Oi, excuse the fluff at the beginning...

Chapter 6

"Just spectacular, didn't think someone her size could do that!" Kawalsky raved, gesturing wildly with his jello laden spoon..

"It was quite remarkable," Daniel grinned in agreement, propping himself beside an infirmary gurney.

"Really, we thought the two of you were dead, then she just waltzed through the Gate dragging you behind her, right Daniel?" The major continued.

"The airman in the Gate room were completely stunned."

"She's like... like... Wonder Woman."

"Cat Woman."

"Superwoman."

"It's Supergirl."

"Sam's no girl."

"She no superhero either!" Jack said, finally interrupting the gushing of his two friends as he shifted uncomfortably on the lumpy infirmary mattress.

They both looked up at him sheepishly

"Unless... you think she'd go for the catsuit?" Jack contemplated aloud.

"Damn, I'd like to see that." Kawalsky said in all seriousness.

"I doubt you airmen would get any work done if she did," snorted Daniel.

"Hey guys, you do realize that sound travels in waves, and that I can hear you!" A voice called from behind the partition.

All three froze, and had the decency to look slightly embarrassed when Sam pulled aside the thin green curtain to give them disapproving looks.

Daniel cringed, Kawalsky echoed the motion.

"Carter! Good to see you up and around. I was just hearing of your heroics," Jack said, clearing his throat and sitting up a little straighter in the bed, painfully aware of the fact that he was covered with little more than a sheet. She didn't seem to notice, and merely shook her head at him. He took the opportunity to sum up her appearance. No visible signs of injury... aside from the distinct weariness in her stance.

"It was pretty simple once the Jaffa they'd realized they weren't getting through our iris," she explained finally, "When they left it gave me the opportunity to get to the Gate without a major firefight. I thought they'd given up for good, but it was obviously just to return with more fire power. They've been at it now for the past three days."

Her words were emphasized by the klaxons which started blaring, followed closely by what sounded like an irritating airline-hostess voice stating, 'three minutes to self destruct.'

"Ugh, I'll never get used to that," Daniel shuddered.

"They're not getting through," Sam reassured, "How's Sha're doing with all of this?"

"She's asleep right now in the VIP quarters... I don't know why they call them that."

"Stay at my place again, I don't mind," Kawalsky said, rising to his feet.

"Or mine," Jack offered.

"Or you could stay in the apartment I just secured for you," Sam smiled, quite pleased with herself, " It comes complete with furniture, and the fridge is stuffed with food. The Air Force will set you up with anything else you need to get started, just let us know."

Daniel's eyes widened, "But what about Sha're? They said she wouldn't be allowed off base yet."

"Taken care of. She checked out healthy at the infirmary, there was really no reason to keep her confined to the base. I'll arrange for an airman to meet you two topside in a couple hours. He'll take you to your new place, and will be back in the morning to-- omff!"

Sam's words were cut off by her friend's enveloping hug.

"I love you, have I mentioned that before? Thank you Sam, really," Daniel said sincerely.

"You're embarrassing yourself Doctor," Kawalsky rolled his eyes, "I've got your transportation covered. Now get that pretty wife of yours ready and meet me at the surface. Colonels..." he said in departure, dragging an excitable archaeologist behind him.

"How the hell did you get that set up so quickly?" Jack asked in wonderment, once they were alone.

"Pulled a few strings, you know how it is," Sam smirked, leaning over the foot of his bed, "Besides, you have been unconscious for a few days. So how are you doing, O'Neill?"

It might have been pure wishful thinking, but Jack was sure her eyes softened in concern.

"Just peachy, Carter. Doc said she'd release me this afternoon if I behaved," he replied, his mood improving at the thought.

She merely nodded, looking down at her hands as she fiddled with his IV, "That's good. Um, well I just wanted to stop by and say that... I'm glad... you're not dead."

"Me to. You I mean, not me. I'm glad that you're okay," he fumbled with the words, "You are okay, right?"

"Nothing serious. I've got an MRI scheduled for later this afternoon at the Academy hospital. Persistant migraines."

"I have that effect on people, sorry," Jack said apologetically.

"Now that I can believe," she smiled a little, playing with the corner of his bed sheet. He studied her for a moment. It was like she wasn't quite ready to leave yet, almost as if she was waiting for something. That was when he made his decision.

