Chapter 28
"So that's when Carter reached into my pants…."
"Geez Jack, would you stop phrasing it like that!" Daniel said angrily staring at Jack; he knew Sam would be very angry hearing Jack retelling the events like that.
"That's okay Colonel, we all know what happened next." Hammond said trying to get a handle on the meeting.
"So then Lt. Simms admitted to giving information to Col. Kennedy and trying to kill Major Carter with that bomb. Is that correct Colonel O'Neill?" Hammond asked Jack
"I'm afraid so Sir." Jack answered shaking his head at the memory of the bomb going off and Carter soaring through the air towards him.
"I just can't believe that one bastard like him could do so much damage." Daniel said angrily.
"Well for now he's locked up in his own cell being guarded by those he used to give orders to." Mac said enjoying a bit of the irony.
"So where does this leave Daniel Jackson and myself with regards to the attack on Stan?" Teal'c asked
"Well we're going to question him, but unless he admits to the attack, I'm afraid you two are still the prime suspects." Harm answered.
"Ah Sir, if I may suggest, why don't we put that no good SOB NID agent in with Simms, see if he can get him talking. You know prisoner to prisoner." Jack suggested.
"That's a good idea Colonel, might as well put him to some use; since I still haven't checked out his story officially." Hammond said smirking.
"We'll get right on it Sir." Harm told Hammond.
"Well then I expect you two to get some answers soon. Dismissed." Hammond said letting his frustration at the situation show.
"Yes Sir." Harm and Mac answered getting up and quickly leaving the room.
"I hope we can get what he wants." Mac said quietly to Harm, hating to think what would happen if they didn't.
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This time Harm and Mac were given a different interrogation room; one with a mirror and observation room behind it.
"So Lt. Simms, I hope you know it won't be lieutenant for much longer not with you heading to Leavenworth." Mac said keeping her voice cool.
"I don't know about that, I think I'll take my chances." Simms said smugly.
"We have a recording of your voice giving information to Colonel Kennedy." Harm said with a steely voice.
"If I may say, Colonel Kennedy had top secret clearance for this base; he knew everything that happened here; so my talking to him was not breaking any rules. I did not divulge any top secret information." Simms said smugly.
"You told him when Major Carter would be alone, having arranged for her protection to be taken away." Mac said.
"Uh, I didn't do that. So you can't have any proof of it." He said, knowing full well he had disguised his voice.
Harm reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box banging it down on the table. "We found this in the security guards area on this floor."
Simms turned his head to the side looking at the box. "Ah what is it?"
"That's the voice synthesizer you used to disguise your voice, and I'm sure when we check it for finger prints and DNA we'll find yours on it." Mac said coolly.
"Now about the bomb you planted in Major Carter's room." Harm started, looking at a folder.
"We have indisputable proof you planted it." Mac stated.
They watched as Simms just sat there not even attempting to reply to their questions.
"There are five witnesses to your admitting to trying to kill Major Carter." Harm said.
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On the other side of the mirror Jack was getting frustrated, "Come on they have to do better than this, at this rate Daniel and Teal'c will be convicted before they get anything out of this guy."
"Relax Colonel, it's a slow process." Hammond told him, but feeling the same way.
Daniel and Teal'c weren't allowed to sit in on the questioning, since they themselves were also suspects.
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"So Simms, we have you dead to rights on the bombing, you might as well tell us everything, you might be able to make things easier on yourself." Mac said keeping her voice calm not showing any emotion.
Simms finally looked Mac in the eyes. "So what you want me to tell you things. For what, what do I get out of it?"
"Oh maybe a decreased sentence, one in which you might eventually get out of prison."
"I think I'll take my chances with a trial; after all I was only joking about setting the bomb, I didn't actually do it." Simms said sitting back on his chair.
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"What! We all heard him admit to planting the bomb and targeting Carter. If he won't admit to that I doubt he'll admit to attacking Stan."
"I know Jack, it doesn't look good." Hammond said putting his hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Maybe you should take a break from this Jack, go check on the rest of your team."
"I don't know Sir; I feel I should be here." Jack said feeling useless.
"There's nothing you can do here Jack, its all in their hands now." Hammond said pointing out Harm and Mac.
"Yea, maybe you're right Sir, if you need me I'll be…."
"In the infirmary, yes Jack I know." Hammond said smiling slightly at Jack.
"Yes Sir." Jack said grinning as he left.
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Jack entered the infirmary and saw Daniel sleeping in a chair with one of his books in his lap. Sam saw Jack enter and just nodded at him, not wanting to wake Daniel.
"How long has he been sleeping?" Jack whispered as he stood next to Sam on the other side of the bed.
"I'm not sure Sir, I woke up just a little while ago, but I didn't want to wake him." Sam whispered back with a slight smile on her face as she looked at Daniel.
