NOTE: Here is advance warning for one F-word. I tried to lessen it in anyway, but it just sounded weird. I felt that it really needed that F-word. g I feel very attached to that word, lol. Feedback is always wanted.

I fell asleep, for what I thought was for about ten minutes. Someone was calling my name and nudging my shoulders. Annoyed I opened one eye, and stared the man down. "What?" He immediately stood at attention, straightening his back and squaring his shoulders. "Ma'am, you're wanted at the briefing, Doctor Fraiser suggested that she'd watch your daughter."

The damned briefing, I thought it was tomorrow, give me some time to adjust. Obviously not. I looked at my self, white sandals with beads woven into them, and a simple cream dress. I was dressed as Ba'al's mistress, not a former Air Force officer and scientist. My toes were freezing, but I was comfortable and didn't feel right wearing BDU's again.

"Yeah, okay. I'll be there." He didn't move. Did I need supervising or something? "Dismissed."

He looked uncomfortable. "Ma'am, I have orders from Colonel O'Neill to walk you to the briefing."

O'Neill, you jackass. "Sure, why not."

I lifted Grace as gently as possible, but the tiny child woke disoriented and had a crying fit. She hasn't been happy since we arrived on base. I rocked her and tried to calm her but no joy. She continued to cry. I hated to think about it, but she never cried this much when we were with Ba'al. Not that Grace would remember him. Would she? She's way too young for facial memories. Then it hit me, Babies attach themselves to facial appearances. There were some psychology tests on facial recognition. And in all the trials, the baby would cry and throw tantrums when the mother or familiar face would leave the room. And immediately become calm and very happy to see them return. Could Grace be missing Ba'al? They did have some good times together, he'd been a regular father figure to her. Playing children games, singing. Yeah, I was shocked too, Ba'al sang. Who freaken knew.

I followed the airmen to the infirmary, leaving a trail of echoes from Grace's powerful screams.

"I hear Grace," Janet immerged from behind the curtains snapping her latex gloves off. "And she doesn't sound very happy."

"No, no she doesn't." I put my darling girl into Janet's awaiting arms kissing her soft forehead. "Can you watch her for a bit? Got a meeting about reentering the life of the living."

"Oh, honey, I hope everything will go fine." She rubbed my arm up and down, bringing warmth to my bare arms.

It had better, or I'm castrating the male members of a certain team. "Yeah, me too."

I reluctantly walked away from my best friend, and my only daughter. Once again entering the elevators with the airman in toe. As much as I'm looking forward to this meeting, I'm not. I want to know why I was brought back, and I want to hear the apologies of those who persecuted me. I will eat my own tongue before I reveal who the father of my child is. And I refuse to give a detail account of my time with Ba'al.

Alas, the briefing room.

My hear beats faster as I get closer to that room. I could hear soft murmurs, and my breath catches.

The room hushes suddenly, 8 pairs of eyes locked to my body.

I wish I was somewhere else than here, anywhere.

I'd rather be 20 again, where my father selfishly made the appointment for the removal of my wisdom teeth 2 days before my 21st birthday so I wouldn't be able to go out and drink with my friends. Not that age stopped me.

I'd rather be getting a pap smear.

Damn, I'd rather be breaking Ba'al's hand while in labor with Grace.

"Major Carter, have a seat, we'll get started." General Hammond waved his hand to the empty seat next to Teal'c.

I sat, without a word, and looked from face to face. From Teal'c to Hammond, to Daniel and Jack. I didn't smile, nod, or acknowledge any of them.

"You didn't get the change of clothes in your quarters?" Daniel said, fiddling with the pen in his hands. "I made sure they were your size."

"I was comfortable." It wasn't a lie. If my being dressed this way was making them uncomfortable in any sense, then that was a reason enough not to have changed. Why should I be the only one feeling nervous?

"Let's get this started, we don't have all day." Jack stated, chin resting on his hand. Taking the 'I'm bored and would rather be playing playstation than listen to you folks.' pose.

It was dead silent. Was I supposed to start it? Shouldn't the man that called the meeting start and or initiate it? So…

Hammond started, crossing his hands on top of the table, leaning into it. "I'd like to start by apologizing, the Air Force retracts the charges against you Major, and hopefully we could resolve this matter civilly." Yes, you do owe me an apology, the whole lot of you. As long as you don't piss me off any more than you already have, I'm sure we could solve this 'matter' of mine civilly. Now, if I could get the whole story, that would be nice.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions and it will all be answered in due time. First, I'd like to begin with what we uncovered here relating to your accused treason. And what you've encountered on Edora. Afterward we will discuss the outcome of the court marshal and the paperwork on reversing the process."

I'm now guessing that they finally came to their senses. And that I'll be up to my nose with paperwork. Sign here, here and here, print here, initial here, and date.

"We've been getting calls from Agent Barrett, he wanted to continue your case though it was filed as complete." Good for him, he did the job that you guys were supposed to do.

"We let him loose in the base, interviewed, and inspected, he couldn't come up with anything in the time allotted. He, unfortunately, had to end the investigation. That was when he sent over your cat. Right after your house was sold."

