speed SG 13."

"GO! GO! GO!" Gabriel yelled as the group ran up the ramp and through the gate.

The Jaffa had turned towards the gate as it began it's ponderous turn, finally when it locked onto the seventh symbol the Jaffa began to raise their weapons, but it was already too late.

SG 13 appeared on the other side almost immediately after the gate opened. They fanned out like a well-oiled machine and opened silent but deadly fire on the assembled guards. It was over quickly.

"Make sure" Gabriel whispered as he pulled out his zat and fired three times at each prone Jaffa disintegrating their bodies as the others did the same.

General Hammond watched dispassionately as SG 13 ruthlessly dispatched the guards "Comm.'s" the general ordered

Gabriel and his team made their way over to the camera lens of the MALP "Reload." He ordered wanting to make sure that they had fully loaded weapons at all times.

"Mother goose, mother goose are you receiving."

"Loud and clear Mad Hatter come back." Sgt Siler handed the microphone to Hammond

"Have taken control of the looking glass and are about to head out to the wicked queens castle for Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey and Snow White."

"You are a go, I say again your team is a go." Hammond ordered

Turning away from the MALP Gabriel looked over the men "Doc you get those claymores set up, Simon you cover, Sammy go find your niche. Annie with me. Doc as soon you get those claymores set, send the MALP back through."

"Right Boss."

"Annie we got two hours to go ten clicks you ready."

"Let's do it."

"Move out." Gabriel ordered

It had been nearly six hours since they took Daniel away, and with each passing second, Sam felt her heart beat hammer harder and harder in her chest. What could they be doing to him, she wondered angrily, what could those bastards be doing to her sweet Daniel. Looking over at the Colonel, she could tell that he was wondering the same exact thing and that he was just as frustrated as she was.

The doors to the cellblock opened again and the biggest Jaffa Sam had ever seen walked through the door. The man must have stood over 7 feet with arms like tree trunks and a face that was carved right out of stone.

Stopping just short of the cell the giant Jaffa rumbled "You're friend has broken and told us all."

Jack snorted, Daniel might not be a soldier or special ops trained but Daniel would never give out any of the SGC's secrets.

"Bull shit." Jack said confidently

The Jaffa smiled grimly "Now we must confirm this information. Tell us what we want to know and we will spare him."

"Go to Sokar." Jack told him

The Jaffa's eyes became slits "Careful with what you say Tauri." Turning away the Jaffa headed towards the door "I will be back in one hour for your answer." He said and left.

Once out side and the door closed behind him Go'tar turned to his immediate subordinate.

"Has the Tauri spoken yet of their plans."

"No Go'tar, he refuses to speak no matter how we torture him."

Go'tar considered it for a moment, "Try for one more hour, if he says nothing by then kill him."

The guard nodded "Understood." He said returning his attention to the beaten archeologist behind him.

Annie and Gabriel hid in the edge of the forest looking at the stone structure in front of them. It was massive in size.

"We are never going to find them in there." Annie whispered staring at the giant pyramid

"It looks like an exact duplicate of the one in Giza." Gabriel said staring at the pyramid in awe wishing that he had the time to study it properly. Although he had a doctorate in ancient history, being in a cell he had never had a chance to actually visit the places that he would read about in his books.

Annie hoped he was right "You think it was built in the same way?"

Gabriel shrugged unsure, wishing that Daniel were there to tell him if he was right or not. "I sure hope so, cause if it is the same as the one in Giza, I know where they would hold the prisoners." Studying the situation, he saw that it did not look good "I count five guards on the perimeter on the right."

"I've got another six on the left."

"So we've got to figure another five or six behind the pyramid." He whispered

"Front door is open though." Annie pointed out

Gabriel nodded studying the situation "Yeah they're definitely over confident some of those guards on the left and right are probably supposed to be covering the front. They think that they have plenty of guys at the star gate and that they'd have plenty of warning if something did happen."

"So what do you think?"

Gabriel nodded pulling out his pistol testing the laser sight "I think that we are going to be very quiet and start taking out these guards."

"Head shots?" Annie asked hoping they could take them easily

Gabriel nodded "Yeah can't take a chance that these armor piercers won't penetrate their armor, remind me to check that out after we get back. I'll take the ones on the left first. You take the right, radio me when you're done and we'll both take the ones out in back"

"Gotcha, be careful."

"You too."

Pausing Annie grabbed Gabriel's arm "One last thing though, just in case I don't make it."

"What?" asked Gabriel confused when suddenly his breath was knocked out of him when Annie kissed him for all she was worth, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. They both kissed each other as if they were starving animals groping each other's bodies.

It was a few moments before they broke apart, Annie smiled breathlessly, damn he's a good kisser "Don't get the wrong idea Gabe you're not my type. But I wanted to taste a man again before I died."

Gabe smiled back at his friend, he had to agree it was nice to hold and feel a woman again, "I'm glad you did, although you're not my type either. Be careful little sister."

Annie smiled genuinely "You too big brother." Then she turned and silently moved off.

It took ten precious minutes but it was worth it. Gabriel looked around at the bodies around him and waited for Annie. Moving to the corner of the pyramid, he took out a small mirror and just as he had in prison, he held it out just enough so that he could see. Suddenly he heard Annie's voice in his earpiece.

"Done."

Gabriel nodded "Reload." He said as he did the same thing

"How many?"

"Four"

"When"

"On three my count, ready."

"Yup"

"One, two, three." Gabriel spun around the corner and ran towards the guards they lifted their weapons having been caught flat-footed. It was too little, too late. Gabriel and Annie met in the middle of the pyramid. Both reloaded their weapons and put them away, the time for silence gone, now it was time to move and move fast. As they, both bought up their automatic weapons.

Gabriel took a deep breath "Let's go."

Running around the pyramid they paused for a moment looking for more guards and then walked up to the front entrance, they went in."

Go'tar was tired of playing with the stubborn Tauri on the table, trying to decide which way to dispose of him, which would be the most fun.

Daniel lay on top of an altar, his body felt as though it was on fire. He could barely see through his swollen eyes and he could still taste the blood in his mouth. His head felt like someone had been using it as a bowling ball and he did not even want to think about how his ribs felt at that moment. He didn't even feel the slash to his side anymore. Nevertheless, he had held out, that is all that mattered at this moment. He had not told them anything, he just put a mental image of Sam's smiling face in front of him and he concentrated on that and nothing else.

"They can't hurt me now." He thought silently "Not while you're with me."

Go' tar shook his head and headed towards the door. "How long until the dead line." He asked

"Twenty minutes."

"Good I'm going to get something to eat, I will return then." He said and stalked off.

Gabriel and Annie watched and waited until the giant had left leaving two guards covering Jackson.

Gabriel leaned in close to Annie "That door is where they're keeping the others."

Annie nodded and silently pulled out her knife as Gabe did the same

Annie looked down and saw Gabe's hand in front of her suddenly a finger went up

"One" Annie thought as she readied herself "Two, three." Annie took the guard on her left while Gabe went after the other one. They were quick and efficient suddenly they were by Daniel's side.

"Hey Danny" Gabriel joked as he cut the bindings "Fancy meeting you here."

"Gabe?" Daniel smiled weakly hoping and praying that this was not some product of his imagination.

Gabriel winced at the swollen face beneath him "Were here to get you home Danny."

"I did what you said Gabe, I grabbed for the brass ring." Daniel smiled still out of it "She said yes."

"That's great Danny" Gabriel smiled "You know I want details later."

"Don't kiss and tell." Daniel mumbled and passed out.

"Check him over, I'll get the others." Gabriel ordered hoping that his friend was all right.

Annie nodded pulling out a small emergency medical bag that Link had given her before they left, as Gabriel made his way to the door gripping his pistol he opened it and rolled into the room catching the one guard by surprise. Gabriel rolled to one knee and put a bullet right between the man's eyes, blood and brains splattered against the wall. The man died instantly, a pool of dark blood forming quickly. Gabriel pulled out his zat and shot him three times, looking up he saw the cell with the other members of SG1 scrambling to their feet.

"Someone call for a taxi." He asked as he went over to them

Jack smiled relieved "Yeah that was a couple of hours ago you're late."

"Traffic was murder, get back I'm going to shoot it out." He told them aiming his zat and fired it three times at the lock.

Opening the door, he led the three members out.

"Where's Daniel?" Sam asked worried her heart in her mouth

Gabriel pointed over his shoulder "Next door with Annie, he's in rough shape but he's alive." He reassured them

Sam ran out the door and gasped as she saw Daniel's beaten body.

Moving by his side Sam brushed her fingers through his short hair "Oh Danny" she began to cry. Goddammit why did it always have to be Daniel that got hurt!

"Not now Sam." Annie said moving her aside gently "There's time for tears later when we're away from here, right now we've got to get him stabilized and ready to move."

"Annie how is he." Gabriel asked as they all gathered around Daniel. Jack and Teal'c stared at their friend's beaten body and knew that they'd run into that giant Jaffa again one day and make him pay.

Annie shook her head as she continued to work "He's got a slash to his side, I've stopped the bleeding. Two busted ribs, concussion and a lot of little cuts and bruises and swelling, it looks worse than it is, he's lost some blood, but I don't think that he's in any danger." She said to everyone's relief.

"Alright shoot him up and let's get the fuck out of Dodge." He said reaching for one of his packs, he threw it to O'Neill.

Opening the bag, Jack smiled as he retrieved weapons for his team.

"Sweet." He said pulling the hammer back on his P-90

Gabriel hit his comm unit "Big bad wolf this is Mad Hatter come in."

"Big Bad Wolf here go ahead Mad Hatter."

"What is your sit rep?"

"We are clean and quiet, you."

"We've retrieved, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey and Snow White, we are leaving the castle. Sneezy is pretty beat up be ready when we get there."

"That's affirm, how long."

"Two hours over."

"See you in two."

"Annie we gotta move." He told her wanting to get out of there before their luck ran out. "The jolly green giant could come back any minute now." He warned her

Wrapping the ribs as best she could Annie nodded and quickly injected Daniel with morphine "Done, who's gonna carry?"

"I will." Teal'c's tone brooked no room for argument

"Let's head out." Pointing to Annie to take the lead

Jack took position next to Gabriel "What's the plan."

Gabriel smiled "Run like hell."

Jack shrugged, "Sounds good to me, where is the rest of your team." He ordered

Gabriel looked down the dark passage and answered as they made their way to the exit "Link and Simon are guarding the gate; they have set up claymores for your friends. Sammy is up on high to cover us." Gabriel paused in the middle of the Pyramid "Hold up a sec."

"What?" Jack asked anxious to leave when he saw Gabriel pull out a large explosive device

"Sweet."

"How long you think?" Gabe asked

Jack thought fast "Two and half minutes."

"Sounds good." Setting the timer Gabriel hit the switch "Let's move."

Go'tar was heading back to the prisoners when he saw the group running for the door.

"The prisoners have escaped!!" he yelled as he made his way after them

"They're on to us." Gabriel announced, "Head for the Gate I'll slow them down."

Jack paused, coming to his decision just as he did with Teal'c when they had first met him and nodded to the others "We'll be right behind you now go!" he ordered settling himself down next to Gabriel. Jack O'Neill always trusts his instincts about people.

Gabriel reached into his pack and pulled out another two clips handing them to Jack.

"You should have gone sir."

"I don't leave my people behind." He said meaningfully taking the two clips "Got any more surprises"

Gabriel stared at him for a moment and nodded in understanding.

"Oh one or two, sir." Gabriel smiled pulling out two grenades handing one to Jack.

"On three" Jack said pulling the pin watching the advancing Jaffa

"Three" he yelled and they threw the grenades and took off running

Gabriel heard the two explosions and then a moment later a giant explosion.

Suddenly the entire area was lit up by staff fire.

"Oh that pissed them off." Gabriel said reaching into his pack again as they ran in a different direction from the retreating team trying to lead the Jaffa away.

"Ya think" Jack called back firing over his shoulder not even bothering to look

Gabriel pulled out a smoke bomb and pulled the pin dropping it as they ran. Quickly smoke began to escape and fill the air around them covering their escape.

They caught up with the others two hours later about half a kilometer from the Gate.

"Hey guys." Sam looked worried as she saw Jack was straining to get his breath back

"I gotta start jogging again." He muttered between breaths

Also breathing heavy Gabriel grabbed his comm unit "Big bad wolf, this is Mad Hatter, we are half a click from your position and are coming in hot." He warned

"We're standing by, Mad Hatter, I'll start up the gate the moment you're in visual."

"Angel one are you online."

"I hear you Mad Hatter and I see you."

"How's our back door?"

Sammy scanned the immediate area and stopped short "You better move your asses, you got unfriendly's about two hundred yards back, I count, twenty no make that twenty five unfriendly's, and more coming up behind them about another hundred yards back."

"Take as many as you can and head back to the gate." Gabriel ordered him

"Let the games begin." Sam Pierson smiled grimly switching the safety off on his rifle

Jack looked up startled as rifle fire began

Gabriel went to Jack "We got unfriendly's two hundred yards back, Sammy is covering us, what are your orders sir." He waited patiently

"Move it people" Jack snapped as he herded his team towards the gate.

Janet paced the length of the gate room, and glancing at her watch every few seconds.

"What's taking so long!" she demanded to know hating the long wait, every moment they were gone was like a jab at her heart with a sharp needle.

Daisy appeared at her side "Take it easy Janet they've been gone only five hours."

Janet nodded to her friend "I'm sorry." She said rubbing her forehead trying to get rid of the headache.

"Don't be, the man you love is out there." Daisy whispered to her friend

Shocked by the truth of her words Janet whispered back "How about you? How are you holding up?" she asked her junior, just days before at the last get together with the girls, Daisy had drunkenly admitted to Sam and Janet that she did indeed still love Gabriel Fuentes. Also, which shocked Janet, Daisy also admitted that she had been with no other man in the ten years they'd been apart.

Daisy smiled reassuringly "Gabriel is too crafty to die." Hoping she was right.

Both women turned to look at the still silent Stargate, both hoping, both praying.

"Big bad Wolf we are at the clearing."

Link smiled seeing his friends at the top of the hill "I see you Mad Hatter, starting to dial the gate now" he hit the first symbol.

"Angel 1 where are you?" Gabriel called out.

Samuel didn't even bother with the comms "Right behind you boss."

Link watched as the group scrambled down the small hill, he held up the trigger for the claymores and waited until there was a large group of Jaffa gathered together and then he set them off.

Jack jumped when he heard the explosions.

"Claymores." Gabriel yelled to the others then grabbing his head set again, "Angel 2 spray the hose."

