Chapter 16 – Aftermath
Jack and Teal'c made their way tiredly down to the infirmary. After the two vehicles had been secured and the investigative team was on site, they had headed back to the SGC. Hammond had sent word that their presence was required at a briefing in 20 minutes. First, though, Jack wanted to check on Sam and JJ.
He entered the infirmary, his eyes roaming quickly throughout the area looking for the one person who could give him some quick answers. He spotted Daniel talking quietly with Janet in a far corner of the room. Jack made his way purposefully over to them, the intent of his visit clear by the set of his face.
Janet saw his approach and stepped toward him, holding up a hand to indicate that he'd better stop where he was and stay quiet or he'd be in heaps of trouble! Jack frowned at her and closed his mouth which had been ready to ask a question. He glanced over to where Daniel indicated Sam was, and let his gaze run over the prone figure. She was lying on her side, still dressed in her civilian clothes, huddled protectively over the little boy. Curled next to her was the small figure of JJ, one hand clutching Bart and the other in a death grip on Sam's shirt. As he moved closer to her bed, Jack could see the evidence of JJ's crying both in the tear tracks that were still visible on his left cheek and in the way that Sam's shirt front was very damp. Sam's hair was brushed back off her forehead and he could clearly see the once smooth skin marred now by the telltale black lines and puckered skin of several stitches. Jack's jaw clenched instinctively as he also took in the swollen area around the corner of her mouth where she had been hit. His eyes flew to Janet's; an unspoken question in his eyes that Janet had no trouble deciphering.
She pulled gently on his arm and led him away from the bed. Daniel and Teal'c followed in her wake until they were on the other side of the infirmary. With no preamble, Janet got to the point. "Sam and JJ are going to fine, Colonel. Sam needed a few stitches from where her head hit the steering wheel. An ice pack on her mouth reduced the swelling there but it will be tender for a while. I'll give her another ice pack on in about 20 minutes or so. JJ was not physically injured, but the emotional trauma might take a while for him to get over. Right now, they both need some rest."
Jack frowned at her once again, "What do you mean 'emotional trauma'?"
"He's undergone a traumatic experience, Colonel O'Neill. Going through that horrible car chase and the crash, seeing his mother hit, hearing gun shots… It's a good thing he feels so secure with Sam, otherwise things could be much worse. She was able to calm him down and get him to sleep after I examined both of them"
"Which JJ made really difficult, Jack. He wouldn't let go of Sam for anything. He wouldn't even let me hold him for a bit; which is why Sam is still dressed," Daniel explained further.
"Yes, well, she wasn't too keen on letting go of JJ either," Janet stated quietly. All four of them looked over to the two figures sleeping on the bed. Jack once more rubbed his hand tiredly through his hair before turning back to the doctor.
"What now?" he asked.
"Now, we let them sleep as long as possible. Once JJ gets up, if he'll let go of her, I'll have Sam shower and change. They won't need to stay in the infirmary, but I do want her to take it easy for the rest of the day," she instructed them.
"That won't be a problem," Jack stated decisively. He had a feeling that Sam wouldn't want to be far from JJ. Besides, there was no way he'd let her do anything strenuous today; not after what they'd all been through.
"O'Neill, we should go and see General Hammond now. He will want some information before we interrogate the prisoners," Teal'c interrupted Jack's thoughts.
"Just a second Teal'c. I should check out the Colonel to make sure he doesn't have any injuries," Janet spoke up.
Jack waved her away as he turned toward the door. "I'm fine Doc. The General's expecting us in a few minutes. The sooner we have this meeting, the sooner we can get down to who is behind all this," he stated angrily.
Seeing that he didn't have any obvious injuries, Janet let him go with a reminder to stop in once the interrogation was completed. Jack nodded vaguely, glanced once more at the two sleeping occupants of the bed in the corner, then led the way to the General's office. Daniel and Teal'c shared a glance, and then followed quietly behind. They both knew it would take a concerted effort to keep Jack's temper in reign once the actual interrogations began; maybe even sooner.
-------
"WHAT?" Jack yelled in outrage, slamming his hands on the table and standing up. Daniel grimaced, he had been right. Jack's temper was more volatile that he'd seen it in a long time and they would all need to work together to keep it in check.
"Sit down Colonel O'Neill! We're going to get nowhere fast if you keep interrupting!" Hammond admonished him. Jack sat back down and tried for a more calm tone. He didn't fool anyone though.
"So, are you trying to tell us that one of those goons is actually an SGC Airman and has been part of the project for two years? What the hell happened with his clearance check? And who put him through for the position?" Jack ground out through clenched teeth.
"Smith's clearance check showed nothing suspicious when it was run before he entered the program. As for who put him up for the position, it was General Reiner, for whom I have the utmost respect. No, Smith was convinced to take part in someone else's agenda some time after he became a part of this project, of that I am sure. We'll get to the bottom of this; of that I am certain," the General stated with resolve.
