Sorry for the delay in updating...I've got company staying, so it's difficult to get around to writing.

Thanks for all your reviews. Keep sending them and I'll try not to keep you hanging on too long.

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

Jack grinned. Janet perhaps wasn't quite such a tyrant as he'd expected, but god help those guys if she ever did get to lay hands on them. Those honkin' big needles would be put to good use at last!

Chapter 21

"Officer Watson?"

Patrolman Richard Watson had just climbed out of his vehicle. He looked over the roof of his patrol car to see two men dressed in dark business suits standing on the sidewalk watching him closely.

"Who wants to know?" he answered suspiciously.

One of the men flashed his ID.

"Agent Norton. Internal Affairs Bureau. This is Agent Marlowe."

"Then I guess that's me," Watson replied slamming the car door, but stood leaning on the roof to stare at them. He didn't need to be a genius to know what they were after. "I don't know anything!" he stated, fending off the unspoken questions.

The two men looked at each other and although Watson couldn't see the action, he supposed they were rolling their eyes.

"We haven't asked you anything yet," the agent said.

"I still don't know anything. I've done nothing wrong!" Watson sighed.

"Actually it's not you we're asking about."

Watson frowned, and both agents dropped the formality.

"Look, can we go somewhere to talk. We need some information about Officer Gruber."

Watson sagged. He knew a lot about Gruber, but he didn't know if he wanted to share that information; it could get him into a lot of trouble.

Norton sensed that Watson knew at least something against Gruber but was afraid to speak up.

"We could make it compulsory, but I'm guessing you wouldn't want that."

"Do I have a choice?"

"No."

"Meet me in five minutes over the road in the café. Rosie has a back room we could use," Watson said in passing.

He ignored them and hurried through the doors of the police building and disappeared. The two agents glanced between the closed doors and the café over the road and shrugged.

Five minutes later, Watson whispered a few words to Rosie and beckoned the two men into the back room, Rosie following them with three cups of coffee.

They sat round a red chipped Formica table and waited for Rosie to shut the door behind her.

"Is it safe to talk in here?" Marlowe asked, looking dubiously at his coffee.

"Perfectly. Rosie won't say a word and she won't let us be disturbed. She happens to be my sister," Watson snarked. "So, what is it you guys want from me?"

"Anything you can tell us about any illegal dealings by Gruber. We heard he allows people to get beat up in his custody."

Watson sighed. He knew it too, but Gruber was a bully and a bastard, and had threatened harm to Rosie on numerous occasions, making him comply with his less than clean procedures.

"What happens to me if I tell you anything? Can you guarantee I won't get any fallout? I need reassurance before I say anything."

"He won't be in any position to do anything," assured Norton, grimacing slightly at the bitter taste of the coffee. He dumped another two sachets of sugar into his cup to disguise the taste.

"Maybe not but he has friends in high places," Watson retorted, leaning forward and tapping the table to emphasise his words.

"They're under investigation too," Marlowe added. "We have to nail this guy before anyone else gets hurt. And if you want to see justice done then it's up to you to help put him away. As it stands at the moment we don't have any proof."

"What do you need?"

"Tell us what happened to Colonel O'Neill when he was arrested."

"I wasn't there."

"But?"

"I was told to round up a few of the guys. Ruffians. Guys that were well known for GBH crimes. He drummed up a few false charges and had them thrown into the cells. It was like he planned it all along. Like he knew the Colonel would be arriving soon. Then he went off on patrol and came back with the Colonel in the back of the car. He was pretty beat up then, but he had me put him in with the boys. We were told to ignore the noise for a few hours. If the Sergeant hadn't stopped it, then that guy would be history. We all knew what was going on; that the charges against the boys would be dropped, but..." Watson left the rest unsaid, and the two agents were able to fill in the details of what came next.

"Are you willing to testify against the officer in question?"

Watson hesitated, looking back through the glass in the door to his sister before turning his attention back to the agents.

"You sure you can make the charges stick?"

"Only if you and others come forward."

"Okay," Watson agreed after several moments. "I'll see if the others will help too. Gruber's not much of a 'Mr Nice Guy' around here."

"Thank you. One more thing. Was, in your opinion, the Air Force officer drunk when he was arrested?"

"He gave that impression and reeked of booze, but honestly? No. Drugged more like."

The two agents exchanged knowing looks and stood to leave.

"Thank you for your help. We'll get back to you as soon as we hear anything."

"Yeah, well do me a favour and don't call the station. Use my home number. Here."

He handed them a card with his name and cell phone number on. Marlowe took it and pocketed it inside his jacket. They shook hands and left, leaving Watson to mull over what the future might hold.

OoOoOoOoO

At the same time in another part of the country, detectives were on their way to apprehend Freddie Michaels and his known associates.

OoOoOoOoO

Over the next few days, Jack's mobility improved; the bruises fading more and his strength returning. Although he was still confined to the mountain, he was allowed to roam free. So it was early afternoon when he wandered up the top of the mountain, among the green open spaces to catch some fresh air. He was bored to distraction and needed to do something different before he went stir crazy.

He found a nice shady spot under a tall tree. Albeit awkwardly, he sat beneath the canopy and relaxed in the peace and quiet, hidden from sight of the armed soldiers who guarded the base. Here he could imagine himself far away from the world of intrigue and battles. He felt his eyelids grow heavy and he let himself drift off in the warmth of the day, knowing he was safe.

It was around thirty minutes later when he heard a noise to his left. Remaining still, he was now on the alert, his body ready to react to whatever threat may reveal itself. His ears strained to pick up the slightest sound.

"Sir?"

Jack visibly relaxed, recognising the voice.

"Carter?"

"I didn't mean to disturb you sir. You looked so...peaceful," she said smiling.

"You know me Carter. Ears like a dog. What can I do for ya?"

Sam closed the gap between them and slid down to sit next to him, hugging her knees.

"I just wanted to apologise."

Jack looked at her askance.

"For what?" he asked, puzzled.

"For not believing you," she admitted, reflecting on her shocked attitude when he had first admitted his lack of memory about the incident.

He shrugged with indifference.

"It doesn't matter," he said, brushing it off, though Sam could see it far more to him than he was admitting.

"It does to me. I'm sorry Jack," she whispered. "I haven't had much of an opportunity to say much given your confinement and my duties."

"Forget it Sam. I'm not sure I would have believed me either. Not with the evidence at that point."

Sam couldn't look at him, even though she could feel his eyes on her.

"I...I should have known you wouldn't..." she flailed, and couldn't finish the sentence, but knew he would understand her meaning.

He sat in silence, head bowed, knowing full well her unspoken thoughts.

"You trusted me, and I let you down..." she began.

Jack turned his stiffening body to face her, reaching out to put a finger on her lips to stop her from feeling guilty when a loud crack filled the air and something splintered the wood where his head had been only seconds before. He slumped limply into Sam's lap, unconscious and bleeding.

Sam yelped in disbelief, ducking down and curling her body over his. Offering him some protection. Seconds later the area was swarming with security guards searching for the hidden sniper.

TBC