Suddenly a buzz-saw sound could be heard throughout the valley. Jack recognized that sound as a portable CWIS gatling gun, smiling he thought to himself that these guys really know how to pack for a trip. They were close now only a couple of hundred feet to the gate that was already spinning. Suddenly a blast of staff fire hit too close to Jack and he went down like a rag doll.

"Colonel!" Sam screamed stopping to turn back.

"Go!" Gabe yelled for them to keep moving "I got him." Dumping his pack Gabriel slung the unconscious Colonel's body over his shoulder, pausing only to pull the pins on two grenades before leaving the pack. Wouldn't do to leave their weapons behind for study by the enemy. Turning he saw that the Jaffa were only perhaps fifty feet from him and gaining fast. Turning he ran flat out as fast as he possibly could towards the open gate, a few seconds later he heard the explosion behind him.

The moment that the gate opened up Link sent the GDO signal and now only waited for the group to arrive. Looking back he saw one of SG 1 go down and Gabe stopping to pick him up.

"Move it man, they're right on your ass." He said willing Gabriel to move faster.

"Simon mow some of those fuckers down." He ordered

Simon shook his head "Can't Gabe's too close, I'll hit him."

"Shit!" he screamed as the others reached the stairs "Move! I've sent the signal move out."

Fifty feet, Gabriel kept running his chest heaving with the exertion, his heart pounding threatening to burst from his chest. Thirty feet, come on man, don't give up, move, move you're almost there. Twenty feet, fire started landing close to his feet. Got to move, got to move!

Janet and Daisy looked up as the star gate began to spin; suddenly the blue energy pulsed to life.

Hammond looked at Siler "Do we have a signal."

"Not yet sir... Wait, incoming traveler sir, its SG 13" he said excitedly

Immediately Hammond reached for the microphone "Doctor Fraiser stand by they are coming in."

Sam and Annie were the first ones through the gate they quickly moved down the ramp to make room for the others. Teal'c ran in next carrying the prone form of Daniel Jackson, moving down the ramp he deposited his cargo on a gurney.

Daisy started checking vitals "Move, move to the infirmary" she yelled as they quickly left the embarkation room.

Lincoln, Simon and Samuel ran in next all of them with weapons up pointed at the gate.

"Come on Gabe, get your spick ass in here." Lincoln muttered, "Come on man."

Suddenly Gabriel flew through the opening still carrying the Colonel.

"Close it up!" yelled Link over his shoulder his eyes never leaving the gate.

"Closing iris." The iris slid closed and firmly into place, two muted thuds could be heard hitting the closed iris.

Simon laughed as he lowered his rifle "Jaffa jam."

"Colonel!" Janet called motioning her people to follow

Quickly she checked his vitals and sighed in relief when she felt the strong pulse under her fingers.

"Get him on a gurney and down to the infirmary." She called out as the orderlies moved into action

Link helped Gabe back onto his feet "You had us worried there for a second Gabe."

Gabriel was still breathing hard "Had YOU worried, shit." He moaned tiredly

Suddenly guards surrounded the group. "Okay convicts fun and games are over, drop your weapons." The head guard ordered

Link looked at them in disgust and looked to Gabe who nodded. One by one, they went forward and placed their weapons on an empty gurney.

Sam watched sadly as each member was frisked to make sure that they had left everything. These people had just risked their lives to save her and her team. Still that did not matter to anyone else, they were criminals and that is all that mattered. She watched helplessly as they were cuffed and led away.

General Hammond walked into the embarkation room smiling, relieved that his team was back, more or less in one piece."

"Welcome home Major, how is your team?" He asked worried

Sam let out an exhausted breath wanting nothing more than to get to medical and find out how Daniel was doing. "Okay I think sir, I'm going down to check on them now."

Hammond relented seeing that the major was exhausted and worried about her teammates "Right, check on them, get yourself cleaned up, and get some rest Debriefing can wait until tomorrow morning, unless there is something that I have to know now."

Sam shook her head "Nothing of vital importance sir."

Hammond nodded satisfied "Very good Major, go to your team."

Sam saluted "Thank you sir." Turning to leave Hammond stopped her.

"Just one question Major, how did SG 13 perform?"

Turning back Sam answered "Like soldiers sir. Unlike the way we just treated them." Turning back, she left rushing down to the infirmary.

Hammond was taken aback for a moment; it was definitely unlike Major Carter to act this way. It was suddenly obvious to him that Major Carter liked at least some of the members of SG-13. Shaking his head, he made his way back to his office; he had to agree with Major Carter. SG-13 had been mistreated; no one had even asked if they were all right.

Jack came around with a splitting headache and eyes closed "Would some one turn down those spotlights." He complained

"Jack?" he heard the whisper and opened his eyes

"Hey Janet" he smiled then remembered the rest of his team "How is everyone?"

Janet sighed relieved that he was going to be all right "Fine, Daniel is the worst off as usual, but nothing that a little time off won't cure." Soft chocolate eyes met his "Right now I want to know how you are feeling." She asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, except for this splitting head ache. What happened anyway?" he asked as Janet handed him some aspirin

"You got a mild concussion, and some cuts and scrapes nothing too bad." Janet looked at him tears threatening to fall "I was so scared Jack." She told him finally able to release the tense emotions that she had been holding back for so long now.

Jack smiled patting her knee wishing that they were alone so he could hold her "I'm fine." He told her, turning he saw Daniel a few beds over "How's Daniel really?"

Janet shook her head wiping her eyes "He took one hell of a beating, his face is all swollen up, a couple of cracked ribs and a concussion and a few stitches on his right side. He lost some of blood but we'll give him some and he will be right as rain. As I said, he just needs time to rest. What happened to him?" Janet asked needing to know if she could have possibly missed anything.

Jack shook his head "Jaffa bastards tortured him for information." Swinging his feet over the side of the bed, he tried to stand up but fell back dizzy.

"Jack you need to stay in bed." Janet said worriedly her hands on his chest.

Jack stood up on shaky feet "I just need to see him for myself, Janet please. Then I can rest." He promised, Daniel was his responsibility and his friend; Jack knew that he had to see for himself that his friend was all right.

"Okay" Janet nodded knowing from experience that the only way that she would get Jack to relax was to give him what he wanted "Two minutes then back to bed with you." She told him sternly.

"Is that an offer doctor?" Jack leered at her

Sighing Janet smiled "That's an order Colonel."

"This bed here?" He asked pointing to the bed he was sitting on.

Janet shrugged "This bed, my bed what's the difference."

Putting his arm around the petite doctor, using the fact that he needed her help to move as an excuse for the others. He headed over to Daniel's bed "Now that's what I call taking your work home with you."

Jack walked over to the bed where Daniel laid, Teal'c standing over it like a guard just waiting for someone to overstep their bounds. Turning Teal'c saw O'Neill struggling over to the bed. Immediately the large Jaffa grabbed him supporting the weight.

"O'Neill should you not be in bed?" he asked concerned for his friends health

"That's what I've been trying to tell him Teal'c." Janet sighed, "He just won't listen to me."

Jack held up a hand to the both of them "I just want to make sure that he's okay." Jack said sliding into a chair. Wincing he saw Daniel's battered face and wrapped ribs.

"Hey Danny-boy." Jack said softly

Daniel's eyes opened as far as his swollen eyes could "Hey Jack, how you doin?" He said weakly still pale from the blood loss.

Daniel never changed; he always asked after the others before himself "I came to ask you the same thing."

Daniel's eyes opened in panic "I didn't tell them anything Jack. I swear."

Jack lay a restraining hand on his shoulder "I know you didn't, you're too damn stubborn. How you feeling?" he asked trying to calm his friend down.

"A bit sore." Daniel admitted "Hey Sam" he smiled relieved to see that she was unharmed, suddenly feeling a thousand times better by just seeing that Sam was safe and unharmed.

Jack felt a hand on his shoulder looking up he saw a very relieved 2IC

Sam let out a breath, seeing Daniel conscious was such a load off her mind, "Daniel, how you doing colonel?" she asked concerned for her CO.

Jack waved it off, "Fine, just a headache. What happened anyway?" Jack asked unable to remember much after the run through the forest with Gabriel.

Sam sighed "While we were running for the Gate a bolt from one of the staff weapons blew you off your feet. You landed on your head." She informed him, Sam saw Janet's panicked expression. Jack saw it as well and gave Janet's hand a reassuring squeeze to prove to her that he was here and all right. Janet smiled weakly.

"At least he didn't land on anything vital." Daniel joked softly trying to break the somber mood. He succeeded.

"Ha-ha, very funny Daniel." Jack smiled; if Daniel could joke then he would be all right

Sam laughed then continued "Gabriel picked you up and ran for the gate with the Jaffa about thirty or forty feet behind him." She informed the colonel and Janet "The Jaffa were so close behind you that we barely got the iris closed before two of them got up close and personal with it."

Jack shook his head thinking about the two smears that used to be Jaffa, "I owe that guy a beer." He said "A big one."

Looking around the otherwise empty infirmary "Where is SG 13 by the way, I wanted to give them a once over." Janet asked surprised by the fact that they were not there.

Sam shook her head angrily "The moment you guys were gone, the guards pulled up weapons and ordered them to drop theirs, they were taken away in cuffs back to their cells."

"Were any of them hurt?" Janet asked angrily, she was going to have to talk to Kennedy about bypassing standard procedures in the future.

Sam shook her head "I don't think so, they all looked fine to me. Just pissed off, not that I could blame them.", Sam tried to imagine what that must have felt like for the team. To risk your life for someone else and the moment you come back to have that someone treat you like dirt. Sam's imagination came up short of what that must feel like, that only served to make her angrier.

Janet shook her head "Come on Jack, back to bed." She ordered

"See ya Space monkey." Jack called over his shoulder heading back to his bed.

"Later Jack."

"I will also see you later Daniel Jackson, Major Carter I must go into Kelnoreem." Teal'c nodded politely to both of his friends and left them alone.

"See you later Teal'c" Sam smiled taking her seat by Daniel

"How are you?" She asked running her fingers through his hair

"I'll be okay." Daniel told her

Silent tears began to fall down her face "I was so scared for you Daniel."

Daniel hated to see tears in Sam's eyes, "Hey, I'm here, and I'm going to be okay. But it looks like I'll have to break our date for tomorrow night." He said taking her hand giving it a reassuring squeeze "Janet also said no gate travel for at least four weeks and no work for that amount of time. She says if she catches me here she is going to strap me down to this bed."

Sam smiled wickedly "That sounds like fun actually."

Daniel began to laugh "Don't please Sam don't make me laugh."

Janet came back and sighed "Okay Daniel after we get some blood into you, if you promise me that you will stay in bed for at least three more days, I will let you go home tomorrow. Just remember you are to do nothing more strenuous than reach for the T.V. remote. Otherwise I will have you back here so fast..." Janet warned her friend.

"I promise." Daniel promised solemnly

Sam wiped her face "I'll make sure Janet, he'll stay at my place."

Janet nodded "Okay then" she relented knowing that Sam would do as Janet ordered even if it killed Daniel.

One of the nurses walked up quickly to Janet and whispered in her ear "What?" turning away from her patient she steamed "How is that possible." She demanded to know.

"I don't know Doctor." The nurse shrugged helplessly

Worried Sam went up to them "What's wrong Janet?"

Looking back to Daniel "We're out of AB-negative blood." She whispered not wanting to upset her patient.

"What!" she asked suddenly frightened knowing that AB-negative blood was the rarest of all blood types. So of course, Daniel was AB-negative.

Janet grabbed her hand "Don't worry we'll get some. I am just glad that this injury is not life threatening. There is no immediate danger Sam but I want him to get a least a pint."

"SG 13" the nurse said

"What?" Janet asked irritated that no one had noticed that the blood supplies had gotten low. She was going to have someone's ass tomorrow morning she promised herself. If Daniel had been really hurt... "Well thank goodness he wasn't." Janet told herself.

The nurse spoke heading towards the filing cabinets "I was filing their medical records a little while ago, I noticed that one of them is AB-
negative." She said going through the filing cabinet

"Which one?" Janet asked getting on the phone

Quickly going over the files, the nurse called out "Dr. Fuentes."

Dialing the number Janet spoke on the phone "They're bringing him up now, get ready to draw the blood."

Later Gabriel sat by Daniel's bed smiling at his friend "Good thing we got the same blood type, but now my blood flows through your veins." He said to the sleeping archeologist. "I hope you realize what this means." He whispered

Sam stood aside talking to Janet "Is he going to be okay?" she asked nervously

"Fine" Janet reassured her "The blood loss was not life threatening but it would definitely slow down the healing process, we don't need an anemic Daniel running around here."

"Fuentes let's go." The Guard said patting him on the back.

"Thanks Gabe." Sam smiled at the large man; grateful for everything he had done for them. "For everything."

Gabe nodded cupping her cheek, "No problem." He smiled at her "He's going to be fine." He promised

Janet nodded tiredly "Daisy go with them and check out the rest of the team would you."

"Sure, let's go Gabe." She said leading him away.

"Well I'm going home and get some sleep." Janet announced, "You had better do the same."

"In a few minutes." Sam lied knowing that she wasn't going anywhere.

After she was gone Sam turned back to Daniel and saw that he was awake again "That was Gabe that I saw standing over me before wasn't it." He asked groggily

Sam nodded "Yeah, SG 13 got their first mission, to get us back. You needed some blood and he is the same type as you" Brushing his hair back from his forehead Sam whispered to him "Now go back to sleep, I'll watch over you." She promised him

"That's good" Daniel whispered back his eyes already closing knowing that he was safe in Sam's care.

Daisy Hammond checked over SG 13, and sighed in relief. Gabriel was not hurt, none of them were. Except that some of them were not in a real good mood.

"This is bullshit." Link paced back and forth steam practically coming out his ears "We did it, we did their fucking mission, and we kicked some serious ASS, and the second we get back nothing's changed." He complained.

"What did you expect." Annie said lying in her cot "We're nothing to them, we're expendable meat to throw into the grinder." She told him feeling just as angry and frustrated as Link was. Was a simple 'thanks' out of the question?

"24 more missions, that's all I know" Link raged "24 more and then we are out of here."

"LINK!" Gabriel called out to him "Keep that shit quiet."

Frustrated Link jumped into his cot muttering to himself.

Daisy's head jerked up to meet Gabriel's eyes "What did he mean 24 more missions."

"Nothing Captain." He said, "Are we done yet?"

"Gabriel tell me please!!" she begged staring into his eyes.

"Tell her." Annie stared at the young woman in front of Gabriel, and she knew instantly that the woman still loved him "She's got a right to know." She told him.

Gabriel muttered under his breath and leaned in close to Daisy. She shivered as she felt his hot breath so close to her ear.

