Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

"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.

Chapter 26

SG-1, minus the Colonel of course, was seated round the briefing room table along with General Hammond, Jacob Carter and Janet Fraiser.

"You believe that test was enough to prove Colonel O'Neill's innocence?" Hammond asked Jacob.

"Definitely George. There's no doubt about it. He had to have been brainwashed into thinking he sold you out," Jacob replied. "You all saw his reaction to the question and the results on the screen."

"It was as if something inside of him knew he wasn't guilty, but he couldn't resist telling us the lie?" Daniel suggested.

Jacob nodded.

"How is Colonel O'Neill now, Doctor?"

"I've sedated him sir. He was exhausted to the point of collapse, but couldn't give in to sleep. This is taking a lot out of him. I...em... 'encouraged' him to take some medication to help relax him sir," Janet admitted, feeling a little guilty herself. Jack had refused any medication but she'd had to sedate him as he was growing more and more agitated by the minute. In the end Teal'c had to hold him down whileshe hadinjected him. He'd drifted off into a healing sleep in no time.

"Are you any closer to finding what drug they used on him Janet?" Sam asked joining in the briefing.

"I am now. Apparently it's a brand new drug that was on trial in Egypt. It's been withdrawn from the trials because of some adverse effects. Obviously they got hold of it from somewhere. Probably on the Black Market. I'm hopeful that we can counteract it's effect fairly soon though sir."

"What exactly will this drug do?" Daniel asked.

"It's supposed to suppress the memory and make you susceptible to new ideas, but for some reason as yet unknown it can cause problems."

"What sort of problems?" Hammond demanded, worried about Jack.

"I don't know sir. The chemical company refuses to discuss it. But there was talk of using it as a weapon. Whatever it does, they went to a lot of trouble to implant some new memories for the Colonel sir. They must have gone into it at great lengths."

"Just do what you can for him Doctor. And try to find out anything else about that drug!"

"Yes sir," she replied.

"Major how far have you got with tracing this Sanchez character?" General Hammond asked, turning back to her again.

"Well, so far I haven't had much luck sir. He's not listed in any of the Marines records or with the Air Force or Army. I haven't tried the Navy yet, and there's a possibility that's he's none of those, but maybe he's an undercover member of 'La confrérie', as Daniel suggested. I have my contacts looking into that right now sir."

"Perhaps he is neither of those organisations either Major Carter," Teal'c stated, bringing everyone's attention to him.

"You mean he was a plant by someone other than the 'Brotherhood'?" Daniel queried.

"I believe I do." Teal'c confirmed. "It would seem most the most likely course of action if someone wished to force O'Neill into taking his own life."

"But he did look of Mexican/Spanish origins Teal'c, not middle eastern."

"Are there not other terrorist groups among the Spanish populations that rebel against their government?"

"Yes there are, but as far as we know there's nothing to link them to 'La confrérie'."

"Not directly Daniel Jackson, but perhaps there are a few mercenaries who are willing to trade masters for the sheer pleasure of taking down someone in authority? as you put it. O'Neill has made many enemies during his time in Special Ops, is that not correct General Hammond?"

Hammond nodded unhappy at the prospects of an elaborate revenge plot.

"I think we should look into that possibility don't you think Major?" Hammond was willing to go to any lengths to find out who this person was and why he was chosen to act as the key to Jack's mind.

"Yes sir. Perhaps Daniel could help me? Janet?"

"I've already discharge Dr. Jackson from my care sir. I see no problem with him doing a spot of research. Nothing physical just yet though."

"Okay people, let's see if we can unearth some more facts. We'll meet this time tomorrow. Dismi…? What the?"

Alarm bells were ringing throughout the base and Sergeant Harriman appeared, slightly breathless with a message.

OoOoOoOoO

Jack came to, slowly, feeling slightly woozy from the after-effects of the sedative Janet had slipped him. He lay there half awake, just listening to the hushed conversation going on at the other end of the line of beds, near the nurses station. He cocked an eyelid but they hadn't stopped their chattering to notice his return to consciousness. He dropped it again, feigning sleep, he didn't care, he just wanted to lie still in the calm atmosphere and relax. He was home and everything those bastards had told him was a lie. He wallowed warmly in the knowledge that he wasn't a traitor and hadn't let anyone or his country down. He let the soft ambience of the room and lull of their voices waft over him, making him drift on the edge of awareness.

"Oooh, do tell. C'mon Gloria. What's he really like?" the younger nurse asked, keeping her voice down so as not to disturb the Colonel. Dr. Fraiser would have her hide if they woke him.

"God, he is so handsome, especially in his uniform."

Gloria dug out a letter dated a few days ago, and pulled out a photograph of her newest boyfriend.

"There. See!"

