Title: Unity.
Author: LetitiaRichards.
Previously:
"You may not have told them anything Daniel...but I did!"
Chapter 23
"Whoah...what?" Daniel exclaimed in disbelief. "Oh god Jack!"
"I told them what they wanted to know, Daniel. I broke!"
"I don't believe you!" Daniel said, still in shock. Jack would never have broken. He didn't break when Ba'al was torturing him, so why now? He wanted desperately to reach out to comfort and reassure his friend but Jack still fended him off, trying to distance himself.
Jack glared up at him, wondering why he wouldn't accept his betrayal. He had betrayed the SGC, his country, his world, his friends, and most of all he was a disgrace to his uniform. That thought stung more than anything else and he closed his eyes in shame. Shame for being a traitor and shame for showing his weakness. He pushed himself down in the bed and rolled over, stifling the cry of pain from his damaged ribs and battered flesh as he turned his back on Daniel. He knew he deserved every minute of his agony.
"Jack. How do you know that? How can you be certain you broke?"
Jack didn't want to know. He didn't remember the how's or the circumstances; just that they had congratulated him on telling them everything they wanted to hear. It was enough for him; he didn't need proof. After that they left him to die. And die was what he had wanted at that point.
Then there had been Sam; her hand cupping his cheek, but that was when he didn't know head from tail or night from day; which way was up and which down. He was so drugged up and near death he thought he was dreaming. It was okay to love her in his dreams; to respond to her touch, because he'd already died inside and she was an angel. But then reality came along and spoiled everything. He couldn't allow himself to love her; she deserved someone better than him. Someone who wasn't a traitor.
"Jack are listening to me?"
Hearing that question meant Daniel wasn't giving up easily.
"No!"
"Jack. I honestly don't believe you would do such a thing. Do you actually recall telling them everything?"
No. Actually he didn't remember a damn thing. They had told him; rewarded him even. The torture had ended with his breaking; but then, as he'd said, he was drugged up to the eyeballs. Then again. he just knew; inside where it mattered; he knew he had given away the secrets they wanted. Nothing would change that.
"Jack!" Daniel gave an exasperated cry but Jack still ignored him. "I have to go see General Hammond..."
"Yes. Go. Tell him I'm a traitor. Let's get this over and done with!" Jack snorted derisively, not looking at his 'former' friend.
Daniel stood open mouthed for a moment, unsure if Jack was mocking him or himself.
He moved forward and rested a hand on the cold shoulder nearest him.
"I'm not letting you take the blame for something you didn't do Jack. I know in my...'soul' that you would never betray anyone, especially the SGC. You're too honourable a man for that Jack. There has to be an answer, and I swear to you I will find it. Just hang in there. I'll be back later."
Daniel pulled his hand away despite it being shrugged off by Jack. He stared at him for a moment longer before reluctantly leaving the room.
He nodded briefly to Teal'c who had been waiting outside for him to finish. Teal'c then entered the room silently and took up his vigil again, watching carefully for any sign that his friend might injure himself again.
OoOoOoOoO
"Come!" General Hammond placed his pen onto the desk next to the form he was about to sign, then leaned both arms on the top of the folder after closing it to prying eyes.
Daniel entered the room hesitantly.
"Am I disturbing you General. Do you have a moment?"
"Come in Dr. Jackson. What can I do for you?"
Daniel closed the door after him and absently scrubbed a hand through his hair before pushing his glasses up his nose again.
"Ah...well, it's rather a delicate subject actually. I managed to get Jack to open up a little..."
"That's good. Though I sense a 'But' in there." Hammond tried to smile. Getting Jack to open up was great news but something was obviously wrong, going by the archaeologist's mannerisms.
Daniel grimaced. He was about to shop his best friend which should, if proven true, lead him to a court-martial and a possible death sentence. He sucked in a huge breath, fortifying himself for the outrage when it came.
"General Hammond, you know Jack as well as I do." He paused waiting for confirmation. It came in the form of a nod. "Jack is the most fiercely loyal person I know. He has given his life for the service of his country, hell even the whole world; several times now, right?" Again Hammond nodded.
"Yes he has. Why...?"
Daniel held a hand up to stop the expected questions. He needed to get this out, though painful it would be.
"We all know that Jack was drugged heavily. As he said himself, he wasn't sure ifthings werereal or not." Hammond grunted his assent. He was following so far. "Jack...Jack is having trouble identifying truth from fiction. He believes, and I must admit I don't believe a word of it; that he told them everything. That he gave away secrets concerning the Stargate and the SGC."
Hammond sat up in his chair; the words of betrayal ringing in his ears. Jack wouldn't; couldn't have broken. He was the most trustworthy and honest person he'd ever known. How come Jack had admitted this? He was inclined to believe Dr. Jackson was right. Neither of them could believe Jack capable of revealing anything, even under the threat of death. It took him several minutes before he could voice his surprise.
"He told you all this?"
"Yes sir," Daniel sighed. "I just do not think Jack is capable of betraying us General. I think they implanted a false memory into him when they brainwashed him. A broken man would think nothing of killing himself if he felt guilty. And Jack is feeling very guilty at the moment. He won't even look at anyone. He's tried his best to push everyone away so far."
Hammond had to agree.
"You're right. I can't believe it. Jack isn't in his right mind just now, so how do we prove to him he was wrong, and that his memories may be false?"
"There is one way General. The Tok'ra Zatarc testing equipment. It can tell whether memories are false or not. Jack won't like it but it will prove him wrong. I hope!"
"Contact the Tok'ra Dr. Jackson, we have work to do!"
"Yes sir. Thank you!"
"For what?"
"For not believing Jack would betray us."
Hammond nodded and Daniel left the office to place a call to the Tok'ra home-world.
General Hammond sat quietly; his fingers steepled in front of his lips, his elbows resting on his desk. He only hoped that Jack along with the rest of his team could accept the truth if the Colonel's memories proved to be real. He knew he was going to be very upset if they were; he didn't want to lose Jack. And lose him they surely would if had turned traitor.
Reaching a decision, he stretched out his hand and picked up the telephone.
"Dr. Fraiser please!" he asked when one of her nurses answered.
He waited, staring out of the window at the empty briefing room until he heard Janet's voice.
"Dr. Fraiser, General?"
"Doctor...is there any medical reason why Colonel O'Neill shouldn't recover from his injuries here at the SGC?"
"None sir. It was he who asked to be treated at the Academy hospital."
"Good. Transfer him to the Infirmary as soon as you can."
"He won't like it sir."
"I know Doctor. Tell him it's for his own protection and if he argues any further, tell him it's an order."
"Yes sir," Janet said, though she was filled with worry. Why did the General suddenly want him here and would the Colonel defy the order? She knew just how stubborn Colonel O'Neill could get. "I'll make all the necessary arrangements this afternoon."
"If he doesn't come quietly, I'll be sending a party of SF's to bring him in."
Janet smiled. Now that, she would like to see...but on the other hand she also hoped it would never come to that.
"Yes sir. I'll be sure to tell him."
Hammond replaced the receiver and smiled. He could just picture Jack yelling about heavy handed tactics, just to get him to the infirmary. The real problem however, was the fact that he wasn't himself and there was no predicting how he was going to react to the order or the Zatarc test.
TBC
Thank you everyone who sent in reviews. I'm amazed at the response so far. I really appreciate all your comments. Keep reading there is so much more to come.
