Another chapter for you enjoyment. Thanks to my faithful few who review, because without your support I couldn't do this. Not much more to go now – I'm actually writing the last chapter at the moment, so you should be getting regular updates now until the end.

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

"Daniel Jackson was engrossed in his work. Knowing you were recovering I took the liberty of reminding him it was time for sustenance in your absence."

"That's good Teal'c. So, what's on the menu today?"

Chapter 25

"Ah, Jack. Come in, sit down. You're just the person I wanted to see."

"Me sir?" Jack asked innocently, entering the room and sitting in the chair opposite General Hammond, wondering what he'd done now. He was feeling a lot better now, and Fraiser had him released for light duties.

Hammond smiled, clasping his hands together and resting them over the closed file on his desk.

"Major Davis has informed me that they managed to get a few names off Freddie Michaels. They've arrested one man, but they've got a warrant out on the other one; he's disappeared from his lodgings it seems. Michaels also named Glenn Conners as his boss."

"Never heard of him, General. Should I know him?" Jack asked, puzzled.

"Not by name perhaps, but maybe by sight. He works for Senator Kinsey. He's one of Kinsey's bodyguards."

"Ah! Now that makes sense," Jack sighed, thinking hard. He wondered which one of those goons it had been.

General Hammond waited patiently for Jack to pay attention once more before continuing.

"According to Michaels, he was the one who handled the mimic device. Conners' girl friend was in on it too apparently. She was seen entering a disused warehouse on the outskirts of Washington around the time of your kidnapping. Police officers investigated the place and found traces of your blood on the floor in one of the rooms. They took Miss Lloyd back there and she confirmed that that's the room you were both incarcerated in."

"Does she know I'm innocent?" Jack asked, half afraid that she would still blame him for the rape. "Has anyone explained about what really happened?"

"Not yet. Even the police don't know anything yet. It's very difficult when they don't have the right clearance Jack."

Jack sighed. So, his name would still be linked with the crime despite his being proved blameless. His shoulders slumped and he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, his hands clasped tightly together, his head hanging down in defeat. He really needed to clear his name and set things to rights with Sharon Lloyd.

"Jack, I thought you would like to talk to her. I've invited her here. She arrives in..." Hammond looked at his watch, checking the time. "around an hour and a half. She doesn't know why she's coming here. If it would help, I'll ask Major Carter to be there too. I know you trust her, that goes without saying."

Jack looked slightly panicked, but nodded. He needed to talk to her, but it was going to be difficult actually face to face with her.

"We've recovered the mimic device and Major Carter will be able to demonstrate how it works. Miss Lloyd has been given clearance by the President, Jack. He wants this cleared up pretty thoroughly A.S.A.P. Especially with Kinsey's alleged involvement. He can't hold the press back much longer. They're already baying for blood."

"That's all well and good sir, just so long as it's Kinsey's and not mine!" Jack snorted with frustration. He was worried about what Sharon's reaction will be when he confronts her in that room.

Hammond chuckled, getting up and walking round the desk, to lean back on the edge, near to where Jack was sitting. He reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

"It'll be fine Jack. Trust Major Carter to know how to explain everything."

"Oh, I trust her okay. It's Miss Lloyd's reaction to me that the problem. She might scream the place down before Carter gets to explain."

Hammond chuckled again, then grew serious when he remembered he hadn't actually called Jack to his office, Jack had dropped by for some reason.

"So what did you want to see me about Jack?"

Jack pursed his lips; now came the cruncher. He'd almost forgotten why he'd called on his CO.

"I wanted to ask you something sir. Something personal."

"Does this concern a certain Major, Colonel?"

Jack gulped in a huge sigh, ready for the fallout.

"Yes sir. I want off the team. In fact I want to put forward a proposal General. I don't know if it will be possible at all, or even practical, but I need to leave SG-1."

Hammond had known it was coming. He wasn't blind. He'd heard the rumours.

"What did you have in mind Jack?"

Jack began to his explain his proposition and Hammond listened intently, nodding or shaking his head wherever it warranted it. Interrupting occasionally to clarify a point or two. In the end they came to an agreement only minutes before Jack had to get changed and meet Miss Lloyd. He left the office feeling happier, though accountably nervous.

He met Sam in the corridor and told her that he would allow her to explain things before he put in an appearance as there was less chance it would upset the young woman.

Sam smiled at his thoughtfulness and he smiled back though she could see he was worried about the meeting. He disappeared just as the elevator doors opened to reveal a very nervous young lady accompanied by her lawyer with an SF escort.

