Thanks to Bookworm for the encouragement. I hope I can keep it up – it's a lot harder writing for this kind of situation than I thought it was going to be.
Hope you enjoy. Please review!
Chapter III – Taking the fall
Sam looked from the doorway where Jack had disappeared back to General Hammond, unsure of what she should say. It was clear to everyone present that he was upset – even his sarcasm couldn't cover the irrational anguish and pain he was feeling following their close encounter. She looked at General Hammond apprehensively. The worst thing for Jack would be if he were ordered to stand down for this operation. The problem was, if questioned, Sam didn't think she could exactly lie to the General.
"Major?" Hammond turned to the ever-reliable Sam, his face still registering shock at Jack's reaction
"Well sir, we've got good and bad news." Sam began, her eyes still on the doorway Jack had disappeared through. "But maybe it should wait until the debriefing with Colonel O'Neill?"
Hammond glanced through the doorway and looked at Sam again. Sensing something was amiss, he quickly nodded his head in acquiescence.
"Debriefing in 2 hours. Report to the infirmary before then, all of you." He looked meaningfully to Teal'c, who understood that Jack was expected to see Dr Fraiser as well. "Dismissed!"
Sam didn't move immediately, but instead watched Teal'c and Jonas traipse out of the room. Pulling herself together, she made to leave as well but was stopped by a hand that placed itself lightly on her arm.
"May I have a word first, Major?" General Hammond's face was serious.
Sam nodded mechanically. "Of course sir."
After relinquishing her weapon to one of the officers standing in the gate room, she followed the General out of the gate room and up the stairs towards his office, a certain trepidation taking over her. She knew what he was going to ask, but she didn't know what she was going to answer.
As he closed the door and motioned for her to sit, she thought she perceived a sorrowful expression on his face, but couldn't be sure. She knew the man now sitting in front of her on the other side of the desk would do anything for SG1. She knew that he only had their best interests at heart. At the same time, she knew – and she was petrified of the fact – that she wasn't going to tell the whole truth.
"Major," General Hammond began softly, his eyes looking earnestly into hers. "I know how much esteem you hold for Colonel O'Neill, but I need to know: is he truly ready for active duty?"
Sam looked down at her hands, unable to look the head of base in the eye. Fighting the battle inside her, telling her to report Jack's conduct, she steeled herself against the piercing regard of General Hammond and looked up again.
"Sir, I don't believe Colonel O'Neill acted improperly on that planet." She began, choosing her words carefully. "It was a shock for all of us when Baal walked through the stargate…" grasping her hands together desperately she searched wildly around the room for inspiration.
"Sam," the use of her first name caused her to look up abruptly. General Hammond's gaze had softened and he was now leaning forward slightly. "I don't think Jack would ever knowingly do something to endanger yourself or the other members of your team, but if his reaction upon your return is anything to go by, it doesn't seem that he is thinking entirely clearly at the moment."
Despite the softness in his voice, Sam felt herself stiffen slightly at the implication of what he was saying. Her intense respect for her CO imbued her with a renewed force as her eyes narrowed, looking straight into his.
"With all due respect, sir," she was verging on insubordination and she knew it, "Colonel O'Neill's instinct was to return home as soon as we saw Baal, which, in retrospect, we should have done." She added the last part quietly. "I persuaded him to stay a bit longer and as a result, the entire planet is in danger." Straightening her posture with renewed force, she made an important decision that she knew would have repercussions. "If anything, I am guilty of refusing to follow a direct order. The Colonel's actions upon his return are due to his anger, that's all."
General Hammond sat back in his chair, quietly considering the now indignant Major who was sitting before him. She was deflecting attention from his actions, and he knew it. He also knew that Jack would vehemently deny what she had just said, and take all the blame for whatever happened on that planet himself. Above all, he knew that Jack could never be that angry with Carter that he'd storm off out of the gateroom. Leaning his elbow on the desk in front of him and rubbing his forehead in consternation, he looked at Sam again, who now seemed quietly petrified at what she had just said.
"Alright Major," he decided not to press the point, but instead delve into the situation deeper at their upcoming meeting. "Report to the infirmary. I'll see you at the debriefing."
As he watched her almost sprint out of the office, he leant back in the comfortable chair. Her behaviour was worrying. Lying to protect a colleague is not something Major Carter would have done when she joined the SGC. Although in many ways she had become a better officer since those first few missions, he couldn't help but sense the danger in her willingness to support Jack – whatever the cost.