"Hey Carter..." Jack began, clearing his throat, needing to talk to her.. All he knew was that something good had happened between them on that planet, something he felt was worth exploring. He'd be retired by the end of the day anyway, so he figured he had nothing to lose at this point

"Yeah?" she looked back up at him quickly.

"I know this may seem a little out of the blue... or not, depending on how much of this is all in my head, but seeing as how we officially don't hate each other any more, I was wondering if maybe, um, sometime, if you'd like to... go..."

"Colonels! Just the two people I wanted to see," Hammond said from the infirmary doorway.

"Sir," the both said at once. Sam stood at attention, while Jack tried sitting up straighter... but reconsidered the idea when he heard something in his back crack.

"At ease," the General told them, "I trust you both have sufficiently recovered?"

"Yes sir," they chorused again, causing them to shoot each other annoyed looks.

"Good. I have an urgent matter to discuss that cannot be delayed any longer. Colonel O'Neill, after the painstaking review of the last mission reports, Colonel Carter's in particular, I have been given orders to retain you as part of the SGC, effective immediately."

Jack stared blankly, but a gentle prodding from Sam brought him back to the moment.

"Uh, look General…" He began, "this was just supposed to be a one-time thing," he ended with finality..

"Oh come on O'Neill... you know how much you loved it out there!" Sam said suddenly, "A man like you will go crazy without the action."

Jack looked at her, his eyes widening slightly, "You knew about this!" He recognized an ambush when he saw one.

She ducked her head slightly, but didn't shy away from the question, "Yes, I did. I tried to warn you about it back on Chulak, but you passed out on me."

"That's not the point at the moment. Just what part of 'no' are you not getting here?" He asked, resenting the idea of being manipulated into something... even if it was something he could very well learn to love.

"Well it's not like you've got much else going on... You were a mess before we approached you."

"See, now I resent that. You caught me on a bad day. My birthday, actually... which brings me to the point that I'm not as young as I used to be," Jack stated.

"You look good to me," Sam insisted, her eyes drawing down his body in a way that would have certainly gotten Jack's imagination going had Hammond not been in there. He settled for releasing a hollow sigh, and diverting his eyes from her.

Her presence wasn't helping him think straight. Perhaps it was all the drugs in his blood-stream, but he couldn't help but notice how wide eyed and beautiful Colonel Samantha Carter was when she wanted something. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell what exactly it was that she wanted from him. If this was her way of holding onto whatever was growing between them, she was going about it all wrong. Working together would set a definite barrier between them, considering the regs. On the other hand, if she just wanted him as part of the SGC because of his experience as a USAF colonel, then suggesting otherwise would make him look like a total ass.

"Well, Colonel?" the General asked.

"I'll be blunt here," he said, looking between the two of them, "I'm willing to give up this position at the SGC if I get a better offer. Now can either of you give me a reason not to return to full time duty?" he asked them both, but looked solely at her.

"What the hell are you on about O'Neill? There is no better off than the SGC!" Sam said exasperated.

Jack nodded. He was sharp enough to realize when he didn't even register on a woman's radar, though this was the first time it had happened since... puberty.

"I guess I'm in then, General," Jack smiled wryly. Whatever feelings he may or may not have for Sam Carter would have to wait. Hopefully he'd wrench his knee within the first week, and be forced into a permenent retirement, and Sam-- in the sheer guilt of it all-- would be compelled to nurse him back to health. Or sleep with him. Either one would do.

"Excellent, I'll take care of the paperwork. I suggest the two of you pick out your teams... anyone you want, you'll get them. Personnel files will be made available to you immediately; I expect your decisions by the end of the week. Now if you'll excuse me, this base tends to fall apart when I'm not around," he joked good-naturedly.

"Yes sir," they chorused as their general departed.

If Jack was feeling at all uneasy with the situation, the killer smile Sam was giving him was enough to wipe it all away. Her enthusiasm was damn near infectious, and he found himself smiling back. For what reason, he had no clue.

"You're getting released soon, right?" she asked, tilting her head and biting on her lower lip, a million fast-paced thoughts running across her features. Jack was getting tired just looking at her.

"Couple hours if all goes well."

"Great! I'll be over tonight around six."

"I... what?"

"Picking our teams, O'Neill. You, me, between the two of use we practically know everyone on this base already, so it'll make the job easier. Plus, we avoid the remote possibility of choosing the same people."

He still looked at her, blankly.

"Of course, there's no pressure here, if you'd rather not..."

"No! I'd like that Carter, really."