"The deal is we do 25 missions and we get pardons." He whispered "Now 24."

Gabriel was shocked when Daisy threw her arms around him. Wrapping his arms tight around her, he hung on for dear life, tears stinging his eyes.

In a choked voice, Daisy whispered in his ear "You had better stay alive Gabriel Fuentes, I will never forgive you if you don't."

Gabriel nodded knowing that he would promise her anything, do anything, just to feel her arms around him, "I promise, I love you Daisy." He told her feeling his heart hammering in his chest.

Daisy smiled feeling her heart about to burst "I'll always love you, no matter what." Quickly Daisy released him and gathered her things together before she lost complete control.

"Guard" she banged on the door

The door opened and Daisy stepped out.

"How are they doc?" One of the guards asked

"Fine, they're all fine."

"Too bad" he sniffed

Shaking her head Daisy walked away muttering to herself "24 more that is it."

The next morning SG13 woke up to banging on the cell door "Debriefing in one hour." The voice called out "Chow time in fifteen minutes."

Groaning they got out of bed "What time is it anyway." Someone called out

"0800 hrs convict now get your asses moving."

"0800" Annie smiled "They let us sleep in today." She was amazed, she had not slept this late in nearly seven years. 'That is the first thing that I am going to do when I get out.' Annie thought to herself 'Just sleep until I decide to wake up, then scratch, use the bathroom, drink some water and then get down to some serious sleeping.' She thought happily.

"Yeah" Gabriel agreed feeling exactly as Annie did, "Okay who showers first men or lady."

"Go ahead Annie." Simon muttered still in bed "I could do with another five minutes."

Grabbing her towel Annie headed for the shower.

An hour later SG 13 and most of SG 1 with the exception of Daniel Jackson sat in the Briefing room answering questions.

"Okay SG 1 you are on stand down until Doctor Jackson is recovered from his injuries." Hammond ordered them "I know that you have a lot of work to do around here on base." Then he motioned for Kennedy to take over, but he didn't leave. Hammond himself wanted to know how SG 13 got his people out.

Kennedy nodded "Okay SG 13 from the beginning."

Gabriel sat up "We entered the Star gate at 1030 hrs earth standard time, it was just after sunset on the planet. We neutralized the guards on the other side of the gate; there were a total of eight of them. I decided that Mr. Washington and Mr. Simon Pierson would stay behind and guard the gate. Mr. Samuel Pierson went up on top of a ridge where he could cover a large portion of the surrounding area with his rifle. Dr. Yates and I went to get the others. We got to the structure at approximately 1230 hrs EST. It was an exact replica of the pyramid at Giza it was surrounded by guards."

"How many guards?" Kennedy asked

"Fifteen spread around three sides of the pyramid. We neutralized them as well." Gabriel told them calmly.

Jack stared at the two doctors amazed at the numbers of Jaffa they had taken out. Not only did they take them out but also they did it silently without tipping off the rest.

"How?" he asked

"Silenced pistols, we went for the head shots. We then entered the structure Dr Yates and I took out two Jaffa who were guarding Dr. Jackson. Later I took out the one Jaffa who was guarding the cells, we retrieved SG 1, and made our escape. The rest you know as described by Colonel O'Neill."

"Mr. Washington?"

"After Dr. Fuentes and Dr. Yates left for the structure, I began to lay down a string of claymores approximately in 8 meter intervals while Mr. Simon Pierson covered me. We secured the area and waited for word from Dr.'s Yates and Fuentes to let us know that they were returning. When they reached the clearing, I dialed up the gate and waited for them. When they cleared the line of claymores and the Jaffa were in range I set the charges off. Mr. Pierson then laid down cover fire."

Kennedy nodded "Mr. Sam Pierson."

"I took position on a small out cropping on the side of a tall ridge, it was perfect since it overlooked the entire valley. I waited until contacted by Dr Fuentes that he was in the area, I then scanned the area with infra red and saw a large group of Jaffa coming up fast. I informed Dr. Fuentes who then ordered me to open fire and hold them off as long as I could, then to make my egress to the gate, which I did, I neutralized seven Jaffa."

"Very good." Kennedy smiled "You have exceeded my expectations." He told them amazed at how good his team really was. The Joint Chiefs and the President would be pleased "As I have promised, with good behavior and good results you would be rewarded. Guard."

A box was placed on the desk in front of Kennedy. Opening it, he pulled out a small box about the size of a watch box and tossed one to each member of SG 13.

"Inside you will find a locator band, it will lock onto your wrist and only my key will open it. Once you put those on you will be allowed to roam freely around the mountain for five hours every day, but you will not be allowed topside. If any of you try to remove the band, I will know immediately and you will all suffer the consequences. Am I understood?"

Slipping the band around his wrist, Gabriel locked it into position "No guards?"

"No" Kennedy told him "However I must warn you that these bands come equipped with a failsafe, should you try and remove them or act in a way to harm anyone in this facility, or should you attempt to leave this facility. A charge of 100,000 volts will pass through you. That is enough to stop your hearts, and I say your hearts, if one of you tries anything you all get it." Kennedy warned, "Your lives are in each others hands."

"That's barbaric." Sam said in disbelief staring at the man "What...."

"We'll take it." Annie interrupted giving Sam a begging look, which said please don't interfere.

Kennedy nodded "You are free to go."

Smiling Link got up "Is there a rec-room around this base." He asked

"Yes" Jack told him "On level three, they have a DVD machine up there with the latest releases."

"Hot damn" Link smiled "Anywhere I can get some popcorn."

"I will show you Lincoln Washington." Teal'c stood up and exited the room

"Hey is it possible to hit the shooting range?" Simon and Samuel said in stereo.

Kennedy nodded "For that you will need a guard though."

"No problem, as long as we can fire off a few hundred rounds." The brothers stood and left

"Is there a library around here?" Annie asked hearing a cheap tawdry romance novel calling her name.

"Level three."

Smiling Annie left the room

Only Gabe sat completely still, it was immediately obvious to everyone that this was something that Gabriel Fuentes loathed to do, the idea of begging a repulsive idea to a proud man, "Is it possible for me to use the gym privately with my katana." He hated the idea of begging for anything, but still....

"Do I have your word, as Samurai that you will return the katana?"

Gabriel looked up at Kennedy surprised that the man would show him such respect "Of course."

"Then I will arrange the time in the gym." Kennedy told him

"Good, first I want to stop by the infirmary and see how Dr. Jackson is doing." Nodding to the others, he walked out as well.

"You're a real prince you know that Kennedy." Jack told him sarcastically

Kennedy shrugged "You don't seem to realize Colonel, that if we give them too much too soon. They will have nothing to look forward to."

Shaking his head disgustedly, he motioned to Sam "Come on Carter let's go check on our archeologist."

"General" Jack saluted as did Sam and they walked out

Gabriel walked into medical, looking around he spotted Janet and walked over to her.

"Hey doc, how you doing?"

"Fine" Janet asked a bit surprised "No guards?"

Gabriel cracked a smile, "No, I've been a good boy so I've been allowed out." He said motioning to his wristband "Tracker", he told her.

Janet shook her head surprised, "Oh, well what can I do for you?" she asked, "Not feeling well?"

"I'm fine, just came by to say hello to Dr. Jackson."

Janet smiled, criminal or not, Janet had to admit that she was beginning to like this man, "Well I'm sure that he could use the company. He's right over there." Janet pointed

Nodding Gabriel made his way over to the curtained off area.

"Anyone home?" Gabriel joked as he poked his head around the curtain

"Gabe" Daniel smiled his face still swollen but not as bad as before

"Just came by to see how you're doing." He said taking a seat

Daniel waved it away "I'll be fine in a few weeks."

Gabriel smiled looking around "So you and the luscious Major Carter huh?" he whispered

Daniel blushed "Yeah."

"Well alright, I told you." Rubbing his hands together, he leaned forward "Okay now the details." Gabriel looked on expectantly

"Gabe" Daniel shook his head seeing the look on his friend's face.

"Oh I don't mean those details." Gabe considered it a moment "Although it would be nice. Naw I meant how did it happen." He asked his friend

"Not here." Daniel looked around, he knew from experience how much the nurses seemed to overhear.

Gabriel smiled at his friend "Is one of those languages you speak Japanese?"

"Sure."

"Good" putting his elbows on his knees Gabriel started speaking in fluent Japanese

Surprised and pleased Daniel began to answer him.

They were both laughing when Sam and Jack walked into the infirmary. Smiling Janet headed to them.

"Ah you're here"

"What is that?" Jack asked trying to understand

"Japanese, I think." Janet answered him "They've been at it for about ten minutes now."

"Oh no not another linguist." Jack moaned to the heavens

"No" Janet informed them "Gabriel is half Japanese, and he lived with his grand father, he must of learned it there."

"But why Japanese?" Asked Sam staring at the curtained off area

Janet shrugged "It's a great way not to have to worry about someone listening in on your conversation." Janet pointed to all the nurses who looked frustrated that they couldn't understand what the men were saying.

They broke off "You're kidding right." They heard someone say

Then back to Japanese a mile a minute, shrugging helplessly Jack and Sam made their way towards the curtain.

Both men looked up as Jack and Sam entered the area.

Smiling Daniel turned to Sam and started talking to her.

Sam's eyes opened wide "Whoa, Daniel, I have no idea what you are saying."

Daniel blushed "I'm sorry Sam, I was just saying that I'm happy to see you guys."

"You're looking better this morning." Sam smiled wishing that they were alone and she could show her feelings more intimately.

Daniel smiled and nodded knowing what was going through her mind.

Standing up Gabriel bowed to Daniel "I have to go, I've gotten permission to work on some of my katas."

Daniel stopped smiling and turned to Gabriel "Katas? As in the martial katas?"

"Yes" Gabriel said confused

Daniel started speaking in Japanese again Sam and Jack looked on in confusion as Gabriel's face turned white.

Gabriel answered him, and a smile lit Daniel's face as he continued.

Gabriel smiled "I'll make you a deal." He said in English "You help me with cuneiform and hieroglyphics, and I will teach you what I know."

"Deal." Daniel smiled "When do we start."

Gabriel shook his head "Well I think that we should wait for your ribs to heal a bit don't you?" Looking over at Janet he continued "I don't think that the doc here would be to happy if I put you back in here too soon."

"You're right about that." Janet affirmed

"Okay, when your ribs are better then." Gabriel promised

"I'm going to hold you to that you know."

"I know brother." Gabriel bowed "I must go practice now."

Throwing a glance at Daisy he winked and headed out.

"Brother?" Jack asked "And what was that, what is he going to teach you."

Daisy smiled as she approached "Gabriel's blood flows through Daniel's veins."

"So?" Sam shrugged

Daisy shook her head, she herself didn't understand all of Gabriel's ways, "Like I said before, Gabriel is from an old samurai family, he believes in the old ways. Even though he is an outcast from the family he is still technically a member of the Tanaka clan, Gabriel is samurai."

With a dawning realization Daniel understood "And because I accepted his blood a part of me is now..."

Daisy nodded "You are now a member of the Tanaka clan as well. Gabriel is your blood brother."

"Blood brother?" Daniel sat back stunned "That is why he agreed to teach me so willingly."

Daisy smiled "You had better rest up Doctor Jackson, you are going to need all your strength to keep up with Gabriel."

"What is Daniel going to learn?" Sam asked not sure that she was going to like the answer

"Ninjitsu." Daniel told them

Jack laughed "Oh is that all, I thought it was something serious."

Daisy shook her head "I wouldn't laugh if I were you."

"Come on Daisy, we've all seen the movies." Jack said laughing

"Ninjitsu is very real Colonel" Daisy warned them "It is a very old and a very deadly art. It teaches strength, wisdom, concentration, stealth, all sorts of weapons, how to turn your body into a weapon and the art of assassination." Daisy explained to them, Sam's eyes opened wide staring at Daniel.

Daniel nodded "In feudal Japan the Ninja were used as spies and they were the perfect assassins, some of them trained all their lives just to pull off one assassination. They were widely feared, but it was such a small sect."

"Yes, but the Tanaka's are one of the families that still practices it. Or at least used to, besides Gabriel and Chun-li only one other member of the family practices the dark art as far as I know and that's Gabriel's daughter."

Chapter 4: Mission 10, Loss

The weeks flew by and SG13 were sent on mission after mission. The reasons for these missions were always different. They were sent on missions to steal Goa'uld technology; sometimes acting on information from the Tok'ra they were used as assassins. Everyone had lost count on how many times SG 13 came back with injuries, it seemed that every mission at least one of the team had to go to medical, sometimes all five staggered through the gate helping each other to stand. After each successful mission, Kennedy would give them another privilege. The one that they enjoyed the most was when Kennedy allowed them to go topside and have a barbeque and were able to stay outdoors for the entire day until well into the night. SG 1 had also come along, they bought the beer, and all had a good time. Mean while, Daniel's ribs healed and his face went back to normal. For the four weeks that Daniel was not allowed to work, He and Sam had spent each day together, talking, laughing, visiting museums and art galleries, the planetarium or just to the movies. Sometimes they would just stare at the stars and Sam would tell him about them, and in turn, Daniel would explain the historical aspect of it, the stories that ancient peoples had for the stars. For the first time that he could remember, Daniel did not even want to think of work. The days were filled with joy and the nights were full of passion, they spent nearly every waking hour together just falling deeper in love with each other. After his ribs healed, Gabriel kept his promise, and began to teach Daniel ninjitsu, and often would come home to Sam with the bruises to show for it. Daniel was worried that he would never be any good at the martial arts; Jack and Teal'c had both tried to teach him with little success. Gabriel was patient and reassuring. When a frustrated Daniel told him that he was just no good at it and never would be, Gabriel clapped him on the shoulder and told him that he was doing just fine and that he showed promise. After that Daniel was determined to be as good as he possibly could be in the martial arts, he even found that he enjoyed it. Gabriel was extremely patient with him, taking time to explain everything to him. Daniel was surprised by Gabriel's patience, unlike Jack; Gabriel took the time to explain the whys and not just how to do it. It made the learning a lot easier and a whole lot more fun.

Then SG 13 was called in for their 10th mission, they were used as decoys, they drew away a large force of Jaffa while SG teams 3 and 7 went in and did the actual mission. For three days SG 13 tried to keep one step in front of the Jaffa, they had to keep them close enough so that the Jaffa kept chasing but far enough ahead so that they would not get themselves killed. It was on that mission that they suffered their first fatality.

SG3 and SG 7 were being debriefed; their wounded being tended to in medical, the team leader for SG 7 Major McCarthy was the worst off having been shot in the shoulder by one of the staff weapons.