He looked around the briefing table at those present. In addition to the men of SG1, SG3 and Major Davis were also in attendance. Davis had been on his way to the SGC for other business but had soon found himself embroiled in this new situation. "I want 2 of you to remain in the room at all times when you interrogate the prisoners. There will be absolutely no use of force during these interrogations." Here, General Hammond looked directly at Jack, who scowled in response. "You will have one hour gentlemen, upon which time we will regroup and go over what each of you has learned."
"Uh, excuse me General," Daniel spoke up. "But if Smith was an Airman, isn't there a chance that there are more undercover operatives here at the SGC? And, if that is the case, shouldn't Sam and JJ have some additional protection?" He looked worriedly at Jack and Teal'c after this question. If they were all here, who was watching out for Sam?
Jack's eyes grew as he took in the implication of what Daniel had just said. Crap! Why didn't he think of that? Once more, Jack rose to his feet, only to be brought back down with a scowl from the General. "I have taken care of that Dr. Jackson. Two members of SG7 are right now stationed outside the doors of the infirmary. While it is not common protocol for SGC team members to stand guard, in this case, I want people we definitely know and trust to take on this particular assignment. Once we have taken care of this situation, I will leave it up to SG1 to make sure no more inside attempts take place on either Major Carter or JJ. Now, are there any other questions?" When no one else voiced a question or concern, General Hammond paired them up and sent them off to find some answers.
He pulled Daniel aside quickly. "Son, I'm giving you the most difficult assignment. You are to keep Colonel O'Neill under control at all times. While I personally wouldn't care if those men got inadvertently roughed up after what they have done, the President would definitely frown on it. Do you think you can handle him?"
Daniel glanced at Jack, who was waiting impatiently at the door for him. "I'll do my best General. He's pretty upset over what happened, though, and with good reason, I might add."
"I know," the General agreed. "But I'm afraid he's letting his emotions get the better of him. If it appears that he can't control himself, I am ordering you to get him out of that cell and report back to me immediately. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," Daniel agreed. He walked over to the door to go with Jack down to the holding cells. Jack didn't say a word as they left the briefing room; he knew what the discussion had been about. And although it would be difficult, he was determined to control his temper so he wouldn't be pulled off this assignment. He had other means than force to get information out of people.
------
Jude visibly shrank back as Jack leaned across the table from him. He had been interrogated for almost an hour by the man who had held a gun to head just hours ago and knew instinctively that he wasn't one to be crossed. The other man present, a Dr. Jackson, he recalled, didn't say much beyond the occasional, "Jack." Jude rightly guessed that he was here to keep O'Neill from killing him.
"Look, I told you all I know. I was to stay in contact with Smith until such a time when we thought we could grab the kid. We got the call that Major Carter and the baby would be off the premises today, so we made our move."
"Yes, but what you haven't explained, Jude, is who gave you that information and who you were reporting to," Jack stated with deadly calm as he leaned across the table. "Now, I can tell just by looking at you, that you don't have the brains needed to run this kind of operation, so just who is behind all of this?"
Jude frowned at the cutting remark but didn't retaliate. He knew he didn't stand a chance against O'Neill. Christ, he'd almost rather face that huge Jaffa than this guy, he thought to himself. He gave a startled cry as he felt his collar being grabbed and his head whip back as he was shaken to his very core. Once again, he heard the slight censure in the voice of Jackson as he said, "Jack" a bit louder.
"What Daniel? I was just helping Jude here, wake up. He seemed to be dozing off a bit," Jack stated as he released the other man's collar abruptly but still kept his imposing frame leaning across the table and invading Jude's personal space.
"I don't know the guy's name. All I can tell you that we called him Mr. M. He had a contact here in the SGC who informed him about today's plans with the baby. I swear, that's all I know," Jude said in an almost whining voice.
Daniel finally asked a question of his own, "This inside contact, are you referring to Smith?"
Jude looked back and forth between the two of them. Well, he might as well come out and tell them now. He was going to either end up in prison or dead, and he would much prefer prison. "It wasn't Smith. Sure, he was an inside contact. But there is someone else. Someone who is close to Hammond." As Jack reached across the table again, Jude held up his hands in supplication, "I swear, that's all I know! I don't know the guy's name, only that he has more access to Hammond than your standard airman or SF."
Jack drew back and looked at Daniel, their eyes conveying a conversation that Jude had no inkling about. Jack looked disdainfully back down at Jude. "Well, maybe you're not so dumb after all." He looked back to Daniel, "Come on Danny, time to get back and compare notes. Don't go anywhere Jude, we'll be back." Then Jack and Daniel made their way to the door of the cell, which the guards unlocked for them.
As Daniel was exiting, Jack said, "I forgot one thing." He made his way back to the table, looked Jude in eye and slammed a hard right cross to his jaw. Jude's head snapped to the right and he tumbled from his chair. He looked up in shock at Jack as he put his hand to his lip, which was already starting to bleed. Jack leaned forward across the table and said with a hard edge to his voice, "That was from Major Carter." Then he turned and left the room, stalking past a somewhat shocked Daniel. Jack didn't notice the shock change to a grin on Daniel's face, nor the looks of approval on the guards' faces as they locked the cell once more.
I just had to let Jack get rid of some of that anger! Happy New Year everyone!