What? Ahem, excuse me, my voice isn't working. "What?" They sold my house? My house was not Air Force property, they can't do this to me. I refuse to live on this base. "You sold my house? What about my stuff, my will, and where did the money go?"

Hammond continued, looking apologetic. "We followed your will and your property and money went to your niece and nephew, and Cassie received her trust fund. Your brother came to Colorado, for your funeral, and had sold your house while he was here."

Funeral? I'm buried somewhere? I have a grave? I have no house? How am I supposed to live and raise a daughter with no money and shelter?

Unless they start telling me what I want to hear, or I'm going to interrupt and be very pissy, or walk out. Forget it, I'm not going to get what I want unless I force it out of them. What is it with briefings and beating around the bush?

"General, I think this would move along much faster if I asked the questions first." That wasn't so rude, good job Sam. "My questions are very simple, and I expect simple answers." No, there is no need to go in absolute detail on the worst time of my life. "First, are the charges cleared?"

"Yes." Teal'c answered. He did the head tilt on one side, and sent me a slight smile. Fortunately, after this whole mess, I think that Teal'c and I could salvage this friendship. Unfortunately, it was hard to see it happening with Daniel. And of course, Jack and I were never just friends, not really. We were once co-workers with a hint of something, then friends with a lot of something. And then we were lovers, for a whole half an hour. Now, we're just people that stab each other on their backs. Back and forth. Over and over again.

"Am I still in the Air Force and the SGC?"

"Yes."

"Who framed me?" Jack's eyes shot up at me, first it looked like he was ashamed. Then his eyes turned hard and cold, and he stared back to his notes. Which was empty. Hammond was spewing out all the answers now.

"Claire Tobias." Oh, that bitch. Yeah I know her. Things are starting to fall back into pieces, finally.

"Was SG-1 aware that the gate address for Edora was given out to Ba'al?"

They were stalling, looking around at each other, probably begging one another to answer my question. That alone gave me the answers that I needed. I was rapidly losing the faith I held for the team, more than before. This was the point of no return.

Daniel spoke up, his voice very defensive. And once again it wasn't defending me. "Only after we escaped, Claire was gone for a while, and she was out of it, Ba'al did a number on her with the hand device. She told us that she didn't know what information she gave out, but probably that there were rich naquadah to mine in Edora."

I was going to get burned at the stake for saying this, but I have to risk it. Plus, it's not like I'm looking for long companionships with them now. We were all in the deep end, and we're all drowning.

"Ba'al told me he didn't ask her any questions. She simply gave up the intel."

Jack was turning red, kinda like a oompa loompa. I get it, he's pissed at me. But I was pissed at him too. And my stubborn mind has it that he has no right at all to be angry. "Ba'al could be lying." Jack said, "If you haven't noticed, he's a freaken goa'uld. And they tend to lie."

"If you haven't noticed, and obviously you haven't for a while, Claire Tobias isn't the woman who should have been trusted."

Why can't they lock away their embarrassment for just a minute and admit they were wrong. That they wrong to have accused me and trust the very creature that put me on death row. So we could all move the fuck on.

"Alright people, lets try to keep this civil."

"How did she frame me?"

Hammond opened up a file, took out a few photos and slid them to my direction. "She created a mimic device, took your identity and framed you to be an insider within the SGC. She works with the NID, but was pardoned. I was ordered to put her on a team, that her past be overlooked. I believe Agent Barrette was the one to extract her."

Oh, yeah. Right. I remember. "I'd like to request a lawyer with clearance, the next couple issues require handling from counsel."

"I'm sure there is no need Major, we admit that a mistake has been made, and I will make sure that everything be straighten out in your favor."

Okay, you asked for it. I'd hate to do this, but I really don't have any other choice. "Obviously I ask that the charges be erased from my record, no trace of it." Nod. "And my tombstone be removed." It is too creepy for me to even think about that. I hope you're taking notes General, this is one long list.

"Formal letters to all parties on the mistake the Air Force has made regarding my treason. Reimbursements for my property, even for the house my brother sold. I shouldn't have to explain that if it wasn't for Tobias, my brother wouldn't have to have sold it. Reimbursements for everything in my will, and the pay I would have earned during my time on Edora."

"Is that all? Christ Carter, I think you're asking for too much. You could get most of the money back."

"Colonel O'Neill, would you like to go to my brother's doorstep and explain the mishap, and demand that they give you money? Money that was left for his children, who believe that Aunty Sam was killed for betraying her country? Do you want to tell Cassie that she'll have to take out loans for college and give what I left for her back to you? I'm sure the Air Force could afford it without a problem. Don't worry too much, they won't be cutting it from your pay."

Either do this, or I'll sue your ass to kingdom come.

Hammond put his hand up, effectively shutting Jack up. "I'll have to talk about it with my superiors, but in light of the situation, I'm sure we could come to an arrangement. Now, there are a few questions we have for you Major."

Oh great. Here it comes.

And I haven't even had any chocolate yet.