Staff Sergeant Jeffries was finishing off his report when he added "SG 13 really came through for us sir, they pulled off that main Jaffa group and kept them away from us. It was just freak luck that we ran into that patrol."

"General Hammond your presence is requested in the gate room." The overhead speaker announced.

"Very good gentlemen, you're on stand down until further notice." General Hammond stood and made his way to the gate room, SG 3 and 7 following behind, just wanting to make sure that it was indeed SG 13 coming in.

"What is it son?" the general asked as he entered the control room, nodding to Colonel Kennedy and SG 1 who lately had made it a habit of coming to the gate room whenever SG 13 was due back.

"Incoming traveler sir. We have a signal... It's SG 13." Siler told them

"Open the iris." He ordered

The iris opened revealing the usual blue background. Suddenly Annie and Link rushed through the gate dragging one of the twins in screaming leaving a trail of blood, they saw instantly to their horror that he was missing both legs above the knee, blood pumping out of the stumps.

"Medical emergency in the gate room." Hammond yelled out immediately

Then the other twin rushed in and immediately went to his brother holding him while Washington feverishly tried to work on him. Trying desperately to try to stop the bleeding by tying tourniquets to the man's legs.

"Oh my God." Sam turned away sickened by the sight.

Suddenly Gabriel and someone else crashed into the room.

"Close the iris." The general ordered immediately

Janet rushed into the gate room with her team into chaos.

All the guards had weapons up and were shouting. Washington and Annie were trying to stem the bleeding of a man who was screaming in agony; Annie also had a burn wound in her shoulder blade. Nevertheless, she ignored the obvious pain, screaming for the man to stay with them. Gabriel was on the ramp fighting two Jaffa hand to hand.

Pushing her way through Janet made it to the wounded man's side and in horror saw that the man was missing both legs and was bleeding out.

"We have to get this man out of here NOW!" she ordered grabbing one shoulder

"Have blood set up, a lot of it." Ordered the nurse pushing one of the orderlies towards the door.

Gabriel pushed the two Jaffa far enough away to reach his sword. Pulling it out, his eyes blazed, blood seeping from a dozen different wounds, some deep others superficial. He was in pain, he was in agony, but he was also enraged.

The guards yelled at him to duck so they could open fire, instead of doing that Gabriel attacked again and in two swift strokes, two heads rolled down the ramp. A stunned silence descended in the room as they dumbly watched two headless bodies fall to the floor and bleed out, the floor becoming red with blood. Gabriel turned to see more weapons pointed at him and by this point; he was beyond caring who they were. Slowly he raised his sword high.

Janet rushed Annie and Simon as it turned out, out of the gate room and towards medical, Sam was still holding his brothers hand. Washington turned and saw the look in Gabriel's face, running towards him he grabbed Gabriel before he attacked the assembled group of soldiers.

"Gabe, stop it man, stop. It's over man, you got'em." Washington grabbed his face and forced Gabe to look at him "It's over man, come on put it down." He coaxed his friend.

Slowly Gabriel came to his senses and lowered his sword as the guards lowered their weapons.

Blinking Gabriel remembered "Annie, Simon?"

"Doc's got'em, they're working on them now."

"Let's go." He said stopping only to drop his weapons

"Gabe, you alright?" Daniel asked obviously worried for his friends.

His face grim Gabriel shook his head "No Dan, my team just got shot to shit." He said making his way out

Everyone stood stock-still; blood and the stench of death were all throughout the gate room making them all feel nauseated.

General Hammond turned and walked out "Have someone come and clean this place up and get rid of those bodies." He ordered turning to leave also for the infirmary.

"Be careful of the Goa'uld larvae." Sam warned them "Have someone come and take them." She ordered before heading to medical herself.

SG 1 and 3 and 7 made their way to medical to see what was happening. They entered and knew that it was not going to be good. Annie was in Gabe's arms crying hysterically. Daisy came up from behind whispering words of comfort to the bigger woman and injected her with something. Immediately Annie began to sag and Gabe led her to one of the beds so that Daisy could look her over and treat her back.

One of the nurses tapped Janet on the shoulder when she saw that Gabriel was still standing blood dripping from gashes in his uniform. Janet made her way over.

"Dr Fuentes?" she asked gently seeing the lost look on the man's face

"Look after my team first." He ordered

"Let me just take a look." Opening his jacket she immediately saw several cuts and wounds "Into that bed Doctor." She ordered

Gabriel did not move "My team comes first doctor."

Janet put a hand on his shoulder and grabbing his cheek to make him look at her "Daisy is handling Dr Yates, I'm free right now." She did not mention Simon Pierson, so the group knew it was bad, as bad as it got in their business.

"Okay." He said dejectedly allowing Janet and a nurse to lead him away

Janet got him onto a treatment table and set to work.

Washington walked slowly out of a curtained off area and made his way over to Colonel Kennedy.

"Sir SG 13 back all present or accounted for."

"What is this band?" Janet asked reaching for scissors to cut it off her patient.

"NO!" Washington yelled out to her "You cut that and he blows." Immediately the room went silent

"WHAT?" Janet slowly backed away from her patient

Kennedy made his way over and removed the band deactivating it first. Moving over to Annie, he did the same, then to Washington.

"Where is Samuel?" Kennedy asked the man

"He's sedated back there." Washington told him

"Good" Kennedy made his way to the back to remove the explosive

"Report son." The general ordered as soon as Kennedy was gone.

"Sir" Washington stood at attention "We did as we were ordered, we led the Jaffa away from SG 3 and 7. When we got word that they were heading back through the gate, we made our way back. We were ambushed about three clicks from the gate. It was a running fight all the way sir. Annie was the first to go down, she got shot in the back. Simon and I grabbed her and kept moving, Gabe turned back and attacked."

"He did what?" O'Neill asked incredulously shifting his gaze to his new friend. It was obvious now to Jack that Gabriel Fuentes took his role as CO very seriously, to the point that he would die for his people.

Lincoln nodded and explained "He attacked sir, to buy us time to get to the gate. He went hand-to-hand with them. Some of them got past him and that is when Simon got his legs blown off. Annie grabbed one arm and I grabbed the other while Sam dialed the gate and we came through."

"How is Simon Pierson?" asked the general

Standing straighter, the big man tried to hold his tears in failing miserably "He's dead sir. Bled to death before we could get him here. Sam was put under sedation and is on suicide watch."

"What were those leg bands?" Asked Sam

"Explosives Ma'am."

"Why?"

"To ensure that we would always come back."

"Go lie down son." General Hammond said tiredly

Link shook his head "With your permission sir, I'd like to stay with my team."

"As you wish, but get some rest soon." The general ordered

"Yes sir." Washington started to raise his hand to salute, but then remembered who he was, and that he was not allowed to do that anymore and put his hand down, no one missed the gesture, or the hurt in the big man's eyes because he could not salute a superior officer. That was a right that had been stripped from him as well as the other members of his team.

"Sorry sir, old habits die hard." He said turning he made his way to his friends.

"Explosives on their legs?" O'Neill asked

"It's news to me Colonel." Hammond admitted, "But Colonel Kennedy has a valid point, we have to ensure that these men all come back."

Jack nodded in disgust "I know sir, I just don't like it."

Sergeant Jameson of SG 7 said it best before turning and leaving "It must really suck to be them. Let's go guys, it's time to get drunk and say goodbye."

SG3 and 7 turned and walked out of medical. It was time to go drink to the memory of a good man, a man named Simon Pierson. Ten minutes later Janet walked up to them brushing her hair back.

"Sir."

"How are they Doctor?"

Janet sighed, "Dr. Yates sustained a staff blast to her shoulder blade, it was a miracle that she was able to help drag Simon Pierson in at all. We have cleaned the wound and treated it. She will be fine in a few days. Dr. Fuentes suffered from various cuts some deep, some superficial. I gave him a total of fifteen staples, I will take them out in a week or so, and he will be fine. Simon Pierson died on his way here. We tried to resuscitate him, but he just lost too much blood." Janet shook her head angrily; she hated to lose a patient any patient "Sam Pierson had to be sedated. Colonel Kennedy is with him now."

"What's he doing?" Hammond asked curiously

Janet shrugged "Just sitting in a chair watching him."

Hammond nodded and turned to leave "Keep me informed doctor."

"Can we see them?" asked Sam worried about her friends

Janet nodded "But only for a few minutes they need to rest."

Sam went to Annie and sat down by the bed, the muscular woman lay there pale with tears streaming down her face. She was trembling uncontrollably.

"Annie how are you?" Sam asked gently adjusting the blankets over her friend

Annie's eyes went wild with fear "I tried Sam, I swear I tried to save him." A nurse came and injected something into her IV.

Sam took the other woman's hands "I know Annie, we all saw you trying to help him."

"Tell Kennedy that we tried please Sam." She begged clutching at Sam.

"I will" she promised, "Sleep now Annie, sleep."

Slowly Annie drifted away on a drug filled sleep "I tried." She said repeatedly.

Sam turned to the Colonel "She's terrified."

Jack nodded sadly knowing the reason "Probably afraid that she'll be sent back for execution of sentence, which is four hours from now." Jack said checking his watch.

"This is so sick and twisted." Sam said standing "Haven't they done enough?" she asked angrily

Jack nodded patting her on the shoulder as they headed towards Gabriel who was already asleep and obviously having a nightmare.

"Josie, where are you." He muttered "No, no Josie don't say that, I never hurt your mother. Please don't hate me." His tossing and turning was becoming increasingly violent. "JOSIE!" he shouted springing out of the bed tearing out his I.V.

Daniel grabbed his shoulder "It's okay Gabe, you're just having a nightmare."

Gabriel stared wide-eyed around trying to orient himself "Danny?"

"Yes now come on, get back in bed." He said trying to get Gabriel to lie down again.

Janet came over and checked his wounds "No more thrashing around Dr. Fuentes. We do not want you to tear out those staples. Let me fix your I.V." she said gently

"Simon's dead isn't he." He asked hoping it was just another nightmare.

Janet paused then nodded "Yes, he died."

Gabriel leaned back "Oh damn." He muttered closing his eyes, his shoulders shaking as he silently wept for his friend. "I failed him." He whispered

Janet took his hand "No you didn't." She told him "What happened?" she asked

Wiping his eyes Gabriel sighed "One of the staff weapons hit the explosive pack he was wearing, blew his legs right off. How's Sammy and Annie?" he asked trying to get up again to check on his men.

Janet put a restraining hand on his chest "Both Sedated, they are going to be fine. Just rest." She ordered

Tiredly Gabriel leaned back into the bed "Good, Doc keep an eye on Sam. Make sure that he doesn't try something stupid."

Janet nodded re-taping his IV "We will I promise, you just get some rest now."

"I'll sit with him." Daisy told them all exhaustion written all over her face.

Colonel Nicholas Kennedy sat in the infirmary watching his team sleep. His thoughts were a turmoil, his thinking clouded by his emotions. "They're just criminals" his mind told him over and over again, but in his heart he felt as though he'd somehow failed them, his men. Kennedy was no fool and he knew that everyone here thought him an unfeeling monster that would sell his own mother down the river to get ahead, but he knew different. He had a wife of his own and three children who he would die willingly and gladly for. He believed in God, country and honor, antiquated ideas in this day and age he supposed. Still they were his reality, he still believed in his oath, to defend his government from all enemies both foreign and domestic, to use whatever methods were necessary to safe guard his nation and it's citizens regardless of race, religion or creed. The pentagon told him that these people lying here were those enemies, enemies of the state. However, he was starting to feel uncertain about that. These people were serving their country, sure there was a price tag attached to their loyalty, but even so, having gotten to know them as he had over the last few months, Kennedy was sure that they would do the same even if there was no price tag. Now one of them is gone, he will not even get the soldiers burial that he's earned, there would be no 21-gun salute, no flag to decorate Simon Pierson's coffin. It just was not right; he died in service to his country, that should be rewarded. Simon Pierson should be remembered as a hero not as a criminal.

Jack and Janet watched Kennedy silently from her office; Jack had been waiting for Janet to get her things together when they had noticed him. Janet knew what the man was doing; she had seen it often enough when other SG teams had been bought back, especially SG1. Jack would often sit there all night just watching over his team making sure that nothing happened to them while they slept. Jack shook his head.

"I guess Kennedy is human after all." He told Janet as they left.

Forty-eight hours later SG13 was released from medical and went in for debriefing. They sat around the table reporting everything that had happened from when they went through the gate. Most of the team kept glancing at Sam Pierson, who just kept staring at the wall not even pretending that he was paying attention.

"Okay that's enough." Kennedy told them sensing that they needed time to heal emotionally as well as physically "I've already made arrangements for Simon Pierson's remains to be sent to his home."

Sam looked at the Colonel "Yes Sam, I've made all the arrangements. He is going to be laid to rest in your family plot. I also already spoke to your mother and I sent her this letter." Pushing an envelope over to Sam who took it with shaking hands and opened it.

"Dear Mrs. Pierson " he read aloud

"I am truly sorry for having to write this letter. I was your son Simon's commanding officer, and I just wish to send to you my deepest condolences. Your son Simon was one of the finest young men that I have ever met and his loss is a great blow to us all. His bravery inspired all those around him to try to achieve his level of excellence, this is made all the harder because of the circumstances of his death. It is difficult for us all to understand and to accept that it was a training mission, which is the cause of your bereavement. I know that in the past, your son had some problems with the law, and this fact must have saddened you and your family. I just want you to know that you can be proud of the fact that while under my command, he conducted himself in a fashion commensurate with the title of a U.S. marine. Sincerely yours Nicholas Kennedy, Colonel United States Air force." He finished putting the letter away he wiped his tears "Thank you Colonel, our mother will definitely appreciate this letter."

"Not at all" Kennedy shrugged "I meant every word.' He told them

"Okay" he continued "For your next privilege, I've made arrangements for your families to come down here for a little visit." He told the group "There will be no guards, you will not be speaking through glass. You will be able to spend the whole day with them for those of you that are married or have a significant other, areas have been set aside for congicual visits. Now I have spoken with them and they will be arriving in ten days on Saturday. Dismissed."

Gabriel stood up "Sir, you spoke to my family?" he asked unsure how to feel

"Yes" Kennedy nodded already knowing some of the history there "Your mother said that she your grandfather and uncle and your daughter would be coming.

"My daughter." Gabriel sat down not sure if he could believe it.

Kennedy patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave "Get some rest doctor. That's an order."

"Thank you colonel." He said absently his mind already far away.

"Not at all" Kennedy picked up his files and walked out

Hammond came out of his office and saw that Gabriel was sitting there alone looking stunned.

"Something the matter son?" Hammond asked worriedly

Gabriel looked at him confused "Josie is coming for a visit."