"Miss Lloyd?" Sam began, plastering a big smile on her face, thinking Jack was right, she was pretty.

"That's me," Sharon said in a small voice. "This is my lawyer, Martin Andrews."

"Mr. Andrews," Sam greeted him with a nod. "Hi, I'm Major Samantha Carter. Welcome to the SGC. If you'll both come this way please?"

"What is this all about Major? We weren't given a reason for this visit. I must say it is very unusual. I'm not at all sure..."

"Please, Mr. Andrews, I assure nothing is going to happen to you or Miss Lloyd, and I will explain everything to you in just a moment."

Sam led them along the corridor to an unused office, inviting them to take a seat, while she sat on the edge of the desk facing them.

The door closed behind them and the SF stood guard outside. Sam took a big breath and began.

"I would ask you first to sign these forms before I begin my story. Without it, I will not be able to tell you anything. And what you do hear is in no way permitted to be repeated beyond these walls. Do you understand? This is a non-disclosure form, as what we do here is top secret, and only on the Presidents orders can we give you a full explanation of Colonel O'Neill's involvement in what happened two months ago. If you do not understand then I'll go through it again with you, but I need your full comprehension and compliance before anything will be revealed."

They consulted each other in whispers but nodded and signed the forms, though Andrews was a little sceptical and demanded to know why what they did here had to do with Miss Lloyd's kidnapping and rape.

At the harsh reminder, Sharon's face crumbled with tears forming in her eyes. Sam felt for her, and told them it would all make sense later.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Major Sam Carter, USAF, I'm an Astrophysicist and I work within a team here at the SGC. Colonel O'Neill is my CO..."

Andrews interrupted her straight away.

"You're biased against Miss Lloyd. I don't think you personally could offer us a suitable explanation..."

"Please..." Sam fended off his accusation. "Mr. Andrews, please have the decency to hear me out. I admit I am very fond of the Colonel, but we've worked together for many years now and I think I can safely say I know him better than you do. Let me explain in my own words. This is very important to him, and to our work here."

She gave the man a few moments while he spoke with Sharon. She'd nodded her agreement to listen, so he agreed too, though he was far from happy, and certainly didn't offer an apology for his interruption.

Sam sighed inwardly, annoyed over his attitude, but carried on.

"The work we do here is not about deep space radar, and yes I know that's what you were told, but what we do in actuality is investigate alien technology."

Andrews gasped and shot to his feet blustering with disdain.

"Really Major Carter. Do you expect us to sit here and listen to this absolute...nonsense?"

Sam waited until he'd calmed down, ignoring his outburst. She'd been expecting it.

With Sam's patient silence, Mr. Andrews dropped back into his chair puzzled.

"It's true?" he asked, stunned.

"Yes it is," Sam nodded seriously.

"Wow, that's..."

"For several years now, we have been searching for alien technology to help with the battle against an evil race known as the Goa'uld. We have a device known as the Stargate which allows people to travel to other worlds. Colonel O'Neill has led the team on hundreds of away missions against this enemy, and sometimes he's been injured in the fighting; but, most of the time we manage to defeat them, and on occasions we have essentially saved this world from total annihilation. Colonel O'Neill is a true hero, though please don't tell him I really said that," she grinned, pulling a wry face. "Those medal ribbons he wears are not just for show. His leadership skills are exceptional and we should be more than grateful for his actions in saving this world on several occasions. However, there have been the odd alien incursion into this facility and on one such occasion, many of the base's personnel were taken over by a race we had never encountered before."

"Aliens have come here?" Sharon gasped, looking over her shoulder, worried in case she actually came face to face with one.

"It's okay. Not all aliens are hostile. We have many friends among the different races out there."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this!" Andrews gasped, stunned to learn the truth about aliens.

"I'll even introduce you to one later if you like," Sam smirked. "I have here a mimic device which those aliens used to disguise themselves. They impersonated many of the staff here so that their secret wouldn't be discovered, and yet again, indirectly, it was thanks to Colonel O'Neill, and myself too," she said, blushing a little. "that their game was discovered. We managed to kill off some of them, but the ones that didn't escape, blew themselves up. There are several of these devices left though and they are normally kept in a secure vault at another base. That said, one of them was taken out and sent to Washington where it went missing during transportation. At that point, we knew nothing of it's disappearance until long after your ordeal Miss Lloyd. What I am about to show you is classified.

Sam held out the device to show them, then, pulling down the neck of her shirt, she placed it against her skin, instantly morphing into Colonel O' Neill.

There was a gasp of fright and Andrews, though deeply shocked at the sudden change, was quick enough to catch Sharon when she fainted.

TBC