Jack sat impatiently at the briefing room table, drumming his fingers against the smooth surface in front of him. It was possibly the first time ever that he had been on time to a meeting, let alone early, but he was eager to leave – to get away from the impending danger that was threatening to tear him apart. He knew his actions were probably going to get him stood down, and for once he welcomed that fact. He'd had enough. Someone else could go after the Baal for all he cared – he wasn't going anywhere near the guy ever again.
One by one the other members of SG1 emerged from the corridor to be seated around the table. Jonas looked decidedly nervous and refused to look at Jack, as if he might bite. Shaking his head slightly, Jack thought again how much he wished it was Daniel joining them around the table instead. Thinking of Daniel's words he looked up to the ceiling as if in a moment of silent prayer. You said I'd be ok, Danny boy. He thought purposefully, hoping the ascended being could hear him. Look at me now – falling to bits. He let a small, resigned laugh escape from his lips just as Teal'c was entering the room.
"Is there something you find amusing, O'Neill?" Teal'c sat next to his trusted friend, his deep gaze not revealing any emotion.
Jack didn't answer, but merely shrugged, receding into the chair he was sitting in. The familiar sweet smell of her perfume alerted him to the fact that Sam had entered the room. He flitted his eyes up briefly to see her sitting across from him, looking quietly petrified. He didn't know what that was all about, but looked away quickly, not even really acknowledging her presence. As General Hammond walked into the room, he didn't even get up like the others did. He just sat there, sulking.
General Hammond sat listening to Sam and Jonas' account of the events in Turramulli's cave with a mix of hope and foreboding. If there was indeed a naquada store on Earth it would be a momentous discovery. At the same time, it was imperative they find it – before Baal. When they reached the part about Baal's appearance and their discovery of the reference to Earth on the cave walls, Hammond noticed that Sam had stopped speaking – only Jonas was continuing the narration. She was instead looking across the table to where Jack was sitting, still slumped in his chair, eyes fixed absently on the surface.
Jonas noticed how everyone was now looking at Jack and let his last sentence fade away into the tense silence that now engulfed the room. The five people sitting around the table didn't move or make a sound for some time, until finally Jack looked up slowly, his neck muscles clenched in distress.
"Sir, I take full responsibility." He laid his hands flat out on the table in front of him, indicating his surrender in face of the situation. "I allowed us to stay on the planet, not only nearly getting us captured by the prince of darkness…" he paused to look at Sam, whose eyes were fixed on his, and seemed to be holding her breath. "…but also ensuring that he will now discover the actual location of this supposed store of naquada."
"Colonel, that's not what Major Carter reported to me earlier." General Hammond's words caused Jack's heart to leap into his throat. He'd questioned Sam. She'd told him everything. Jack looked to Sam angrily, the sense of betrayal pouring out of his eyes.
"And what does Major Carter say?" Jack asked dangerously, his voice low.
Sam never let her eyes waver from their lock with his. "I told the truth, sir," she daren't look at the General, who she knew was watching them carefully. "That I refused to follow your orders to leave the planet, hence leading to our current predicament."
Jack had had enough. He was damned if she was going to take the fall for his complete failure. "Carter that's a lie and you know it!" He hissed, rising from his seat to stand ominously over her."
"General," he barked, while still looking at Sam. "Truth is, I lost it. I'm not fit for duty. I couldn't handle seeing a stupid goa'uld come through the gate and it's nearly cost us all." He paused for a quick breath before stepping back from the table and making for the door. "I questioned my own judgement… hell, I had no judgement! You'll have to find someone else to save the world." He'd stopped at the doorway briefly and threw his head over his shoulder to address the room one last time. "I'd just fuck it all up."
Jack didn't wait for their reaction. He didn't wait for Sam to come to his defence again – he didn't deserve her support. He didn't wait for General Hammond's order for him to sit down, to remain there, or at least to apologise for swearing. He just marched straight towards the lifts and headed for the surface. He was getting out of there. He wasn't coming back. He wasn't going to risk falling into Baal's hands again. Without realising it, like so many others before him, he'd become a slave to the fear that fed into the power of the goa'uld.
TBC
A/N: So there you go… I promise I'll get back to the mission soon – I've just got to get Jack back on board (which means the next chapter will include a conversation between him and Sam…)
Please tell me what you think! I'm really not confident about the way I'm writing Jack's reaction, it's just so hard to know – he's such a complex character (despite appearances – there's gotta be something going on in that head, right?)