George Hammond smiled remembering the beautiful little girl "That's great, I haven't seen her in a long time. It must be ten years since I have seen her. She must be quite the little lady by now."

"I haven't seen her either." He said still stunned

George sat down next to Gabriel "You mean you haven't seen her since the trial?" he knew how much Gabriel loved that little girl.

Gabriel shook his head "No my grand father took her back to San Francisco the day after I was convicted. Their phone number was changed so none of my phone calls ever got through and my letters were all sent back. My grandfather told her what I was convicted of when she was old enough to understand. Josie wrote me a letter, she said that she hoped I would rot in hell for killing her mother."

"I'm sorry son." George patted him on the back, knowing how he would feel if Daisy, or one of his other daughters had ever said that to him. He would be mad of course, but it would also rip out his heart.

Suddenly Hammond came to a decision about not only Gabriel but for the rest of SG 13 as well.

"Gabriel I never asked you this, not back then or ever. I guess I was afraid of the answer, because I knew that you would not lie to me." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Did you kill Amanda?" he asked staring at the man's face.

Gabriel raised his eyes to meet the general's "No, I never touched her, never even raised my hand to her."

"Okay" George Hammond nodded "Go get some rest like doctor Fraiser ordered." He said heading back to his office to start calling in some old markers.

Gabriel stood up to leave heading down towards Daniel's office. Reaching it, he knocked and waited. The door opened and he saw Daniel's smiling face.

"Hey Gabriel" he said making room for him to enter.

Gabriel entered and saw that Annie was already they're going over something with Sam.

"I thought that Janet had you down for bed rest."

"She does." He said simply "I just came by to tell you that it's time for practice."

Daniel frowned "Are you sure? I thought you might want to rest."

"I may not be able to practice for a week, but that doesn't mean that you can't." Gabriel snapped out harshly

Startled both Sam and Annie looked up at the angry tone of his voice.

"What's wrong Gabe?" Daniel asked worried, this wasn't like his friend.

Gabriel let out a breath trying to calm down "I'm sorry, it's just that my family is coming to visit."

"Annie was just telling us." Daniel nodded "I take it that isn't a good thing."

Gabriel laughed leaning on a table "What, my mother abandoned me, my grandfather disowned me, and my daughter wants me dead. What's not to look forward to." He said bitterly

Daniel didn't know what to say, looking over at Sam for some help.

"Maybe they've changed?" Sam offered helpfully

"Or" Gabriel pointed out "Maybe they just want to twist the knife a little more."

"You won't know for sure until you meet them." Annie told him "Either way we'll be here for you." She promised him.

Gabriel nodded "Thanks." Rubbing his face, he turned to Daniel "They are going to want to meet you as well."

"Meet me?" Daniel asked surprised

"Yes" Gabriel smiled "You are now Tanaka clan, granted you'll probably be as popular a member of the clan as I am, but you are a member by blood rite. So come on let's go practice, great uncle Chun-li is going to want to see how your training is coming along. I won't have you embarrassing me, so come along we have a lot of work to do before you meet Great uncle Chun-li."

Chapter 5: Visitations

Josie Fuentes nervously handed the temporary pass to the third set of guards they had passed. This was a strange type of prison she thought to herself. Who had ever heard of a prison in the middle of a mountain, although it probably made escape that much harder. Taking the pass back from the smiling guard Josie looked back at her grandmother, who was still strikingly beautiful even in her mid fifties. Great Grandfather was there as well although he looked as though he'd rather be anywhere but here. Josie understood that feeling; she didn't want to be here either. What was she going to say to him? 'Hi dad, long time no see' or 'how's trix pop'. Josie shook her head hoping for divine intervention, like maybe the mountain suddenly disappearing, or maybe aliens could attack and destroy the place. She knew that 'he' didn't care about her, he never wrote, never called, never even sent a lousy postcard, but he was her father. Josie could still remember the old days, before he went away. When they would play all sorts of games and he would always let her win, the martial arts that were so much a part of his life, his legacy to pass on to her the next generation. The pride in his eyes when she was up on stage singing an aria. The stories that he would read to her every night, the times when she was scared of the bogeyman, and mother wouldn't let her come to their bed, instead daddy would come to her room and lie in bed with her. He would gently stroke her hair and promise that no monster would ever get her, that he would always protect her. Maybe that's why he did it, she thought to herself. She remembered at the end, before her mother died, Josie remembered being scared of her. The way she would start screaming for no reason, the way she followed her, daddy and Daisy. Even to a six year old that was something that seemed strange and she could never forget it. In fact later in life that was Josie's secret fear that she would turn out to be just like her mother, a screaming lunatic. Maybe her mother had threatened her and that's why her father had killed her, to protect his baby girl, his pumpkin, as he used to call her.

Then later when she was ten grandfather had told her what had happened, how her father had taken her mother away. Oh, how she hated him then, all Josie could remember was the good times that she had with her mother. She ignored the fights between her parents, and it wasn't until she had learned the facts of life that she had understood all the men that her mother referred to as her "uncles". No back then she hadn't remembered the games or the stories, so she wrote to her father and wished his death in the most painful way possible. It was then that Grandmother Fujiko told her about her father and more importantly about his father. Josie remembered crying herself to sleep that night at what her grandmother told her. Crying for a grandfather that had died years before her own birth, crying for her father for having had to witness it. Her father being beaten and brutalized, scorned because he wasn't Japanese. His own mother didn't even know him, except for some drug-induced memories. Fujiko had told her not to hate her father, that she was the only thing that he had to hold on to in this life.

Josie looked up when she felt an arm across her shoulders, and smiled

"Great uncle." She smiled

Chun-li smiled at his little great grandniece "You look a million miles away Josie-chan." He said affectionately

"I was just thinking what I am going to say to father." She admitted to him

Chun-li nodded understanding "Just follow your heart little dragoness. It will not desert you in your time of need." Moving forward behind another family, he continued, "I too look forward to see my little Dragon again." The old man smiled wondering how much Gabriel had changed over the years.

Josie smiled "You really called him that?" she asked him.

Chun-li smiled and nodded vigorously "Yes, when I first met him he was so full of fire that it burned deeply in his eyes. Your father has suffered much sadness little one, much of it at the hands of our own family. However, I am hopeful, Tenji is here and willing to see his grandson. Years ago he wouldn't have even considered it."

"And grandmother Fujiko?"

Chun-li looked down at the beautiful girl that walked beside him "She has not seen your father since long before he was your age. Tenji forbade it."

"Why?" Josie asked still not understanding how her loving grandfather could have been so mean to her father.

"Pride" Chun-li told her "Pride is a terrible thing Josie-chan, pride forced Tenji to look away from his daughter, and because he looked away terrible things happened to her and her son. It was pride that later forced him to look away from a little boy, because he was only half Japanese."

"But great uncle, I know that I look Japanese but I am even less Japanese than my father. Why does he not treat me like that?"

"Ah, by then your grandmother made him face the truth. It was a bitter pill for him to swallow, but at last, he did not look away. She made him face the truth that Miguel Fuentes was, at the end of his life a good and honorable man who died helping others. Then you came to us a lost little girl, and you melted his heart, that is why he dotes on you."

"But not you." Josie smiled

Chun-li looked shocked "Of course you did, but I also promised your father to teach you the old ways as I taught him. It was the only thing that he could give you."

Fujiko Tanaka turned to her granddaughter "Come Josie, Uncle, we must hurry." She told them.

"My boy has grown to manhood." She thought to herself "With a daughter of his own who is almost a woman."

"Will he even recognize me?" she suddenly wondered, "Will he even speak to me?"

Fujiko's mind was awash with memories and was ashamed when she couldn't remember some of them. The drugs had robbed her of those, she had failed her son. She had failed in her duty to Gabriel; instead, she sought escape for herself and left her son to deal with his father. Fujiko still couldn't believe the change that had come over he husband back then. It was as if seeing her in pain and on drugs was the wake up call that Miguel needed to wake up himself. He began to take responsibility for his actions, he'd stopped drinking and concentrated on his career and his family. Eventually Miguel had even succeded in getting her to stop taking heroin. And then just when things seemed as if they were going to be alright, Miguel was dead, shot to death by a young hispanic over fifty dollars. Mariko remembered rushing into the police station, the wide-
eyed, tearstained frightened face of a five-year-old child sitting in a police station after just having been forced to watch his father die. It was that look which saved her life; it was that look that drove her to go home and beg her father for forgiveness and to take her son. Gabriel looked so lost and hurt when she had come to the station, well at least Mariko was grateful that the last memories that he had of his father were good ones. The police officers were taking turns trying to make the little boy smile, but they all failed. Except for one officer, when she was taking him away from there a big tough older police officer looked at the little boy. "Don't you ever forget that your father died a hero." He said, Gabriel smiled and nodded. Going home had been so hard, but her father had forgiven her, and took her son on the condition that she went to detox. Fujiko remembered those days and the long nights of horror, when she saw herself for who she really was. Saw what she had done to her son, and to herself. The nights she cried begging God to forgive her and to give her another chance. God had listened but not in the way that she thought. Returning home her father had laid down the law, he thought it for the best not to remember the past, she agreed at the time it was too painful to look back it would take many years and a little girl to give her the courage to do that, to remember and to ask for forgiveness. Looking at her father, she knew that he now realized that it was the wrong decision, but there was little that he could do to change it now. The nights they had stayed awake while she nursed her other children from her new husband a brother and two sisters that Gabriel had never met. Her father told her how he punished Gabriel because he looked like his father, the man who had hurt her, told her how sorry he was that he had failed her and her child, the shame he felt for taking his anger out on an innocent boy. However, it was too late Gabriel was already gone living on the streets somewhere. That was the scariest time in her life, at least before she could watch Gabriel from a distance, playing with his great uncle, or training with him the ancient arts. After Gabriel left though, she couldn't see him, didn't know what had happened to him. For nine years nothing not a word, Fujiko had long since thought him dead when he finally called. Her father took the call and remembered his face as he spoke on the phone; he left that very night explaining very little. She remembered her father saying that now was not a good time for her to see her son. Her husband Jengko was dying at the time, cancer had spread throughout his brain, her three other children needed her to be there for them. He explained that Gabriel was in trouble with the law and that she should wait and see what happened, and he promised if possible that he would bring Gabriel home. Weeks passed before her father had returned and when he finally did, he bought not Gabriel but Gabriel's daughter. Her father explained what had happened and that Gabriel had been convicted and sentenced to death. Gabriel had asked them to take his daughter, and that is when God answered Fujiko's prayer. She showered all the love and kindness that she had wanted to give to Gabriel on his daughter, protected her from harm, as she had failed to do for her son. Then Jengko died and her life had fallen apart again, it was a long time before she got over that, had it not been for her children and for little Josie, she was sure that she wouldn't have made it. Now another ten years had passed since she has seen her first-born child, and again she wondered if she had the courage to see him. Could she stand the look of hatred in his eyes when he looked at her, she could only hope.

Gabriel paced back and forth on the grounds around the mountain, worried, and extremely nervous. How would he react to seeing them again, how would his grandfather react towards him after all this time. Checking the nearby table for the hundredth time he saw the large bundle of letters that he'd place there earlier, ten years worth of letters to his daughter one a week for ten years an extra one for all birthdays and Christmases.

"Relax Gabriel." Daniel told him again "You're going to pace yourself into the ground."

Gabriel stopped for a moment then started again, "This is the way I felt a few days before my scheduled execution." He told him

"Is that them?" Daniel asked pointing

Gabriel turned and saw them, his heart pounding he merely nodded to Daniel that it indeed was them.

Josie stopped ten feet from him, he looked so old and tired and afraid. Tossing all thoughts aside, she ran to her father jumping into his arms.

Gabriel panicked when he saw Josie; she was beautiful long raven hair half way down her back, luminescent green eyes shining, flawless ivory skin. He saw her stop and his heart almost did the same, then she ran the distance between them jumping into his arms saying the one word that he'd wanted to hear for so long.

"Daddy" she sobbed into the crook of his neck squeezing her arms around him for all that she was worth.

"Josie" he whispered into her hair holding onto her as a drowning man would a life preserver. Tears falling down his face as he kissed her over and over.

"Oh God how I've missed you." Pulling back "Let me take a good look at you." He said "You're a woman now, look how beautiful you are."

Josie hugged her father again "Oh daddy, I'm so sorry I wrote you that letter. Please forgive me, please."

"There is nothing to forgive." He told her just holding her

Gabriel and Josie stayed that way for ten minutes, tears falling unheeded from both. Finally Josie pulled back wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Why didn't you write?" she asked hurt at his silence for so many years.

"Write?" Gabriel asked confused "I wrote, every week I wrote, but I always got the letters back."

Josie's eyes opened wide "We moved." She told him "We moved to New York, didn't you get the letter."

"No" Gabriel told her "I thought you didn't want to hear from me."

"I always wanted to hear from you." She protested, and then realized "Then you never got the new address."

"No, but I still have the letters I sent." Gabriel told her pointing to the table

Josie's eyes widened when she saw the stacks of letters

"One for every week since I've been gone, one for every birthday and one for every Christmas." He told her looking up he saw the rest of his family standing waiting to be recognized.

Kissing her once more he stood up, "Josie, let me speak to your grandparents, you go look over your letters. By the way that's your uncle Daniel."

"Uncle Daniel?" the girl asked confused.

"Yes, he is my blood brother, say hello while I talk to your grandmother."

Josie nodded knowing that this was going to be the hard part. Josie made her way to the handsome blonde man sitting by the table.

"You must be Josie." Daniel told her

"Yes" she said shyly bowing to her elder

"Your father has told me a lot about you."

Josie stared at the handsome man confused "You're my uncle Daniel?"

Daniel smiled at the honorary title "Yes, I guess I am."

"Are you a prisoner too?"

Daniel shook his head "No, I work with your father here at this base."

Josie's eyes opened wide "You mean this isn't a prison."

"No" Daniel smiled "This is an Air Force base, I am a linguist and an archeologist."

Confused Josie looked around "Uncle Daniel, please tell me what is going on."

Gabriel approached his family, he stopped the appropriate distance away and bowed deeply "Mother, Grandfather, Uncle, I am honored that you came." He said in Japanese

Tenji Tanaka smiled and returned the bow "It is we who are honored to be received with such honor."

"It has been a long time." Gabriel continued in the language of his youth

"Too long my son." Fujiko told him "Please let us sit and talk, there is much I wish to say to you." She added nervously, but also proud, her son was all grown up and the spitting image of his father.

Turning they headed towards the table

Chun-li smiled looking up at his grandnephew, he'd grown several inches since they had last seen one another "I see that my little dragon is not so little anymore." He joked

Gabriel smiled "Thank you uncle, it is good to see you again."