"Well Carter if you ever have trouble sleeping, all you have to do is borrow that book of Daniel's."
"I don't think it's in English Sir."
"Well then have Daniel read it to you, I know his lectures always put me to sleep."
"Very funny Jack." Daniel said yawning and stretching, said book dropping to the floor.
"Sorry Daniel didn't mean to interrupt your beauty sleep." Jack said grinning, noticing a smile crack on Sam's face.
"How did it go with the interrogation?" Daniel asked as he lifted his book from the floor.
"Not so good I'm afraid. He wouldn't even admit to planting the bomb."
"But we all heard him say he did Sir." Sam said irritated.
"Don't worry Carter; he's not going to get away with it." Jack said placing his hand on her arm.
"So he's not going to admit to attacking Stan." Daniel said feeling dejected.
Just then, Janet entered the room. "Well I see our patient's awake." Janet said leering at Jack.
"Hey she was awake when I got here; I think Daniel's snoring woke her up." Jack said looking as innocent as he could.
"How are you feeling Sam?" Janet asked her, moving to her bedside causing Jack to move out of the way.
"Oh about the same, not much change. I do however miss my nicer accommodations." Sam said smiling slightly at Jack.
"I know Sam the infirmary can be a little cold and impersonal, but you are closer so we can treat you easier."
"That's what we're here for, to take away the impersonal side of the place." Daniel said.
"So Doc, any chances of Stan waking up soon to tell us who attacked him?" Jack asked hopeful.
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good Colonel, he's in a deep coma and there's no telling if he'll ever come out of it, he may even die Sir." Janet said as she adjusted Sam's IV and took her pulse.
"This is so not good; it doesn't look like Simms is going to confess." Jack said rubbing his head.
"That's terrible Sir, there must be more evidence out there to prove he's guilty." Sam said discouraged.
"Hey Jack, I never did find out what kind of evidence they think they have on Teal'c and me." Daniel said looking confused at Jack.
Three sets of eyes were staring intently at Jack. Janet wasn't going anywhere until she too heard this news and took a seat at the edge of Sam's bed.
"Well the first thing they have is Teal'c and your statements that you were in your lab and Teal'c was in his quarters."
"Yea, well that's the truth, how can they use that against us?" Daniel said puzzled.
"They also have security pictures, one of you in the hallway leading to the room where the computer was used to disable the cameras. The other was of Teal'c in the hallway leading to the armoury." Jack said quietly.
"Well they could have been taken anytime." Daniel said angrily.
"They have dates and times stamped on the pictures." Jack told him.
"I don't care, I was in my lab!" Daniel said loudly.
"I believe you Daniel, but the proof is against you and Teal'c."
"I was assuredly in my quarters at the time of the attack." Teal'c said entering the room having heard the conversation.
"Sam, isn't there a way of faking those pictures?" Daniel asked looking into Sam's eyes sounding worried.
"The date and time stamps can't be faked or tampered with…"
"Oh great, so I guess they might as well pick out our cells now." Daniel said interrupting Sam.
"But they could have tampered with the images on the tape." Sam said.
"Is there anyway to prove it was tampered with?" Jack asked hopeful.
"Well I could…"
"You're not doing anything but staying in that bed." Janet said angrily getting up and looking down at Sam.
Sam looked down sheepishly avoiding Janet's angry glare.
"So Carter, do you think someone else could check out the security tape?" Jack asked, hoping to be able to find a way to clear Daniel and Teal'c.
"I could recommend a couple of names Sir." Sam said quietly, looking back and forth from Jack and Janet.
"That would be good Carter, thank you." Jack told her.
"Um, Sir? Haven't Harm and Mac had the pictures checked out?" Sam asked furrowing her brow.
"I'm not sure Carter, but you assume they would."
"Oh come on Jack, you know what they say about never ASSUME anything!" Daniel said still angry.
"I do not know of this saying Daniel Jackson." Teal'c replied tilting his head.
"Oh, never mind Teal'c." Daniel said too angry to try and explain to Teal'c.
"Calm down Daniel, we'll get to the bottom of this. You know our reputation for getting into and out of trouble."
"I don't know Jack, this could be a bit more than we can handle." Daniel said feeling miserable.
"Do not doubt the ability of SG1, Daniel Jackson I do not." Teal'c said keeping his posture ramrod straight.
"Well Daniel if Rabb and Mackenzie don't get anywhere, Simms is going to have a roommate when he gets back to his cell."
Sam looked at O'Neill puzzled. "Roommate Sir?"
"Yea, a certain undercover NID agent." Jack said smiling.
"He's still here?"
"Yea Carter seems the general's taking his time with the paperwork." Jack said grinning.
"Can't say I'm sorry about that." Sam said cracking a smile.
"Well I think that's enough stress for now everyone, I think Sam needs to get some more rest." Janet said spoiling the 'party' for everyone.
