Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

He realised he was lucky to have such friends as these and from that moment on, he would try not to push them away but let them help him instead, hoping to god that he really was innocent for their sakes.

Chapter 25

"Are you okay?" Daniel asked after a few moments when Jack had collected himself together again.

Jack nodded and brushed his face dry with his hands.

"Yeah. Thanks," he sniffed, then blew his nose on the tissue that Daniel handed him.

Jack hung his head, embarrassed to have been so easily overcome with emotions. He was normally so stoical about anything to do with his feelings, but he just couldn't stop himself this time, not when it concerned his beloved Charlie.

"Let's go get this over with Daniel. I just wanna know what's goin' on in my head."

"Sure. Teal'c?" Daniel indicated to the Jaffa to wheel Jack back to the car.

"Are you well O'Neill?" Teal'c asked casting Daniel a menacing look.

"Yeah T. I'm okay. Let's go huh?"

Teal'c had been worried for his warrior friend, but could see now that Daniel's tactics had worked, and that O'Neill seemed better for the confrontation.

OoOoOoOoO

It was a sombre party that arrived at the SGC some forty minutes later.

Sam met them at the elevator when the doors finally opened, squatting down to smile at Jack eye to eye. She was alarmed at how pale and red-eyed he was, but he actually smiled at her which was the first time in a long while. At least he wasn't snubbing her as he had done lately, which she took as good news.

"Hi, how're you feeling sir?"

Jack gave a small shrug, not trusting himself to say anything just yet. His feelings were mixed and it was making him just a little bit apprehensive of what was to come, resulting in a touch of nausea.

Sam beamed at him, making relax slightly more and seeing that smile for him and her eyes so full of love, sent a tingle up and down his spine. One he hadn't felt in what seemed a long time. He'd really missed her. Not so much Major Sam Carter, but he'd missed Sam, the person rather than the officerand2IC.

"Ready sir?" she asked, her eyes still fastened on his.

"No. It's not like I have a choice here," he muttered, making Sam smile. He sounded just like the old Jack, the one they had all thought lost.

Teal'c pushed him along the corridors and every time they met up with someone, they always greeted him with a smile and a 'Nice to see you back sir!' which astonished him greatly. He expected everyone to be hostile towards him, knowing what he had done.

Sam saw the confusion on his face and whispered in his ear that General Hammond hadn't reported anything of that nature to the Pentagon or the President as yet.

Jack looked up at her in surprise. No wonder, but he couldn't help thinking that they would all change their attitude towards him if and when the Zatarc test proved him to be right.

They entered one of the medical rooms set aside for the test. General Hammond greeted him warmly though with a slight formal edge to his words. Jack merely nodded and waited for Teal'c to get him settled into the chair ready to begin.

The atmosphere in the room was thick with apprehension, and nerves were fraught with anxiety.

Anise thankfully was missing and Jack didn't know whether to be relieved or more anxious when he found that Jacob alias Selmak was to conduct the testing.

"Ready Jack?" Jacob called, bringing them all to a state of alert. General Hammond and the rest of the team except Teal'c had retreated to the little observation room to watch.

Jack was strapped to the chair and he swallowed harshly before he nodded for Jacob to begin.

"You're Colonel Jack O'Neill?"

"Yes."

"You work at the SGC?"

"Yes."

Jacob was watching the monitor closely and could see that the colour stayed true with each answer.

"Okay Jack I'm gonna ask you a question and I want you to deliberately lie when you answer. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"Are you a huge fan of the Simpsons?"

Jack looked surprised but answered as seriously as possible.

"No!"

The swirling blue outer circle turned pink and Jacob was satisfied that the machine was working properly.

"Alright. This thing is working okay so let's get down to business."

He concentrated on Jack's face as he asked the questions.

"Were you recently assigned to a base in Iraq?"

"I was."

"Tell us why you were assigned there!"

"I had to assess former prisoners of the Iraqi terrorists to see if they needed further counselling by a military Psychologist before they were allowed home. They thought for some reason, that I being a former prisoner, would be able to help them over it quicker. "

The swirling circles stayed blue. So far so good. Jacob continued amid the rising tension.