"You have kept up with your practice I trust." Chun-li smiled

"Of course, I even have a student now."

"A student?" Tenji asked surprised

"Yes Grandfather, the man sitting with Josie. He is my blood brother, so I felt duty bound to teach him."

"Blood brother huh?" Chun-li asked skeptically

"Yes great uncle."

"Is he any good?"

Gabriel smiled "You will have to see for yourself and tell me if I am teaching him well."

As they approached, Gabriel made the introductions "Doctor Daniel Jackson, may I introduce you to my grandfather Tenji Tanaka, my mother Fujiko Tanaka, and my great uncle Chun-li Tanaka."

Daniel bowed deeply and spoke to them in Japanese "I am greatly honored to meet you."

Fujiko smiled as she bowed as well "We are honored as well, you speak Japanese very well, there is no trace of an accent."

"Thank you"

"I hear you are Gabriel's blood brother." Chun-li asked staring at the young man up and down.

"I have that honor yes."

Chun-li turned and pointed to a secluded spot "Then come Daniel Tanaka, let us see how your studies are coming. Come little dragoness, let us leave your father for a moment."

"One second Uncle." Josie turned to her father "You are a doctor now?"

Gabriel smiled wondering what Daniel told her "Not that kind of doctor, I have a doctorate in ancient history."

Josie smiled "Wow, I can't wait to tell my friends, my father the doctor."

"Josie?" A voice called out uncertainly

Josie turned and suddenly her face lit up "Daisy!" running she nearly tackled the older woman who hugged the girl just as tightly.

Chun-li smiled as he watched the joy of his great great grandniece "Come Daniel, it looks as though it will just be you and me."

Gabriel smiled as he watched Daisy lead Josie away. Turning back he faced his mother.

"Josie tells me you moved to New York." He began

His mother nodded "Nine years ago almost ten now, the business needed us to be there. We sent you a letter telling you."

Gabriel nodded "So Josie tells me, but I never received it."

"So that is why you never wrote to your daughter." Tenji said finally understanding a father's silence to his only child.

"I wrote." He said motioning to the letters on the table "All of these are hers, but they were sent back."

The silence was strained; nobody seemed to want to go first, to start the conversation going. Finally, Fujiko began talking, and once she started it was like a tidal wave that never seemed to want to stop. Soon Gabriel began and he too kept talking and talking, sharing long buried emotions, telling them of his hardships. Even Tenji got involved and spoke at length. Hours passed and they still talked on and on.

"So you still seeing my Dad?" Josie asked leaning her head on Daisy's shoulder as they sat under a tree catching up on everything.

"Sort of." Daisy admitted running her fingers through Josie's hair "It's kinda hard to explain our relationship right now. Hopefully soon it will all work itself out."

"Uncle Daniel said that Daddy has sort of a commuted sentence?"

Daisy shrugged "That's one way to look at it. Hopefully your dad will be out soon, he just has to do a few things first."

Josie nodded "You mean Rambo type stuff." She said knowingly

Daisy stopped in mid stroke "What did Daniel tell you?" she asked the girl

"Nothing" Josie admitted then turned to Daisy "I'm not a little girl anymore Daisy, my uncle Chun-li has been teaching me like he taught my father. I know what he is capable of doing besides that he is a navy SEAL and I know that there is only one reason that the government would ever consider letting my father go from a death sentence. That's if he does something that warrants it."

Daisy smiled putting an arm around the young woman "I can see that you are grown up.", and I missed it, she thought bitterly.

"Is it dangerous?" Green eyes looked up frightened at Daisy, Josie had just found her father again after so many years, she did not want to lose him now.

Daisy shook her head "I can't talk about it Josie, but I am looking out for him as much as I can." She promised

"When will he be let go?"

"Soon I hope." Smiling Daisy decided to change the subject "Hey my father wants to see you."

The young girl's eyes lit up remembering the general "Grandpa George is here!"

Daisy smiled at her eagerness "He sure is, he runs the place. Come on I know just where he is." They stood up and headed towards the mountain.

Jack O'Neill stood with the rest of SG1 minus Daniel, Janet and Cassandra were also present as was General Hammond. Looking around they saw that SG 13 was present and were having a good time with their families.

"They look happy." Sam smiled as she watched Annie with her nephew who looked about three years old. Washington sat under a tree with his wife and son, enjoying a home cooked meal with gusto while still managing to play with a four-year-old boy. Even Sam Pierson was smiling with his father and uncles, his mother sitting under the shade of a tree looking a bit out of sorts. Then again, Sam reminded herself, she just lost a son.

"What's Kennedy doing here?" O'Neill asked as he watched the man approaching the seated woman holding a package.

The group watched as Kennedy stopped before Mrs. Pierson and her husband and opened the package. Pulling out a folded American flag, he passed it to Mrs. Pierson.

"On behalf of a grateful nation." He told her then stood up and saluted her

They watched as Mrs. Pierson hugged the flag to her chest and began to cry. Mr. Pierson held out a hand and shook Kennedy's hand.

"This guy is turning out to be pretty decent." O'Neill whispered to the others amazed at the man's thoughtfulness.

"Grandpa George!" they all heard

Turning they all saw a young oriental girl with green eyes running to the general.

"Josie" George Hammond smiled hugging the girl

"Grandpa George?" O'Neill whispered earning him an elbow in the stomach from Janet

Hammond shook his head staring at the young girl, "You've grown up to be a beautiful young lady, just like your father said you would."

Josie's cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink and she was introduced to the rest of the group. Smiling Josie was surprised to meet another girl about her age and they began to talk in earnest.

Daniel limped towards the group, with one hand on his back and the other on his knee. Sam stood up and helped him over to a chair.

"What happened to you?" she asked worriedly

"Uncle Chun-li happened." He muttered

Josie looked at her elder with concern "Uncle Daniel, did uncle Chun-li do that to you?" she asked

"Uncle Daniel?" Jack whispered earning him another elbow from Janet "Hey quit it." He mumbled, "You ask a simple question." He muttered to himself

"I'll be alright." He told the young girl

Suddenly a little old Japanese man appeared in the middle of the group. No one saw him approach, one moment he wasn't there and the next he was. Smiling gently the old man looked at Daniel.

"You did well Daniel Tanaka, you show promise. Here allow me." Taking the knee the old man quickly twisted it, an audible crack sounded. Daniel yelped and jumped up.

"My knee" he said awed "It feels better."

Chun-li bowed, as did Daniel

"I must go now and speak to Gabriel. Excuse me."

Walking away Jack shook his head laughing "That little old guy beat you up Daniel."

Daniel nodded and Josie smiled fondly at her uncle "He is a devil."

"That is one tough old man." Daniel told them "He threw me around like a rag doll."

Josie put a hand on Daniel's arm "He's just trying to see if you have found your center yet. I know it took me forever to find mine." She explained to him remembering how many times she had wound up on her butt.

"Find your center?" Cassandra asked confused

Josie nodded "When you find your center, no one can move you."

"Right" Jack joked

"Would you like to try?" Josie challenged hands on hips

Jack smiled at the short girl in front of him "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't, and I'll try not to hurt you." Josie said calmly

"Oh-oh sir" Sam snickered "The gauntlet has been thrown."

"Alright what do you want me to do?" Jack asked to put an end to this ridiculousness

"Try and move me." Josie told him, closing her eyes she seemed to go into a trance

"Oh for heavens sake." Jack tried to shove the girl who didn't budge an inch

"What the..." Jack tried again putting more weight into it, still the girl didn't move. Jack tried to lift the small girl, but still she wouldn't budge. It was as if she had suddenly gained a few hundred pounds. Suddenly like lightening the girl moved and Colonel Jack O'Neill, Black ops special forces trained as he was found himself flying through the air with the greatest of ease.

"Wow" Cassandra was awed "Where did you learn how to do that!"

"Uncle Chun-li." The girl said with a smile

Jack stood up shakily and Janet helped him laughing, "Josie don't hurt the colonel anymore okay?"

"Okay" Josie said happily

"Have you toured the base yet?" Cassandra asked already wanting to know this girl better

Josie shook her head "No, not yet."

"Come on I'll show you around."

The two girls bounced away towards the mountain

General Hammond tried to keep the smirk off his face "Are you okay colonel?"

Jack looked after the girl "That is one tough little girl, I feel sorry for all her future boyfriends who try anything with her."

Daniel rubbed his back "At least you got thrown by a student, I got thrown around by the master."

Later Josie sat with her father talking about everything, about the past, the present and hopefully the future as well. It was close to end of the day when they sat facing the setting sun watching it slowly descend in the sky.

"I've missed you so much daddy." Feeling safe in his arms, just as she had when she was a little girl.

"I've missed you too pumpkin."

Josie smiled leaning her head into his chest "I like it when you call me that."

Gabriel returned her smile hugging her even tighter "I spoke with your great grand father about you."

"Really?" Josie asked nervously wondering what had been said.

Nervously Gabriel nodded and told her "It's up to you really, but we thought that you might want to stay around here in town. Great uncle Chun-li has volunteered to get an apartment here or rent a house something like that. So that we can be near each other."

"Really!" Josie asked excitedly

Gabriel raised a hand "It's a big decision honey, you would be leaving your school and all your friends, your singing career."

"I don't care, I just want to be near you daddy." The girl pleaded

"It won't be easy" Gabriel warned her "I'm still technically a prisoner here. I don't know when I can see you, but I promise that I will try to see you as often as possible. Hopefully, I'll be out soon, and I can get a job and get a place and we can be together again."

Josie hugged him tightly "That's what I want Daddy, please let me stay." She begged him not wanting to be away from her father anymore.

Gabriel smiled "Like I said it is up to you."

"Then I'm staying." She told him in no uncertain terms

Gabriel hugged his daughter to him "You've made me so happy." He whispered to her feeling his heart swelling in his chest. Suddenly Gabriel realized that once again he was a hair's length away from getting everything he wanted in life. Daisy still loves him and has told him that she would wait for him. Now Josie was here with him and also loved him. Gabriel Fuentes was fifteen missions away from the brass ring, he just couldn't wait.

Chapter 6: Interludes

Judge Advocate General's Corps Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Commander Harmon Rabb smiled as he entered the offices of the Judge Advocate General that Monday morning after spending a delightful weekend sailing. Entering his office, he dropped his hat on his desk and sat in his chair spinning around once, then twice.

Lt Colonel Sarah Mackenzie smiled as she saw her friend and colleague acting like a five year old.

"You seem like you're in a good mood." She remarked leaning against the door

Harm stopped and smiled "Yeah, had a really good weekend."

"You look it, nice suntan." She said noting that his tan really stood out against the white of his uniform

"Thank you, how was your weekend?" he inquired

Sarah sighed and dropped into a chair "Working on closing arguments for the Pendril case."

"Ewww!" Harm shivered at the very thought of working on such a beautiful weekend "Hey if you're not doing anything next weekend, my friend is lending me his sailboat again, Bud and Harriet are both coming along." He offered

"That sounds like fun." Sarah had to admit; a weekend of sailing was just what the doctor ordered for a very tired lt. Colonel. Besides she had a new bikini that she wanted to try out, maybe knock a certain commander off his feet."

"Do you know what time it is?" Harm said checking his watch and shaking his wrist "Forgot to wind it this morning."

"0910 and fifteen seconds" She said automatically without ever checking the clock in the hall

Harm shook his head as he wound his watch, amazed as always whenever she did that. "One day you are going to have to tell me how you do that."

Mac shook her head smiling "I have to keep some of my secrets."

Lt. Bud Roberts knocked on the door

"Come on in Bud." Harm waved to him

"Commander, Colonel" he nodded to his superiors

"What's up?" Harm asked as he put his watch back on.

"The admiral wants to see the both of you at your convience."

Harm and Sarah exchanged glances wondering what was up "Well Mac I think we should go see what the 'old man' wants."

Nodding Sarah and Harm made their way to the admiral's office and knocked on the door.

"Come" Came a crisp reply

Opening the door the two officers entered quickly and stood at attention before their commanding officer, one Admiral A.J. Chedwiggen.

"At ease" he told them motioning to some chairs

Taking seats Harm began "You wanted to see us sir?"

Nodding Chedwiggen sat back in his chair "Do either of you know an Air Force General named George Hammond?" he asked

"By reputation sir." Mac nodded "A career officer, very well liked and respected. I heard that he was supposed to retire some time ago."

"He was" the Admiral agreed "But he was offered one last command and it seems that he loves it there so much he won't retire until they drag him out of there. Probably kicking and screaming the whole way." he smiled.

"I take it that you know the general, sir." Rabb stated the obvious

"Yes, back about ten, twelve years ago in Norfolk Virginia, there was a small joint Air Force, Navy base there, SEALS were there to train Air force Special Forces teams. I was a captain back then under Admiral Steinman who was in charge of the Navy side of it and Generals Jacob Carter and George Hammond were the Air Force side of it."

"Two generals sir?" Mac was surprised usually that would just cause conflicts in a command.

"Well he as a colonel then, George and I were sort of the intermediaries between the admiral and General Carter. George is one of those rare military men who doesn't care what uniform you wear as long as you are serving your country. It was our job to see to it that there were no disagreements between the Navy and the Air Force personnel."

Harm smiled thinking of how much fun that job must have been; competition between the services has been there since the beginning of time.

"George and I became friends there and I have been a guest at his table on many occasions, and he also saved my life once. So when he called me this morning for a big favor I couldn't turn it down." The admiral told them getting to the point of the meeting.

"Favor sir?" Mac asked sitting straight in her chair

Chedwiggen nodded and pointed to Rabb "Yes, you might remember this as well commander, that is if you remember your first case as a JAG lawyer."

Harmon Rabb grimaced; yes, he did remember, "Yes sir, United States Vs. Lt Gabriel Fuentes."

"Yes" the admiral, agreed, "You lost that case as I remember."

Rabb remembered it wasn't one of his finest hours "Yes sir, I remember thinking at the time that it seemed to me that the case was stacked against him before one word of testimony was bought in." Quickly he added, "Then again I was young and very inexperienced."

"I'm not so sure." Chedwiggen told him opening the file "I knew Lt Fuentes you know."

Rabb hadn't known "No sir I was not aware of that."

The admiral nodded "Yes I was his commanding officer for a time, just before I was transferred and made admiral. Everything that happened, happened soon after I left, Lt Fuentes was one of the best and brightest I've ever had under me. He was a rising star, full LT by twenty three and he was on the selection list for Lt commander at twenty-five, purple heart, bronze star, silver star then he was arrested. He was a good man commander." He told them

"What was the case?" Sarah asked confused never actually hearing of the case.