Her grin had returned the next instant, "This is going to be great. I'm really glad we'll be working together," she took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before leaving the room, with a definite bounce in her step.

"See you tonight O'Neill!" she called over her shoulder.

"Yeah... tonight, right."

Jack shut his eyes and sighed.

"Do I have to go?" the boy asked restlessly, stuffing clothes and a couple books into his pack.

"This is important," the woman answered.

"To who? Not to me, and I know he doesn't care either."

"He does sweetheart, I promise."

"That's why you have to call and remind him about it every month... and he's not even picking up this time!"

"I'm sure he'll be home by the time we get there."

"Right, whatever," he said grabbing a couple CDs. I'll be in the car."

"I want Daniel," Sam insisted.

"Hell no! He's mine," Jack growled.

"He likes me better."

"I had him first."

"Okay, then if you get Daniel, I want Teal'c"

"What! Aggrgh... fine, look. You take Daniel, but I've got to have Teal'c. That way all I'll need to pick out is a brainiac, and then I'm done."

"And I'll just need someone who can point and shoot when I tell them to," Sam said in agreement.

The two grinned at each other, then turned back to the mountain of files before them. They'd been at this for the past two hours, but had only really started making progress within the last three minutes.

"What about her?" Sam asked, tossing a file across the low coffee table. It slid across smoothly, landing just in front of the man on the other end.

"Geologist with a bag full of degrees from some egghead university... yadda, yadda, yadda... she's got no field experience, and I don't like her hair. Pass." Jack said, tossing the folder onto an ever-growing reject pile on the floor.

"How about this guy for you , Carter?" He suggested to Sam, holding up another personnel file.

"Ugh- Marine. Pass," she replied shaking her head.

"Yeah, I thought the same. Probably would be better to give the Marines their own team" Jack grunted moodily, chucking the file haphazardly over his shoulder.

"Okay, this one has potential. His name's Doctor Zekvinovk-"

"Ah! Russian. Pass," he interrupted.

"Czech, actually."

"Same difference."

"Do you practice being offensive, or does it come naturally?"

"This has nothing to do with nationality! I just have a little problem with scientists. Especially Russian ones. I mean be honest with me Cater - do I really need a geek on the team?"

"When you're stuck off world with no GDO and a Stargate that won't dial out...? Yeah, you'll need one."

"Well you still need to find yourself a GI Joe."

"GI Joe wasn't Air Force."

"Oh, now who's being offensive? What about him? Great hair." Jack nodded approvingly, folding the sheet into a paper airplane and gliding it over to Sam with almost perfect aim.

She sighed, catching it and scanning the words quickly.

"Standard issue fly boy, test scores high all around..." She surmised.

"See-- perfect." Jack grinned.

"Hmmm...a little too perfect."

"Carter, is there no pleasing you?"

"Well this decision is pretty important! We're picking the people who we're literally going to have to trust with our lives- so excuse me if I don't base my decisions on the individual's hair."

"When you put it like that... ugh, I'd never take any of these people out into the field with me." Jack groaned, rubbing his hands over his eyes.

"Well, did you have anyone else in mind?"

"At the moment the only people I'd trust to watch my back are you, Daniel, and Teal'c."

Sam looked at him in surprise.

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah. Well, and Kawalsky, but he has his hands full with SG3."

"I am in the process of setting up my own team too, O'Neill."

"Yeah, I realize that Carter... but I'm just saying if things were different, I would have wanted you on my team."

"...And I would have wanted you on mine."

"Really?"

"God no. I was just being polite."

Jack tossed a pillow at her head with sloppy accuracy, a second after she ducked out of the way grinning.

"You like me. Admit it. Or else you wouldn't have written that glowing report about me," he said haughtily to the woman who was draped over his couch like an expensive piece of silk, her eyes laughing up at him. He'd be a liar if he claimed his heart hadn't just skipped a beat that moment. He'd been thinking about kissing her, for a while now, and for the most part, the thought didn't seem to shock him. If it ever did happen, he was sure it would be through instinct. Perfectly natural, and quite... wonderful. Aside from the obvious career blunder it would cause, of course.

"I'm still miffed Hammond didn't let me read it," Jack said quickly, clearing his throat, as well as his feelings, and taking the opportunity to put a little space between them again.

"Well I didn't fall over myself praising you if that's what you mean."

"Oh please... I bet wrote ALL about my amazing tactical maneuvers, conduct under fire, heroic persona..."