"What happened when you were told that you had been given command of a rescue mission?"

"I wasn't happy about it, but I didn't have a choice," Jack sighed.

"So you went on the mission?"

"Yes!"

"What happened to you then?"

"I led the rescue, we got the prisoners out but I got shot and the helicopter left without me. I got left behind...again!" he snapped back, feeling the stress once more of his feelings when it had happened.

Jacob looked slightly worried at the tone of Jack's answer, but the swirling lights remained steady. He breathed a sigh of relief, glancing up at those in the observation room, giving them a nod.

"Okay. So, let's move on," Jacob sighed. "Can you tell me what happened after the Iraqis captured you and Daniel?"

Jack swallowed, getting a little hot under the collar, his voice sounding strangled with the memories.

"They tortured me. They kept asking questions about the SGC."

"What sort of questions?"

"They wanted to know about the Stargate, and how many people there were working here. What it was exactly that we did. What the Stargate did."

"So you don't think they actually knew what the SGC stood for?"

"No."

"What did they do to Daniel, Jack?"

"They hurt him. I couldn't stop them."

Teal'c looked over at the monitor, still showing blue and relaxed a little. So far his warrior friend had spoken only the truth.

"Okay." Jacob paused knowing he was getting near the time to ask the pertinent questions. "After they hurt Daniel what did they do to you?"

Jack gulped, trying to swallow the lump that was stuck in his throat.

"They beat me first then they injected some drugs into me."

"What sort of drugs?"

"I don't know, they didn't say."

"What did they do after the drugs took effect?"

"Asked more questions. So many questions."

Jack was tiring, and Janet was worried that it would all be too much for him. He was still far from well. She sent a silent message to Jacob begging him to get a move on and finish this soon.

Jacob nodded and carried on.

"Jack did you tell them what they wanted to know?"

Jack balked at the question; he couldn't answer. His head hurt, and his breathing quickened until he was almost hyperventilating.

"Did you tell them anything Jack?" Jacob persisted.

"Yes!" Jack cried, the pressure getting to him. "I told them everything they wanted to know. Anything to stop the pain."

Janet rushed to his side as he collapsed into a sobbing heap, hiding his face in his hands when Janet released him.

She cast an anxious glance at Jacob but he was smiling.

Jacob turned towards the observation window and grinned.

"He's lying George. He didn't tell them anything."

Those in the little room visibly relaxed and Sam and Daniel ran down to the room where Jack was being helped into the wheelchair once more. Janet wanted him in a private room in the infirmary right away.

Sam stopped Teal'c from pushing him for just a moment.

Jack was still unable to face anyone and hadn't realised that those around him were smiling.

Sam gently took hold of his hands and pulled them away from his face, smiling at him.

"Shh! It's okay Jack," she whispered softly, getting his attention. You didn't tell them anything. You're not a traitor. Do you hear me. It's okay. You never broke Jack. They planted false memories in your head and we're gonna help you get them out."

Daniel squatted down beside them, taking Jack's hand in his too.

"Jack. It's true. I knew you wouldn't break, and you didn't. Trust us. You're gonna be okay now."

Jack looked at each of them in disbelief, but his breathing returned to normal and he felt calmer. Maybe they were telling the truth. He trusted them to know, and nodded his acceptance.

"You okay now?" Sam asked, cupping his cheek in her warm hand.

Jack leaned into it, nodding, feeling completely drained.

Janet had waited long enough.

"Okay. Teal'c let's get him to bed. You can visit him later Sam, Daniel. Right now he needs to sleep."

They stepped out of the way, watching as Teal'c and Janet hurried Jack away.

TBC

An extra long chapter today. I could have left you with another cliff hanger, but I didn't want to get lynched! Thanks once again to everyone who sent in some super reviews. Sorry I didn't warn you beforehand about the content of the last chapter being weepy. I didn't want to put people off reading it!

ShannonK: Not being from the US, I didn't know...anyway it makes it all the more tense. (as if it needed it! LOL)

Kittn: Thank you so much for the comments and the compliments, I really do appreciate them. I'm flattered you think that.

Maggie Eaton: Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. Love your fics BTW, just can't seem to get them to accept my reviews!