"Murder one" Harm told her, recalling the specifics of the case "LT Fuentes was accused of murdering his wife or to be more specific his ex-
wife with a combat knife. Although there was no body, no proof of death except for a bloody knife and hairs and fibers, her prints were found on the premises and his prints on the knife. Also there was a half a million dollar life insurance policy taken out on her life three weeks before her death, double indemnity for sudden death."

"Evidence?" Chedwiggen asked already knowing having read the file.

"Nothing hard." Harm shook his head "The combat knife was his so of course his prints were on it. His wife or his ex-wife to be more precise was at the house often to take out their daughter, he had custody and besides she had lived there before the separation. So, her hair and prints could have come at anytime. In addition, there was no proof that it was even he that took out the policy at the time, the broker couldn't identify him. The only thing that was against him was that it was her blood that was on the knife and his name as primary beneficiary on the life insurance policy."

"And the verdict."

"He was sentenced to death."

Sarah's eyes opened wide "With that evidence?"

Chedwiggen leaned across his desk "What didn't make into the court room."

Harm shrugged recalling the information; it was ten years, but that case Harm would never forget. "Mrs. Fuentes had a reputation for trying to bed the seventh fleet at least that was the rumor, I did find six men who all claim to have been intimate with her. None of them was ever allowed to testify. Lt Fuentes even says that he caught her in bed with the base CO while their daughter was playing in the living room; I was never allowed to confirm that. Also the testimony of the insurance broker was thrown out with the exception that there was a policy which he was the key beneficiary."

"And that didn't make it into the trial?" Chedwiggen asked

"Thrown out as immaterial to the case at hand." Harm told them

"Okay" Chedwiggen nodded then opened another file "Have either of you ever heard of Antoinette Yates?"

Both officers shook their heads

Reading from the file "Captain Antoinette Yates, US Army and PhD in astrophysics was assigned to the Palo Alto testing facility in California. Seven years ago she was working on a fusion reactor for the army, at this time as well she allegedly filed a sexual harassment suit against her CO a General Macalister. Two months later while she was at lunch the reactor blew up killing five enlisted and five officers and taking out almost the entire building there were about thirty wounded as well. Her commanding officer accused her of deliberately rigging the explosion, because one of her colleagues a Major Steven Hanson was taking credit for all her work, he died in the explosion. It was basically a case of a General's word over that of a captain, she was convicted of ten counts of first degree murder, thirty counts of attempted murder and sentenced to death."

"What about her sexual harassment case against the General?" Harm asked knowing what he could do with that at a trial.

"The paperwork was squashed, who would believe the word of a convicted murderer." Chedwiggen told them

Opening another file he read "Hospital Corpsman Chief Petty officer Lincoln Washington."

"That was a pretty big case." Harm said "What two or three years ago."

"Yeah" Mac agreed, "He murdered the base chaplain claiming that the man was a racist who tried to lynch him with a group of others."

Chedwiggen nodded and opened another file "I spoke to one of the investigators in that case this morning, it seems a lot of evidence disappeared from that case as well."

"Like what?" Harm asked

"Well if my information is correct, a room full of white supremist paraphernalia, and a list of officers names that were also allegedly part of the group, all commanders and up the chain. Supposedly this was all found in the chaplains quarters. It never made it to trial because it all disappeared. My informant said that he was told to keep quiet by several high ranking naval officers one of which was his CO."

"Oh-oh." Harm shook his head "So what do all these cases have in common sir, besides shaky evidence."

Chedwiggen closed the files and stared at the two officers "We have at least three people here whose convictions are questionable to say the least. Now George Hammond has asked me to look into these cases and after reviewing the evidence here I tend to agree." Chedwiggen passed the files to Harm "I am ordering these three cases reopened, quietly of course. You two are to dig around and see what you can come up with, but I want it done quietly. If any of these convictions fail to stand up, some very important people are going to have to answer for it." He warned them

"Where do we start?" Mac asked the admiral

"Well I suggest that you go and meet with these prisoners and talk to them. Get their sides of the stories and then take it from there."

"What stockades are they located in?" Harm asked taking the files

"They're not." Chedwiggen told them seeing if they were smart enough to figure out the truth.

Harm thought about it opening the files he looked at the three people, Antoinette Yates although a woman was very muscular, also was qualified a range master with a handgun and M-16, the others, Fuentes was a SEAL, Washington a medic.

"Black ops." He guessed unable to think of another reason as to why people with these particular skills were out of prison.

"Got it in one." Chedwiggen nodded

"So where do we find them?" Mac asked looking through the files herself

"Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado springs." The admiral told them

Harm looked surprised "Colorado Springs? What's out there?"

Chedwiggen shook his head "I have no idea Commander, George told me all he could. What ever it is, it is ultra top secret and those three are part of the suicide squad. They do the missions with little or no chance of survival." He told them "That is why there is some urgency to this, they could be sent out at any time. If any of them are indeed innocent, then they are being put into harms way for no reason. Especially since I have learned from the General that the conditions that they are living in are not good. They are sent on missions, when those missions are accomplished, they are put back into cells. They have no rank, they receive no pay, and they have no choice."

Sarah Mackenzie knew that there had to be more of a reason why a general was getting involved with these cases "Why is the general getting involved though?" Mac asked, "I mean why should he question these convictions."

Chedwiggen leaned back in his chair "Commander do you remember Daisy Hammond?"

Harm nodded "Oh yeah, she is one lady you don't quickly forget. She was very beautiful, she was engaged to Lt. Fuentes, they were just waiting for his divorce to become final and he was being transferred somewhere."

"George's daughter." He told them simply

"Oh" Mac understood immediately "So sir when do we leave."

The Admiral sat up straight picking up another file dismissing them "Your flight leaves in four hours, I suggest that you go home and pack enough for a few weeks. You will be hopping around the country for a while. If you need any help just call and let me know. Call me anyway after you meet with these prisoners and give my your personal opinions." he ordered

Both officers stood up and saluted the Admiral

"Dismissed"

Outside Harm looked at the file again "That Fuentes case never did seem right to me. Even when I appealed the case, they wouldn't even consider new evidence."

Mac smiled knowing how much Harm hated to lose, "Well we are about to find out Commander."

Harm suggested, "Pick you up in two and a half hours?"

Mac nodded "Sounds right."

Josie Fuentes was smiling as she strolled around her new neighborhood. The house that Great Uncle Chun-li had found was large and spacious with a large back yard. Even better, the school was located within walking distance and the mountain was only about thirty minutes away. The record company and her manager were put out by the sudden move, but she could care less what they thought. Josie had called first thing that morning and spoke to her father telling him about the new house and about the school. He had been so happy to hear from her, the words of love and the feeling that came through the phone had made Josie feel like she was floating on air. Her father loved her, after so many years of thinking that, he hated her for writing that stupid letter, and then it turned out to be a stupid mistake of miscommunication. Josie stopped in front of a house with a beautiful rose garden, inhaling the fragrance that she found there. The entire neighborhood in fact was beautiful, a lot nicer than living in the commercialized city of New York. Trees lined the quiet streets and there was a huge mall not too far away that Josie just couldn't wait to go and visit and get to buying a whole new wardrobe. The only thing that depressed her was that Uncle Chun-li would have to go with her, and if he had his way, she would go to school dressed in a kimono and tied with a huge obi, while Josie wanted tank tops and belly shirts and mini-skirts. At least with Grand mother there was always a compromise and they got things that they both liked. Somehow, Josie didn't think that would work with her elderly uncle.

"Josie?"

Josie turned around hearing her name

"Cassie!" Josie smiled "What are you doing here?" she asked surprised to see the girl.

Cassandra Fraiser smiled making her way to Josie "I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought that you were going back to New York with your family?"

Josie shook her head happily, "My Grandparents and my father came to an agreement, that I could stay for awhile. You know be closer to my dad, he's supposed to be out of the service soon and we've been apart for so long." Josie decided that a variation of the truth wasn't a lie "So Uncle Chun-li rented a house here for me and him."

"Where?" Cassie asked already liking the girl

"Right over there." Josie pointed to the large house

"That was the Cramer's house, Jennifer was my best friend. Her dad got a promotion at work and they had to move to California." Cassie told her "I live right here." She pointed to the white house with green shutters just three doors down.

"Wow we're neighbors." Josie laughed feeling as if she already had a friend here in this new town.

"Want to come over, grab a snack?" Cassie asked all ready to see if she'd found a new best friend.

Josie smiled happily "Sure just let me run home and tell my uncle."

"I'll go with you." She offered

"Great." The girls ran off towards the house

Cassie and Josie were in the living room dancing with the music cranked up so loud that the house was practically shaking. Both girls were laughing hysterically; bags of junk food were strewn all over the place as they kept time with the music.

"CASSANDRA!" the voice cut through the music as only a mother's voice could

Immediately both Cassandra and Josie stopped and turned to see a very upset Janet Fraiser behind her stood SG 1 all trying hard not to laugh at the situation, each glad that it wasn't their child.

Cassie turned down the music quickly and faced her mother a look of pure innocence on her face "Hi mom, you're home early." She stammered looking around guiltily

"Mrs. Fraiser." Josie bowed turning a bright pink embarrassed as well

"Josie?" Janet was so surprised to see the girl in her home that she forgot for a moment about the mess "What are you doing here?"

Cassie smiled "Josie and her uncle just moved in down the street."

"The Cramer house?"

"Yes, isn't that great!" Cassie said excitedly "Hi guys" Cassie waved at SG 1

"What is this mess?" Janet asked remembering that she was mad

"We'll clean it up right away mom." Cassie promised the two girls diving at the task of straightening the room up.

"Kids!" Janet sighed and turned to Sam "And you want to have some one of these days?"

Sam laughed, "Come on admit it Janet, you love it."

"On days like this I wonder." She said smiling as well knowing that she wouldn't want her life any other way, well except for perhaps adding a new member to it, she thought looking at the colonel and then maybe adding another little member or two after that if she was lucky.

Jack shook his head laughing "Come on men, to the grill." He ordered

As Jack, Daniel and Teal'c headed out back the two women stood side-by-
side "What is it with men and open fires." Janet asked staring after the men.

Sam shook her head "You know I asked Daniel that once."

"Well?" Janet inquired curiously

"He said it was a way for men to remember their Neanderthal heritage by cooking raw meat over an open fire. It let's them get back to nature. You know that whole chest beating 'me man you woman' type of thing." She explained with a shrug

Janet shrugged; well it made some sort of sense "Well he is the anthropologist."

Sam laughed again, "Come on I'll help you put those things away." She offered

As they entered the kitchen, they saw that the two young ladies were just finishing up in there and getting ready to tackle the living room.

"Mom, can we ask you a favor?" Cassie asked sheepishly

"What?" Janet asked suspiciously already on guard

Cassie elbowed Josie to continue, the girl turned bright pink and stared at the floor "Well, um... I have to go shopping for new clothes for school, and um... usually my grandmother comes with me but she is in New York."

"Yes?" Janet prompted the shy girl; she could almost swear that the girl was turning pinker and pinker by the second.

"Well, um, that means that I have to go shopping with my great great uncle Chun-li."

"And the two of you don't see eye to eye in the types of clothes you wear." Janet stated in understanding

Josie nodded finally looking up her face a bright pink "If it were left to my uncle, I would have to go to school in a kimono."

"Mom, you can't let that happen, the kids would freak." Cassie protested horrified by the very notion

Sam nodded opening a bag of chips "She's right Janet, kimono's are definitely out this season." She joked

With an evil gleam in her eye Janet nodded "If it is okay with your uncle, Sam and I would be happy to take you shopping this weekend."

"What!?" Sam began choking on a potato chip

The two girls rushed the two women hugging them both "Thank you so much Mrs. Fraiser."

"Janet" she smiled at the young girl "But you have to clear it with your uncle." She reminded the girl

Josie smiled "That's okay Janet, I'll just tell him that I need new underwear. He will be glad to be let off the hook."

Cassie smiled eagerly to her new friend "Come on I have some circulars upstairs, I saw something that would be perfect for you."

Janet pointed a finger at the two girls "After you clean the living room girls and we are having dinner soon, Josie you are welcome to join us, so is your uncle." Figuring that if they just moved in they probably didn't have much set up in their new home.

"I'll run home and tell him. Thank you again Janet, Sam." Josie bowed again politely

After the girls left Sam shook her head "Those two are going to make some pair." She warned.

"Don't I know it." Janet agreed staring after the two girls "You don't mind coming on Saturday do you?"

"Not at all." Sam told her friend "I just remembered I need some new underwear as well."

"Something sexy?" Janet asked

"Lacey and silky." Sam agreed with a grin

Janet smiled opening the refrigerator she asked, "How are things going between you two?", Janet already knew that she had never seen Samantha Carter this happy before.

Sam sighed happily "I pretty much knew that we would be happy together, but I never imagined that it would be this good. After Jonas..." Sam shivered at the memories "Daniel is the polar opposite of him, in fact he is the polar opposite of any man that I have ever dated. He actually listens when I spout off about my experiments, even if he doesn't understand a word that I'm saying. It's like Daniel knows that sometimes I just need to hear myself, and he just listens patiently, he even tosses in a few ideas and we bounce it back and forth between us. He just doesn't sit there with this blank expression on his face, hoping that I'll let him run off and watch whatever game is on. I can talk to Daniel about anything, about my joys and my fears. Jonas would have judged me by that and would have found someway to turn it against me, Daniel just listens and does his best to help me. Don't tell him I said this, but Daniel is quite the cuddler too. We often find ourselves in front of the T.V. watching some movie or other and just cuddling through the whole thing." Sam shivered, wondering if there was anything good on T.V. tonight.

"Sounds good." Janet smiled putting away groceries

Sam nodded "I think it's because we started out as friends, we built this level of trust and respect between us first. Then it led to something else, I don't know if it would have been the same if we became lovers first and friends later."

"You may be right about that." Janet agreed "But then again there was that whole Sha're thing between you, when you first met." She pointed out reasonably

"Yeah" Sam admitted "That was my biggest fear, that is what kept me from acting on my feelings a lot sooner. I thought that he still wasn't over her."

"And he was?" Janet asked surprised, everyone on base knew how Daniel felt about his missing wife.

"Yes and no." Sam told her "We spoke about it at length that first night. He said that he still loved her, that he would always love her. That he thought that he would never be able to love again and he even said that he was afraid to love again. Because everyone he'd ever loved had left him." Sam brushed away her tears; Janet hugged her friend and sat her down at the kitchen table.

"But then he said he met me." Sam smiled wiping the tears "That no matter how hard he tried not to care about me, to not love me, that he just couldn't help but to fall in love again."

Janet wiped her friends face "I think that's beautiful."

Sam smiled nodding then wiped away her tears "Now it's your turn, how are things going with the colonel?"