"...Your exceptional ability to stab yourself with your own knife and then faint... twice."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you? Well then what else could you have written about me! Maybe a chapter or two about how great my ass looks in a pair of BDUs?"

"Yes, that's it exactly," Sam nodded.

"Seriously Carter, what the hell did you say t make them want me back so bad? You know I got three calls from the Pentagon to confirm that I'd taken the job? Just doesn't make sense to me."

"Oh cut it out already O'Neill. You know you're the Air Force's beloved golden boy. They weren't going to let you leave once they'd gotten you back again. They're all head over heels in love with you at the SGC."

"Well... while, we're on the subject of ego petting, the same is true for you. I'm telling ya, half the airmen on base worship the concrete you walk on."

"I'm talking about respect, not having 'Carter iz sexy' scrawled on the bathroom wall."

"Okay- that was NOT me."

Luckily, Sam didn't get a chance to question him further, as the phone rang and the doorbell chimed synchronously.

"Get the door will ya Carter? It's probably the pizza," Jack asked, heading into the kitchen to find the phone.

"Fine, but you're paying for the next one," she called after him, grabbing her wallet.

"Hey, gimme a second..." she said opening up the door and rifling for some cash. She looked up, smiled, and handed a few bills to the teenager.

He frowned, slightly confused, "Uh..."

"Right! Tip. Sorry, here you go... where is it?" she asked, belatedly realizing the boy wasn't carrying anything but a backpack slung over his shoulder.

"Where's what?"

"The pizza."

"What pizza?"

"Honey, is everything oka- oh... hello," a woman smiled, coming up beside the boy. Her fair hair was pulled back and swept up in an elegant style, which contradicted the casual clothing she wore. She regarded Sam evenly, sizing her up in a single glance.

"Not the pizza boy!" Sam exclaimed, more for her own benefit than anyone else.

"Sara?" Jack said, appearing behind Sam, one hand over the mouth of the phone, obviously still in the middle of a conversation.

"Jack, you're looking well," she nodded to him, "...and you forgot about this weekend, didn't you?"

"Of course I didn't!" Jack said a little too loudly. "How you doing, Charlie?"

"Great," he said rolling his eyes. "Here's your money, Lady. I'll be in my room Dad," he continued, returning Sam's bills, and maneuvering through the entrance. A door slammed three seconds later.

"You thought my son was the pizza guy?" Jack said indignantly to Sam.

"Seems like that's the least of your problems right now O'Neill," Sam replied, offering the other woman a polite smile before retreating to the lounge to gather her files.

"Honestly Jack- first weekend of every month. Is it really that hard to remember?" Sara asked, exasperated, glancing down at her watch.

"Things have been a little... intense lately."

"Hm, so I can see. What's her name?"

"Who? Carter? I work with her, she hates me."

"Of course she does. I'm glad you're with someone Jack. Just, talk it over with Charlie, okay? This whole thing hasn't been easy on him..."

"I noticed. What was with his attitude?"

"School. Friends. Girl troubles. You remember what it was like when you were fifteen."

"Actually no, the girls loved me."

"And you loved the girls."

"Yet another thing we had in common. Now that information would have been useful before we got married."

"I only realized I was attracted to women after marrying you, Jack."

"Aint that what every man wants to hear."

"You want to get into this right now?"

"Guess not."

''Lisa's waiting in the car, I'll pick Charlie up Monday morning. Take care of yourself, Jack," she said, leaning a hand on his arm to brush a kiss on his cheek.

"Yeah, okay. Tell Lisa I say hello, and don't have too much fun alone together this weekend... but feel free to send me a tape if you do."

Sara shook her head and sighed before leaving.

Belatedly, Jack realized he still had the phone in his hands.

"Daniel! Sorry about that... yes... no... look, it can't be that- okay. I'll be there in... ah crap... it's just that my son... look, don't worry, I'll take care of it." Jack said, hanging up on his frantic friend when he saw Carter gathering her things.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Leaving."

"Wait! I need a favor."

"You still owe me for that time I saved your life."

"Do this one thing for me, and I promise never, ever, to ask you for anything else ever again."

"Oh if I had a nickel...fine! What?"

"Daniel just called- apparently the boys at the NID want to pick up Teal'c."

