Thanks to all of you who reviewed. Hope this chapter clears things up a little. Moving on to the shippy end soon...promise! Some of you may think Hammond wouldn't converse this way, but I think there is a very strong link between him and Jack and given the right time, he might reveal his friendship and concerns.
Danger Zone.
By Lingren.
Previously:-
Sam, went to the locker room to shower and change while Daniel and Teal'c popped in to see Jack for a few minutes before heading back to work, relieved to know that he was okay.
Chapter 23
"They're after me."
"I know!"
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"Me? You want me to do something? Look pal, you got yourself into this situation by going against the boss. You're on your own Michaels!"
"But..."
"Bye!" the voice intoned with finality.
"Hey! If I go down," he yelled into the phone, "I'm taking you and the boss with me!" he warned just before hearing the phone go dead. "Damn you Conners!"
Michaels tried ringing his associate, Gruber but was told that he hadn't reported for work that day. He wasn't answering his home phone or his cell phone either. Swearing quietly to himself, he gathered a few things together quickly, heading for his car.
He didn't make it.
A swarm of police cars descended on his address, screeching to a halt beside his car and effectively blocking his exit. He was completely surrounded.
Dropping his bag, he raised his hands in the air and the officers moved in, cuffing his hands behind his back and leading him away.
OoOoOoOoO
Gruber put his foot down on the accelerator and sped past the slower cars on the highway, the surface water spraying behind him as his tyres spun on the wet road. His wipers were barely coping with the rain splashing heavily against his windscreen. He was hunched over the wheel, peering through the glass at the road ahead, hoping to put as much mileage between him and the cops who were after him. He could hear the sirens as they followed in the distance.
Once word had gone out that he was wanted in connection with a conspiracy to murder and his colleagues had turned on him, for offences against innocent persons, namely one Air Force officer as well as countless others, then they had wasted no time in tracking him down.
They were getting nearer all the time; he could hear the wail of sirens from the squad cars getting louder, and now he could see the flashing lights in his mirror.
He swerved round to the left, overtaking a truck, then cut in front of him to take the exit on the right. He fishtailed in the wet, but managed to hang on, leaving the truck driver cursing under his breath about maniac drivers.
He hadn't lost them though and they followed, getting closer.
He shot down the narrow road hitting 80mph, until he rounded a bend.
He didn't stand a chance. The tractor and it's trailer was turning across his path.
He smashed into the trailer, loaded with bales of straw; the impact slicing the roof from the vehicle which then burst into flames, setting light to the straw, despite the pouring rain.
The farmer leapt from the cab to help free the poor victim, but was beaten back by the heat from the fire; the flames hissing with steam as the rain fell onto them.
There was nothing anyone could do.
Gruber was already dead.
Hours later they took away what was left of his earthly remains; confirmation was needed before his file could be closed.
OoOoOoOoO
"How are you doing son? How's the head?"
Jack looked up to see General Hammond hovering in the doorway. He stepped into the room as Jack invited him in. Not that the General couldn't just walk in if he needed to, but these were Jack's personal quarters, and he would wait until the man acknowledged his presence.
He stopped by the bed and looked down at his 2IC with a concerned frown.
Jack pushed himself up and swung his legs over the side to sit on the edge of the bed.
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm okay sir. But, I'd be a whole lot better if they were to stop trying to take me out!" he groused.
Hammond grabbed the nearest chair and parked himself on it, almost knee to knee with Jack. He folded his arms across his ample waist and studied the man before him. Jack was still pale and looked more that a little tired and haggard.
"Have you slept at all?" he asked, pinning Jack with that look that Jack knew he should answer truthfully or suffer the consequences. Lying to your CO was not an option; his team was another matter...well, not so much lying as hiding the truth. Jack knew he couldn't do that to the General.
"Not much," he admitted, dropping his gaze to study the floor at his feet.
"Has Dr. Fraiser given you anything to help you get some rest?"
"I'd rather not sir..."
"Jack. You need to sleep. You can't keep on the way you are at the moment. You'll take a nose dive if you don't rest. You know that as well as any man around here."
Jack knew he was telling the truth; but the constant worry about when and where the next attack is coming from was getting to him. It was affecting his daily life to such an extent that he couldn't trust his own people any more.
"I'm sure that's not why you came all this way up here; to tell me to sleep...sir," he said, changing the subject and avoiding any further questions on his state of mind.
Hammond sighed, knowing the subject was closed now.
"No, it wasn't. I just had a message to say that they've arrested Freddie Michaels."
Jack frowned, trying to recall the face to fit the name.
"That's good, right?" Jack gave up trying to figure out where he came into the equation.
"Well, we'll know one way or another soon, hopefully." He paused for a moment before he continued. "Gruber's dead."
The terse statement had Jack looking up, startled from disbelief. He knew who Gruber was and wanted nothing better than to personally string him up the nearest available tree. But now? Would he ever know the real reason why the man had treated him so badly?
"What? How?" Jack gasped, disappointment clouding the words.
"Apparently, when he discovered that he had been compromised, he took off. The police chased him for several miles down the highway before he took an exit. He rounded a corner and ran smack bang into a trailer. The car then burst into flames. There was nothing anyone could do," Hammond finished with a sigh. The man got everything he deserved. Jack certainly hadn't deserved any of the crap that man had doled out to him.
Jack closed his eyes and slumped wearily. Maybe it was finally over and he could get his life back.
"Does this mean it's all over?" Jack asked figuratively, his voice no more than a whisper as if he was asking himself.
Hammond sighed and allowed his hand to rest on Jack's shoulder for a moment.
"I can't answer that Jack, but, I'd hazard a guess and say that maybe for now, it is. Perhaps with all you've done and gone through, it will always be there; who knows? Knowing why is something we may never discover. The fact that you're still with us Jack is no small feat on your part. Your team wouldn't leave it Jack. They hunted down your every movement until they found you; a little worse for wear, but alive. Do me a favour Jack, try and stay that way!"
Jack snorted and one side of his mouth turned up in that lop-sided grin of his.
"I'll try sir. Can't say more than that!" Jack wanted to say more, but as usual, he found the words difficult to express his inner feelings. "General," began, looking slightly embarrassed for voicing his thoughts. "I'd just like to say thanks. Thanks for believing in me sir. It meant a lot!"
Hammond smiled and stood, taking his leave, but before he did so, he patted the shoulder and brushed the thanks off.
"Glad to have you back Jack. It's been far too quiet around here. You know, if we'd lost you, I would have retired."
Jack stiffened and turned his frown on the older man.
"Why?" he asked simply.
"Because you and I are old soldiers Jack and I like to think that we know each other well. I couldn't do this job without you son, and there's no way I would want anyone else as my 2IC. I couldn't face training someone else to do what we do. We fit together like a jig-saw puzzle Jack. Two pieces interlocking; you lose the picture and the puzzle is useless unless you know the pattern. We know that pattern inside out Jack, any other piece won't fit. I wouldn't want to try and learn a new pattern. I'm happy with the old one."
With those words he turned and left the room, leaving Jack pondering over his words.
It was some time later when there was a knock on the door that Jack came back down to earth to reality. He had been profoundly touched by Hammond's words. It was then he vowed to take up the gauntlet and carry one here. No matter how bad things could get, he knew this was where he wanted to be and that these people were his family.
The knock came again and he yelled for them to enter.
The door opened and Sam poked her head round.
"Sir? Do you have a minute?"
His smile widened, reaching his eyes for the first time since he'd left for Washington that day.
"Sure Carter, c'mon in."
TBC