"Oh wow! He's a real hunk! What'd he say?"

The petite Lieutenant, Gloria Bodegas opened the letter and scanned the pages.

"Oh here's a good bit," she crowed. He wrote me in Spanish, listen..." she proceeded to read out the words just as they were written. Her eyes rolled in her head as her thoughts filled with romance. "He is such a romantic. He calls me, 'mi pequeña mariposa bonita.' My pretty little..."

The effect was sudden and totally unexpected. The two nurses turned at the disturbance and hurried over to the Colonel.

With a howl of anguish, pain and urgency, Jack launched himself from the bed and stumbled when his sore feet hit the floor, but he picked himself up again, ignoring the agony from his abused soles. He headed for the tray of instruments left lying on the table across the room. He was searching for something, scattering the sterile dressings and implements as he looked for anything sharp.

Gloria hurriedly approached him, hoping to subdue the weakened man, but he pushed her away roughly, sending her flying backwards to land painfully on her ass. Second Lieutenant Andrea Kuhn jumped back to avoid colliding with her friend, and headed for the alarm button instead.

"Colonel. Colonel O'Neill!" Gloria called when she'd recovered, but he was oblivious to her frantic calls. She went to approach him, but suddenly he wheeled on her brandishing a scalpel, his face full of pain and torment, tinged perhaps with despair and fear.

"No!" he yelled repeatedly. "No! Go 'way!"

He poked at her and she retreated a few paces, keeping him in her sight all the time. Jack then backed into a corner and slid down the wall to sit on the cold concrete floor. He shivered violently, running a finger up and down the blade, testing its sharpness with a wicked smile.

Kuhn tried to approach him too but he jabbed the scalpel at her as well. They felt useless, unable to help him, so they had to stand by anxiously waiting for help to arrive.

Jack fended them off. He was trembling, shaking with emotions far beyond his control. Something inside him was urging him to raise the scalpel to his neck, but on the other hand, he felt shamed by it, unwilling to end it all, but unable to stop it. Why he was being torn in two he couldn't understand. He had been reassured by everyone that he hadn't broken, but the voice in his head accused him of the crimes against the State. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the voice, but it didn't work. Gradually against his will, the sharp instrument moved towards his throat.

OoOoOoOoO

"Okay people, let's see if we can unearth some more facts. We'll meet this time tomorrow. Dismi…? What the?"

Alarm bells were ringing throughout the base and Sergeant Harriman appeared, slightly breathless with a message.

"Dr. Fraiser...you're needed in the Infirmary. It's Colonel O'Neill."

Janet leapt to her feet and flew from the room quickly followed by everyone else,including General Hammond.

Several agonising minutes later the petite CMO rushed into the ward to see her nurses standing a few feet away from the Colonel who was hunched on the floor; a scalpel a mere few inches from his throat.

After sucking in a shocked breath, she tentatively approached, waving the others to stay back.

"Colonel," she called softly. Colonel, you don't really want to do that. There's no need for this any more. You're innocent Jack; you proved it with the tests," she tried switching to his given name hoping to bring him back to their presence.

She knelt on the floor a few feet from him, slowly reaching out with her fingers towards his hand. He stopped for a moment and looked directly at her; his eyes wild and full of fear which took Janet by surprise.

Suddenly he slashed the blade towards her and she felt the very tip slice across her skin when she didn't pull her hand back quickly enough. She ignored the blood as it dripped onto the floor from the cut, but Jack's gaze was riveted to the crimson drops.

"Jack? Let me help. Please. Jack, don't do this!" she pleaded. "Everything is okay now. We're here to help you."

"No!" came the anguished cry again, "No-one can!" And up went his hand with the blade. The first spots of blood were welling from the initial touch, when suddenly he was engulfed in a blue static charge. He arched in agony; his limbs jerking violently as the power ran through him while he cried out in pain.

Janet spun round to see Teal'c holding out a Zat gun, having rendered his friend helpless, thereby stopping his attempt to slash his own throat. Janet sighed in relief that it was over, knowing she would need to discover just why he'd attempted this again.

When the charge had dissipated, Janet snatched the scalpel away and handed it to Sam quickly because all her efforts now were focused on the Colonel who was convulsing wildly in the throes of a seizure.

TBC

Thanks once again to all my lovely reviewers. I can't say it enough times. I really do appreciate all your comments. I'm overwhelmed by the compliments you seem to pile on me. Thank you all!

Maggie Eaton: I couldn't do that to Jack! He's my hero too!

Ilovesg1: There be fluff to come, and you are sooo gonna love the final chapter when it's up. Not long to go now.

Danny'sGirlSG1: Fanominal? Great word...love it! Thanks.

Kittn: You've just got to clap harder for a while longer. It will work. Honest! Thanks.