"That's ridiculous!" Sam's eyes widened, "I took care of all his paperwork the day we got back to the SGC! Classified him as an alien refugee, I even did a little research and set up a new set of judicial parameters to prevent this sort of thing from-"

"You don't know this guy Carter, his name's Harry Maybourne, works for the NID... he'll work any loop holes he can to get what he needs. Look, I've handled him before and he caves really easily, nothing to worry about. I just... could you maybe watch Charlie?"

"What?"

"My kid, Carter, can you watch him until I get back?"

"Does it say 'nanny' anywhere on my clothing?"

"Please?"

"O'Neill, no offense intended, but I really, really hate children, and the feeling's usually mutual. My niece and nephew ritually throw up on my shoes then crawl away screaming whenever they see me."

"Charlie's teenager! Put on a little MTV, and throw him a pop tart every few hours, and he's set for the next five years. He'll be no trouble, I promise, you won't even have to do anything. I just don't want to leave him alone when he's in one of his moods- please?"

"But... but... what if you need my help?"

"Trust me, I can handle it. Besides, Teal'c's on my team now, that makes him my responsibility."

"Argh! Alright, but do NOT make a habit out of this. Now go help Teal'c... I'm holding you personally responsible if he gets dragged off to some research facility."

"Relax, it's all under control." Jack smirked, heading off down the hallway of his home.

"Hey, Charlie... Charlie, come out here a second will you?" Jack knocked on the door of his son's room, but heard no reply except for the blast of some awful music from the stereo... Greenweek or something.

"CHARLES O'NEILL! I don't have time for this!" He yelled in frustration.

"What?" a tousled mop of brown hair stuck out the door.

"There's someone I want you to meet."

"You mean the hot blonde? Nice work Dad, I seriously thought you were washed out in that department."

"It's not like that, I would have told you if it was, and her name's Colonel Carter. You don't get to call her anything else. Now I've got to go out for a little while, so she's staying with you."

"What- you're getting her to babysit me?"

"This isn't negotiable, soldier. Now I'll only be gone a couple hours. Think you can behave yourself until then?"

"Yes sir," Charlie answered mockingly, slamming the door in his father's face.

With that, Jack turned to leave, giving a nod to Sam, who had settled back into reviewing more personnel files, chewing on the back of her pen.

He almost collided with the real delivery guy on his way out the door, but managed to get to his car with relative ease. Truthfully, Jack was more nervous about leaving Carter alone with his teenager than he was about facing Maybourne again.

Rodney Mckay. Sam had forgotten about him... she'd referenced some of his work while creating the SGC's dialing protocols. As far as she knew, he was still stuck in Area 51 playing with the power sources used in the staff weapons. She momentarily wondered if he'd be interested in joining an SG team... she really couldn't think of anyone else who could put up with a guy like Jack O'Neill.

"Hey."

Sam looked up from her laptop to see the boy, holding up a white square box. His jeans were three sizes too big for him, as was the hockey shirt he wore, but Sam figured it was intentional. It was his eyes that struck her most, though. They were a cool blue, as his mother's had been.

"Hi." she replied, closing her laptop.

"Dad paid the real pizza guy on his way out... you want some?" He offered.

"Maybe later. You go ahead." Sam smiled, watching him inhale the food.

"So any idea where he ran off to?" Charlie asked, slouching into the seat Jack had occupied moments ago.

"He needed to help a friend out of a little trouble." Sam explained vaguely.

"Yeah, it's always something."

"Ditches you a lot, does he?"

"Guess he has his reasons."

"I never saw it that way with my dad... he was also in the Air Force. Always on some mission or the other- conveniently around Christmas, or birthdays."

"Yeah, dads can be assholes."

"Hey!"

"Oh what? You're going to tell me he's just doing his job, that he's got no choice, that I shouldn't take it personally?"

"What? No, I just wanted one of those bread sticks. Go on, you were saying something about your dad being an ass?"

"I don't get it. Mom's always defending him, but that's the reason she left him in the first place. Well, that, and she's a lesbian."

Sam choked on her bread stick.

"Dad didn't tell you?"

"Uh, no. Well, it's none of my business anyway."

"So there's really nothing going on with you two..."

"If there was, I would have shot him by now."

"Good. I really don't need a third mom."

"And I really don't need a teenage step-son."

"Kid brother then? Siblings, yeah, that would work for us."

"Why the need to classify?"

"I'm insecure. I come from a broken home. I'm an only child. Need I go on?"

"No... that's fine. Seeing as how your dad and I are going to be working together, I guess the title of older sister would be appropriate. Have to warn you though, I already have a brother, and he might take offense to this."