"Okay Doc, we'll go for now. See ya later Carter." Jack said looking at Sam seeing that she was giving him a slight signal, no one else noticed. Jack nodded his head slightly, "Come on guys let's get out of here so Carter can get some much deserved rest.
"See you later guys." Sam said after she noticed Jack's response.
"You can go to Janet; I'm just going to sleep for a while."
"Okay Sam, just use the call bell if you need anything." Janet said as she left the room.
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"I'm sorry General, Simms is one stubborn son of a …" Harm was saying as the general cut him off.
"I know you tried Commander, Colonel, let's just hope Barrett can get something out of him."
"I don't know Sir, he seemed to have clammed right up, I don't think he's going to talk to anyone." Mac said feeling frustrated.
"Well let's give him some time." Hammond said shaking his head.
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"Here's your new roommate Simms." Sgt. Parker said pushing Simms into the now occupied cell.
"Hey, I'm your superior officer!" Simms yelled at Parker.
"No, you're my prisoner." Parker said slamming the cell door shut, he was so angry that Simms could cause so much trouble and pain and he didn't see any clues.
Simms heard a chuckle coming from the back of the cell. "What the hell are you laughing at?"
"Oh I don't know, it's kind of funny how the lower ranking man just treated his superior officer." Barrett said to further aggravate Simms.
Simms stared at the man lying on the bottom bunk bed. "What the hell do you know anyway?"
"Not much believe me, like how to get out of here." Barrett said rubbing his hands over his face.
"Well I don't know; it may not be as hard as you think." Simms said sitting on the bench at the side of the cell.
"Really? Do tell." Barrett said sitting up enthusiastically.
"Sorry, can't say anything. You'll have to figure out a way on your own." Simms said leaning back and grinning.
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Hammond stepped into the interrogation room, which was filled with Rabb, Mackenzie and Barrett. "Any news?"
"We just got Agent Barrett out of there General, he was about to tell us what he's learned." Mac informed Hammond.
"I'm afraid he didn't say much Sir, all he did was elude to knowing how to get out of here, or the mess he is in." Barrett said.
"What the Sam Hill is he talking about? There's no way in hell he's getting out of here." Hammond said angrily.
"Ah, General? Have you checked into my story Sir? You know, so I can get out of here." Barrett said awkwardly.
"It's being looked into Agent Barrett; until then I suggest you just enjoy your stay with us." Hammond said as he left the room.
"Well I'll have him sent back to the cell and you can update O'Neill." Harm said grinning.
Mac looked at Harm with eyes wide open, "Coward"
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"You've got to be kidding me!" Jack said slamming the phone down. He was angry but had to get control of it before he went to find out what Carter wanted.
Jack walked down the hallway keeping an eye out for Janet, then slowly opened the door to the infirmary quietly entering and making his way to Sam. As he came to her room, he noticed that it looked like she was sleeping. He didn't want to wake her, but he knew she wanted to talk to him about something…without the others around.
"Carter." Jack said a little louder than a whisper, then waited a few more moments before trying again. "Carter."
Sam heard her name being called very quietly and began to rouse. She blinked adjusting her eyes to the light. "Oh, hey Sir, I must have dosed off for a few minutes."
"That's okay, so what did you want to see me about?" Jack said as he stepped up next to her bed.
"First Sir, is there any news about Simms from Barrett?"
"I'm afraid not." Jack said sadly.
"Sir, I'm afraid without Simms confessing to the attack on Stan; Daniel and Teal'c are going to be held responsible for it, may even face prison time."
"Carter, there's not much we can do about that; it's out of our hands." Jack said shaking his head.
"Maybe not Sir."
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"Well Sir the only witness to the attack is Stan."
"Carter don't tell me you're thinking of doing what I think your thinking of doing?" Jack said shocked.
"It may be their only chance, and if Stan dies first…then I won't be able to do anything."
"But Carter, you're in no shape to do this. You can't even stand on your own."
"Sir, I'm feeling much better than last time. I've been healing from the internal bleeding and my blood count is almost back to normal…"
"Almost Carter is not back to normal." Jack said exasperated. "You know Fraiser will never let you do this."
"That's why I'm talking to you Sir, I'll need some help."
"Carter I don't know."
"Sir if I don't try this soon it may be too late for Daniel and Teal'c; and how else is SG1 going to be able to get out of this trouble?"
Jack sighed and rubbed his neck, he paced back and forth between the beds. "Carter, are you sure?"
"Yes Sir, and the sooner I'm able to do this the better." Sam said looking into his eyes, seeing he was in turmoil over the decision.
"Okay Carter, God forgive me, but I'll help you. Just tell me what I have to do." Jack said making his decision.
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A/N: For those of you who don't know the saying about not assuming anything it goes like this.
Don't ASSUME anything because you make an ASS out of U and ME. ;)