General O'Neill brought Daniel with him more for support rather than for his diplomatic skills. O'Neill knew what he was going to do. He would trade his life for the SG team. He had given the order for the gate to be opened, he was the one that was ultimately at fault, he killed the child. So if anyone should die for this tragic accident it was he. Daniel was needed to explain what O'Neill could not formulate in words and to get the team home. Jack would not allow Daniel to bargain on his behalf and ordered SG – 9 to return through the gate with Doctor Jackson even if it meant dragging him kicking and screaming. Jack was not totally content with his fate but thought that life had finally caught up to him and it was time to pay for all the sins of his past and his sins were legion.
oooooooooooooooooooooo
Sam Carter returned form a weekend of interminable wedding planning. What was the damn rush? Was it all Pete could think of? Was the man so damn insecure that if they didn't marry as soon as possible she would just evaporate? Maybe the poor guy was right. The closer the date came, the more finalized the plans became, the more she wanted to walk, no run away from the whole thing. Maybe he was justified in his fears; she certainly was having second thoughts. She thought constantly of the man she had placed her hopes on for so many years; the one man she, oh so conveniently, couldn't have. The whole thing gave her a massive headache. What she thought she wanted she couldn't have, so she decided to change her outlook, change her objective, go for the life, the family, the husband, she needed and could have. But what was looming right in front of her and eager for her looked less and less appetizing. She decided not to decide. For once she would allow herself to be swept away rather than analyze and inspect. It was time to be a woman and not the scientist. And as soon as that thought occurred to her, she could hear his voice the first day she met him. "I like women. I've just got a little problem with scientists." Back to square one.
As she exited the elevator to the SGC she was aware of the turmoil enveloping the base. SG – 9 was in trouble and General O'Neill himself was going off world to iron things out. She smiled to herself, thinking of the General in the role of diplomat – 'Sure hope he brought Daniel with him'.