Janet blew out a giant breath "I don't know what it is about us and men with emotional baggage." She started "At first, it was all I could do to keep him around here. Jack would get all nervous about being here with me; personally, I think that it has to do with his ex and losing his son the way he did. So we took things slow, that's why I never said anything to you before." Janet admitted "I didn't know if it was going to last between us, then slowly but surely he began to open up to me and me to him. It wasn't easy though." Janet shook her head "I thought that I'd faint the first time that I saw him cry."

"The colonel cried?" Sam asked amazed

"Don't you dare say a word, not even to Daniel." Janet begged her

"I swear." Sam promised

Janet remembered that night; it was one that she would never forget. The night she saw a man who was in deep pain ready to end it all. "It was the anniversary of Charlie's death, I went over to his place and he was rip roaring drunk." Janet ducked her head "It was the first time that I was ever scared of him, and for him. He was ranting and raving on how it was his fault, waving his gun around." Janet began to wipe the tears from her own eyes "He was hysterical, that's when I told him I loved him. That stopped him cold, and I was able to get the gun away from him. He started to cry saying that he didn't deserve to be loved, that he had killed his own son. I told him that wasn't his fault, it was a terrible, terrible accident and that Charlie would say the same thing if he were here. Then he sat down and we talked, I mean really talked, no jokes, no sarcasm, he opened up to me in a way that I don't even think that he even talked to Sara that way. He told me things, things that he'd done for his country, I think that he was trying to prove his case of not deserving love. He talked till dawn and when he finally stopped, I told him that I still loved him and so did Cassie." Janet smiled wiping away the last of her tears "Ever since that night, he's been like a different man. Oh don't get me wrong he is still sarcastic as hell, but now he talks to me and doesn't just go off and mope and get drunk."

Jack and Daniel were standing by the grill checking the progress of the burgers and sausages. Teal'c was setting the table when Cassie and Josie came outside.

"Teal'c, Josie and her uncle are coming over for dinner so we'll need two more places." Smiling she went over to Jack and gave him a big hug.

"How you doing sugar." Jack asked "Your mom still mad about the mess?" remembering some of the messes he had made in his teenage years.

Cassie shook her head "Not really." She admitted

Josie bowed to the adults "Uncle Daniel, Colonel O'Neill, Mr. Teal'c."

Jack smiled at the girl "Come on snap out of it, you're too young to be talking this way, it's Jack, Daniel and Teal'c." he told her

Josie blushed bowing again "Jack" she smiled

Turning to Daniel, she asked about her father

"He's doing great." He told her "I've never seen him so happy."

Josie smiled happily "Good, if you will excuse me, I must tell my uncle that we've been invited to dinner." Bowing one last time she and Cassie ran off giggling something about cute archeologists

Jack smiled as he watched the girls run off, pointing the spatula at Daniel "You got a fan club already Danny boy." He told him

"Jack" Daniel shook his head trying to hide his blush

"Josie Fuentes is a very polite young lady." Teal'c observed

"Yes she is." Jack agreed while ladling more barbeque sauce on the chicken "It's kinda spooky though it's like she's a stepford kid, I'm kinda used to those foul mouthed kids I see on the street corners in town. Some of the language I've heard down there would make a sailor blush" and speaking of blushing "How are you and Carter getting along." He asked a smile on his face

Daniel choked on his beer, he and Sam hadn't told anyone

At his reaction Jack chuckled "I'm dating Janet remember, the gossip queen."

"And you don't mind?" Daniel asked nervously

Jack shrugged "Can't exactly turn you in without turning myself in, besides I think you two make a cute couple. What do you think Teal'c?"

Teal'c looked up at his friends "I agree with you O'Neill, Daniel Jackson and Major Carter do seem well suited for each other." The giant Jaffa said solemnly with a slight smile playing on his lips

Daniel shrugged, well if the cats out of the bag "It's going great actually, I haven't been this happy since Sha're. I never thought that I could be that happy again." He admitted "I always pretty much thought of myself as a bookworm, a geek."

Jack pointed the tongs at Daniel "You are not a geek Daniel, a geek would run away from most of the things that you've stayed and fought. You my friend have more guts than brains, if that's possible."

"Indeed" Teal'c agreed, "You are a man of great courage Daniel Jackson."

Daniel smiled "Thanks Jack, Teal'c, that means a lot coming from you guys. But as I was saying, I thought that I was a geek, when we first went to Abydos and I met Sha're I thought that I was the luckiest man in the universe that such a beautiful woman could love a man like me. Then she died, and I felt like I died as well, but Sam was there to listen to help, and soon I fell in love again. But I thought that such a beautiful, brilliant woman could never fall for a guy like me, but she did. So once when I thought I must be the luckiest guy in the universe, now I know I'm the luckiest. How about you Jack?"

Jack smiled flipping the burgers "I feel twenty years younger Danny boy, I feel like I can do anything and that anything is possible. It is the greatest feeling in the world." He told his friends, Jack looked at Daniel "Danny you remember that first night you came back from Abydos?"

"Yeah" Daniel said taking a pull off his beer

"You remember I said that I would never forgive myself but that sometimes I could forget."

Nodding Daniel put his beer down, wondering where exactly this was going. Then he saw a tear fall down Jack's face.

"I've learned that I can and do forgive myself." Jack said quickly wiping away the tear

"That's great Jack, I'm so happy for you." Daniel put a hand on Jack's shoulder

Sam and Janet walked out on to the patio "Potato salad, macaroni salad are ready." Sam announced

Smiling Daniel pulled Sam into an embrace. Sam froze looking at the Colonel wondering if Daniel had lost his mind.

Jack smiled "Oh relax Carter, I am dating the SGC's queen of gossip."

"Gossip!" Janet looked mortified "I simply digest all information that happens to come my way and disseminate it impartially to any and all willing personnel, I like to think of it as a public service." Smiling she reached around Jack's waist and gave him a hug.

Suddenly there was an old man standing by Jack's elbow.

"Your hamburgers are burning." He said

Jack jumped as did Janet "Don't do that" Jack complained, "You are going to give me a stroke." Wondering how the hell this little old man could sneak up on him so easily. Hell not even Teal'c noticed him.

Chun-li smiled as Cassie and Josie came up from behind "I hope you don't mind I bought Sa'ke." He said holding up the bottle

"I love sa'ke." Janet smiled

Chun-li bowed handing Janet the bottle "I thank you for your hospitality, and your offer to take my niece shopping."

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all." The old man looked relieved "But please, no mini-skirts or belly shirts."

Sam snickered, Josie must have pulled the underwear trick with him, she thought

"Not at her age." Janet agreed

"Aww" Josie seemed disappointed

Janet smiled with a dangerous glint in her eye, one that everyone else recognized and knew enough to stay well back.

"Well" Janet thought for a moment "I am going to see your father tomorrow, I could run it by him." She offered

"No!" Josie said quickly, knowing that her father would probably call Chun-li and tell him to get out the kimono "No, that's alright, I don't like mini-skirts or those belly shirts anyway."

"Good answer." Jack whispered to her "Burgers are up." He announced

Gabe sat in the commissary with Annie and Link drinking coffee. General Hammond had asked them to be there at 2000 hrs to meet and talk with some people. They were a bit early, so they took the opportunity to talk about their families.

"That is one beautiful girl you have there Gabe." Link smiled

"Yeah" Gabe beamed, he hadn't stopped smiling since the visit "She is beautiful. That boy of yours Link is going to break some hearts when he grows up. How about you Annie, how's your brother."

"Good" Annie told them "He's teaching at Berkley now, he says that with the pardon he can talk to the dean of the science department about getting a job there. And he says that I can stay with him and his wife till I'm on my feet again." Annie smiled "How about you Link?'

Lincoln smiled "I promised my boy a trip to Disney world, he's never been there so his mother and I promised to take him."

"How is your wife?" Annie asked

Link shook his head "I don't know what I'd do without her, she's been on my side since that whole thing went down. She says that she'll wait forever if she has to, I am one lucky man."

Annie looked at Gabe "How did it go with your family?"

"Good" he told them "We talked about a lot of stuff that went down between us. It hasn't cleared the air but it is a beginning. Hey Link any thoughts about what you're going to do afterwards?"

Link shrugged and shook his head "Naw, I mean my career is pretty much shot. No one wants a medic who has anything to do with murder, even if the only thing he's guilty of is self defense."

"I was thinking, my grandfather said that when I got out he could get me a job with corporate security. I really want to do something with my degree so I could hook you up with that job instead."

"That would be great." Link smiled "I want Charlene to take it easy for awhile after I get out, she's been working her butt off at two jobs to keep up with things. Knowing I had a job waiting for me would certainly take the pressure off."

"You got it bro." Gabe promised, "My grandfather said that he'd trust my judgment."

Harmon Rabb and Sarah Mackenzie walked into the commissary with General Hammond

Immediately Rabb stood at attention "General on deck."

Hammond shook his head slightly, Navy people never changed.

"Hi George, you want a cup?" Gabe asked still sitting as did the others

Hammond shook his head, "No thanks son, I just came by to introduce you to some people."

"Harmon Rabb" Gabe shook his head recognizing him immediately

"You know this guy?" Annie asked interestedly looking him up and down

"Yeah he was my defense lawyer." Gabriel drawled

"Oh" Annie said deflating "A lawyer."

"Well why don't you guys sit." Gabe motioned to seats

"That is commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie to you." Mac told them

The three looked at each other and started laughing. Standing up Gabe made his way to the coffee machine.

"Anyone want a refill?"

The General turned to the two officers "You have to forgive them, technically they don't have any rank and aren't in the service anymore, and I think that prison has affected their manners." He said staring at them.

Returning to the table Gabe handed a cup to Annie and put one in front of both officers.

"What does JAG want with us?" Gabe asked looking at the general "Don't tell me you want us to do a job for them." Asking him to help the man who lost his case was a bit much, Gabriel thought.

"No" the general shook his head "And please don't mention our project, Commander Rabb and Lt Colonel Mackenzie are here to review your trials."

Suddenly the three stopped laughing and became very serious.

"You aren't joking are you George?" Gabriel asked seriously

"No, I've asked JAG to look into your cases." Standing up George headed towards the door "I'll leave you to it then."

"Does Kennedy know about this?" Link asked the general

"No, and I suggest you don't inform him."

"Oh no, this stays in house." Annie agreed suddenly sitting very attentive

Taking seats Harm and Mac pulled out legal pads and pens to write the information down. During the flight, they had gone through the files and had made up a list of questions that they thought would be pertinent to the matters at hand.

"Okay, Mr. Fuentes." Harm began stressing the face that he wasn't a lieutenant anymore.

"Doctor Fuentes." Gabriel corrected

"Doctor?" Mac asked "as in medical doctor."

"No, I have a PhD in ancient civilizations and cultures."

"You weren't a doctor when I defended you." Harm said going through the files to make sure

"No I had a lot of spare time on my hands on death row." Gabriel told him reminding the lawyer who lost his case "So I studied, got my masters then my doctorate."

Harm ignored the dig and made a note of it and then nodded "Okay let's get this started, Mac you go over the case with Dr. Fuentes, I'll go over the case with Dr. Yates and who ever finishes first can go over the case with Mr. Washington."

"Deal" Mac nodded and motioned to another table where they both sat down "Okay Doctor Fuentes let's start from the beginning."

The questioning seemed to go on forever and it lasted well into the night. Gabriel was forced to relive those last few months over and over again going over every little detail. Looking over he saw that Annie was also going through the same thing with Rabb. Gabriel had to remember every thought, every person that he'd talked to so many years before. The incident with the base CO and the resulting fight with the MP's and the reasons why that case never went before the board. It lasted almost two hours and almost an entire legal pad before Sarah Mackenzie finally nodded in satisfaction.

"I think that's all I need for now Dr. Fuentes."

Gabriel smiled charmingly at the attractive lawyer "You sure you don't want my shoe size as well. You seem to have everything else."

Mac smiled at the handsome man "No I don't think that will be necessary." Looking over she saw that Harm was still going through Dr. Yates's testimony. Opening her bag, she pulled out another legal pad and opened it.

"Mr. Washington?"

Gabriel got up and left the table to make room for Link. At first when the General had said that JAG was here to look into their cases, he wondered why Sammy wasn't asked to join in. Then Gabriel remembered that Sam and Simon actually were guilty and had pleaded out their case at the time. It was the smartest thing that they could do considering that they were busted with crates of LAWS rockets and crates of M-16's and enough ammo to start their own little war and had destroyed half of down town San Diego before they were finally stopped.

Finally, Annie got up from the table, made her way over to Gabe, and watched as Rabb went over and joined Mackenzie in the questioning of Link. Rubbing her face Annie got herself another cup of coffee and joined Gabe.

"So what do you think?" she asked about the situation

"Well Mackenzie seems to know what she is doing. You already know my opinion about Rabb."

Annie shook her head "I found out, you were his very first case for JAG."

Gabriel shook his head "Figures" he sighed, "That is just about how my luck was running those days."

Annie bit her lip "You think that they can find anything that can help us?"

Gabriel shrugged hearing the hopeful tone in her voice, "I don't know Annie. But don't get your hopes too high." Gabriel knew it was good advice, but he also knew that he probably wouldn't be able to follow it himself. Hope was all they had left now.

It was an hour later that the lawyers shut their notebooks and closed their briefcases nodding to Gabriel and Annie. Both making their way forward they stopped at the table.

"Okay" Rabb told them "We got your statements, and the trial transcripts. We are going to go over everything, then go and see your former commanders and do some discrete poking around. Anything that we find out will be reported to the JAG and he will take it from there."

"Can we trust the JAG?" questioned Annie

"You can trust Admiral Chedwiggen." Mackenzie promised

"A.J. Chedwiggen?" Gabe asked surprised

Mac nodded "Yes that's him."

Gabriel smiled and nodded to the others "We can trust the admiral."

Rabb closed his briefcase "I'm sure that the Admiral will be in touch with General Hammond about any progress that we might make." Holding out a hand to Gabe, he nodded "We'll be in touch."

"We'll be waiting." Gabe shook the offered hand

Before either officer left, a young Air Force Lt ran into the room completely ignoring the two officers.

"Compliments of General Hammond and Colonel Kennedy, SG 13 you are activated briefing in ten minutes." He said rushing out of the room a man with a mission.

"Shit" Lincoln muttered putting down his coffee cup

Gabriel smirked "Well we hope to be waiting. Come on guys, we got a job to do." He told the others heading out.

"I'll grab Sam and meet you in the briefing room." Link offered

"Right, Commander, Colonel." They rushed out of the room.

"SG 13?" Mac asked Harm who shrugged his shoulders