Yes, I know, another chapter that didn't take me ages to write and upload. Thanks to everyone who reviewed; I'd be lost without your constant comments. Thanks!

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

Janet hugged her back, happy to know they were well on their way to gaining the Colonel's freedom. Though his reputation in the eyes of the public because of all the publicity the case had generated may take a little longer to put right.

Chapter 14

Sam turned back to the microscope and took a closer look at Jack's blood sample.

"There are other drugs here too Janet."

"Yeah, I noticed that too, but I haven't had chance to identify them yet. I got kinda excited about the Vorlex one. That would explain his memory loss, but the big question is, was he injected with it before or after he supposedly assaulted the young woman?" Janet asked with deep concern.

They both set to work to discover exactly which chemicals were involved, hoping that it would lead them to the truth.

OoOoOoOoO

"I demand to see my prisoner!"

Major Davis stood his ground, his feet firmly planted in front of the door to the hospital room where Jack was recovering. The two six foot and over airmen hovered menacingly behind him. The Police officer would have to go through them first to get to O'Neill.

"My orders are specific; this is an Air Force matter now and the accusations against Colonel O'Neill are now being investigated by an Air Force team. You no longer have jurisdiction over this case."

The Police officer growled angrily, but backed off when he saw that the situation was useless. He wasn't happy by any means. He needed to keep O'Neill under his thumb, where he could run the show. He hadn't expected so much security to surround the man. There was no way he was going to get in to see him. He would have to find another method of getting to him.

"This is a clear cut case, Major Davis. He assaulted a civilian and should be taken back into custody to be tried by a civil court of law."

"Colonel O'Neill is an officer of the USAF and therefore will appear before a military court for his trial," Davis argued, not yielding one inch to the other officer's menacing glower.

Officer Gruber glared at the Air Force personnel and backed off but couldn't leave without a parting shot.

"You haven't heard the last of this Major."

He turned on his heel and walked away, his whole bearing radiated his anger in every stride to took. He stopped at the reception desk and snarled at the receptionist.

"I'll be back with reinforcements. And don't think I won't find someway of getting him back. You tell that Doctor Schyberg she had better watch her step in future."

With that he marched out of the doors.

Karen Watson stared open mouthed after the man. She couldn't believe that he had just threatened the Annie like that. She fumed as she picked up the phone, dialling the Doctor's lab.

"Annie?"

Just a minute!

Karen drummed her fingers angrily on her desk. The nerve of the man. She always took him for an asshole.

Annie took the phone from Sam's hand with a smile of thanks.

"Annie?"

"Karen?"

"I've just had Gruber here. He's gunning for you Annie."

Annie sighed.

"He's angry that those Airmen and that Major Davis because they won't give him access to Jack O'Neill. Now it looks like he's out for revenge. He said to tell you to watch your step in future."

"That's nothing new Karen. The man's an idiot."

"I know that, but does he?" Karen said with exasperation. "I think he means it this time though."

"You let me worry about Gruber Karen. Just keep an eye open for any trouble. Give me a buzz and I'll be right there, with reinforcements too."

Annie laughed seeing Sam and Janet just spoiling for a fight as they listened in to the conversation. Anything to do with Jack and they would defend him to the end.

"Is he a problem, this Gruber?" Sam asked when Annie put the phone down.

"He's always a problem. The man's a first class bully. They're all afraid of him around here," Annie said with a grimace.

"But you're not?" Janet asked, a little worried for the Doctor.

"Don't worry about me, he's tried to get rid of me before, but so far my bosses are behind me one hundred percent. They're not intimidated by his tactics."

"How come?" Sam was curious.

"They don't actually live round here, so they don't have to put up with his crap," Annie laughed. "They have more trust in me than Gruber likes, but he hasn't been able to come up with anything other than circumstantial evidence against me. My patients always come first, and that's just how it should be."

"He could be dangerous," Sam warned, not liking that this sort of thing was happening these days. She had thought that life in a small town was friendly and civilised. Annie was proving her wrong on so many fronts. There seemed to be a lot of petty squabbling going on; all with thinly veiled threats too. She was glad it wasn't like that where she lived and that the SGC was like one big happy family.

"You should come and work for us," Janet said with enthusiasm. "We could do with you in the infirmary. Colonel O'Neill is normally so stubborn and has at least done as you've told him to. He never listens to me. I haven't heard him whine about getting out of bed once."

"Yes," Sam said with a wicked smile, "but that's only because he doesn't remember what he was like before. Just wait until we give him the antidote!" she warned.

Janet sniggered, knowing Sam was right. Once he knew who he was and who they were, he would revert back to being his usual grumpy self, complaining about being stuck in the hospital.

"I can't leave these people," Annie sighed with regret, her shoulders sagging slightly with the reality of the situation. "Who would stand up to Gruber. My replacement might be afraid of him too and then where would they be? I'd love to join you, it sounds so exciting; all that top secret stuff. If Gruber wasn't around then I'd jump at the chance."

Janet and Sam exchanged looks and tacitly understood that they both agreed to somehow bring Gruber to the notice of his bosses. His bullying tactics had to stop and if the evidence of Jack's treatment in the jail was anything to go by then they had a valid case against him. Maybe with Annie's help they could question a few others who had first hand experience of his own brand of punishment, they could get him thrown out of the Police department; making sure he never worked for them again.

OoOoOoOoO

Major Davis relaxed a little when the officer had gone, he turned back to nod at the SFs.

"Stand down boys, but keep your eyes open for any sign of trouble. I get the feeling we haven't seen the last of him yet."

They nodded and took up their positions once more, while Davis entered the room.

"How are you doing Colonel?" he asked, seeing that Jack was awake.

"Oh, just peachy Major. I'm stuck here, can't remember a thing and according to the newspapers I'm a..."

"That's just the media's opinion sir," Davis interrupted, "They exaggerate everything out all proportions. Dr. Fraiser is just waiting for that medication to arrive and then you'll remember everything."

"Don't be so sure of it. I can't believe you can get my memories back just like that."

"That's because you don't recall those particular facts Colonel. Trust me, you will once the Doctor has finished."

"If you say so," Jack sighed. He hated lying there knowing nothing or no-one, and hurting. It was frustrating to say the least. He couldn't believe what the papers were accusing him of; in fact they'd already tried and condemned him. He was already guilty in their eyes. He just couldn't accept that he could be capable of doing the things he'd done; especially to a young woman. It just wasn't in his nature, but then, he couldn't recall what was supposed to be his nature. Maybe he was guilty? If he was, then he wouldn't be able to live with that, not any more. Things would have to change or he'd put an end to it permanently. He couldn't face imprisonment for god knows how long. He knew he hated to be confined in any shape or form; he'd go stark raving nuts.

He was torn in two; he wanted this miracle drug so that he could recall the incident, and yet, he wasn't sure about it; not wanting to discover if he was the monster the paper had raved about. He sighed unhappily, and slid down in the bed, turning his back on the Major and the paper.

"I'm tired," he muttered, hoping that Davis would leave him alone.

"Of course sir. The guards are right outside if you need me at all."

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed, closing his eyes. He was tired; tired of life, and if he admitted it, afraid of who he was...or wasn't.

TBC