"I'll take my chances. Well, Colonel Carter, we should celebrate our newfound siblingness. Beer?"

"Not a chance, kid."

"Damn. How about Xbox?"

"About that..."

"The NID has been monitoring every piece of paper leaving the SGC, and it's our opinion that this command should be placed under stricter supervision, immediately. Now my orders come from the top- and I'm not leaving without the Jaffa. He's the enemy. What part of that can't you understand?" Maybourne asked with an ugly scowl.

"He saved our lives- there's no reason for him to be poked and prodded in some damn government facility when he could help us fight the Goa'uld... those would be the bad guys," Jack said slowly for the other man's benefit.

"What O'Neill says is true. I shall pledge my allegiance to this world, and share my knowledge freely," Teal'c stated somberly.

"Fine. How many humans did you kill in your service of Apophis?" Maybourne sneered.

"Don't answer his questions Teal'c. You don't owe it to us... if anything, we're the ones who should be showing you a little more respect. General?" Jack asked, turning to Hammond and willing the man to kick Maybourne out on his ass.

"There's nothing I can do Colonel," he told Jack regretfully. "Unless there's a valid reason to keep Teal'c on base temporarily..."

"Sir!" Janet Fraiser piped up suddenly. "I believe that there is enough medical incentive for Mr. Teal'c to remain in the infirmary. We have no idea what could make the symbiote leap from host to host, he's a threat if we let him leave this facility."

"Doctor Fraser, I assure you that-" Teal'c cut off his sentence when Jack kicked him in the ankle beneath the briefing table.

"I... would understand your caution, of course. A wise decision." Teal'c corrected himself.

"What! This is outrageous, you can't just-"

"Do not tell me what I can and cannot do on my own base, Colonel Maybourne." Hammond snapped.

"General, sir! I have an urgent message for doctor Fraiser," a wide-eyed sergeant interrupted them. The General nodded for him to enter.

"What is it airman?" Janet asked, flipping open the folder she just received.

"It's the MRI results from the Air Force Academy Hospital," the man told her nervously, "There was some sort of delay-"

"Oh my God..."

"What's up Doc?" Jack asked, echoing the sentiments of everyone in the briefing room.

"It's Colonel Carter's scans… why didn't I receive this sooner!" she demanded, growing visibly pale.

"Doctor?" The General asked gently.

"I'm sorry sir, I don't know how we missed it…"

"Missed what!" Jack asked, his patience wearing thin.

"Colonel Carter's a Goa'uld, sir."

There was a beat of silence. Jack was the first to find his voice.

"That's impossible-- I was with her this evening, we were going over personnel files together!" he argued, leaving no room for doubt.

"I don't know what to say, Colonel, but the evidence is clear. See for yourself," she passed the scan to him. The image of a creature wrapped around the vertebrae was unmistakable.

"How could this happen? Did anyone notice her acting differently?" Hammond questioned.

"No!" Jack said vehemently, "I mean I would have been able to tell if she were a Goa'uld for cryin' out loud! I would have known..."

"Not necessarily, Colonel. How would a symbiote enter a human host?" Janet asked, turning to Teal'c.

"It is most commonly performed through the back of the neck."

"Shit," Jack groaned, not quite caring who heard him. He remembered it clearly. Her scar, the blood.

"It's right here in her medical report. I made a note of it because the wound seemed particularly deep..." Janet swallowed drly.

"If that is the case, then Colonel Carter is most certainly a Goa'uld." Teal'c stated.

Jack almost knocked over his seat as he shot up from it.

"I... I have to go. I left her with my son, General," he said suddenly, really not believing that this was happening.

"Go. I'll send SG2 to back you up, and Dr. Jackson will meet you at the surface." Hammond nodded.

"Don't bother." Maybourne said . " If the NID intercepted those results- which I'm guessing is the reason for your delay in receiving them-- then they're already tracking Colonel Carter."

"Maybourne if those idiots go in shooting while my son's still in the house..." Jack snapped furiously, not bothering to conceal an overwhelming nausea that had suddenly gripped him.

"I'm sorry, Jack, but I swear they didn't tell me about this. It must have been a last minute...!" Maybourne trailed off.

Jack was already out the door.

Dun... dun dun... that would be my equivalent of a dramatic cliff. Hope you liked it. To be honest, I have the next thirty pages written up already, it just takes me forever to post because I keep changing my mind about things. Fickle much? ;)