Only two more chapters to go after this. I hope you like this one, and I am pretty sure you will enjoy the last two chapters too.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a review. It really helps to motivate me to write. I thrive on feedback!

I'm toying with dropping the name Lingren in favour of sticking to my new pen-name. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that the new name is more popular than my present one. However, what decision I make is up to all you folks out there. Let me know what you want me to do? Some of you probably don't know my alter-ego or you might have read the stories without realising we were one and the same. Whatever, I will wait for your comments before finally going ahead with whatever is for the best.

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

"Coffee anyone?" Sam said, cutting Jack off from any smart ass remark he was about to make. Now would be a good time to end this meeting.

Chapter 27

"They found a sniper rifle in Conners' garage loft. The shells matched the one fired at you Jack. Kinsey maintains he's innocent of course, claiming he knew nothing about the plot to disgrace you nor the one to shoot to kill you. Whether he's as innocent as he says or not Jack, it looks like it's over."

General Hammond had been more than happy to inform Jack of the good news. Until next time, he thought. Would it really be that simple? They would just have to believe that it was.

Conners, Michaels and Cannon were all in custody awaiting trial for kidnapping and assault on Jack. Gruber was dead, and the bully boys from the jail had been rounded up and also in custody again on charges of assault. Conners' girlfriend was up for charges of conspiracy and also fraud. Conners was up for the kidnapping and rape of Sharon as well.

Jack breathed a sigh of relief; he flopped down into one of the chairs in Hammond's office, running a had over his face unable to believe it was finally over. He was safe again... For the time being anyway!

"Any news on the other little discussion we had sir?"

Hammond smiled.

"I heard from the President today Jack. He's okay with the idea, and by the way, he sends his congratulations too."

Jack beamed, his eyebrows raising in pleasant surprise.

"And Dixon?"

Hammond nodded.

"So, when do I get to start the new job?"

"As of now Colonel, you're no longer the leader of SG-1. Oh, and you and SG-1 have a week off. So I shall expect to see you start work on Monday week. Dismissed Jack."

"Yes sir. Thank you for everything General. It's been a real pleasure."

"And I'm sure it will be still, Jack!" Hammond chuckled, shaking hands with Jack. "You know I wish you all the best Jack. That goes without saying!"

"Yes sir, but I couldn't do it without your forbearance and support over the years sir."

"Wouldn't have it any other way Jack. Good luck! And I'll see you soon!"

OoOoOoOoO

"Okay campers, listen up!"

Daniel stopped his flow of Goa'uld words and looked up to see Jack standing in the entrance of his lab.

"Jack?"

Teal'c who was helping him, turned and raised an eyebrow in expectancy.

Moments later Sam entered wondering what was going on; she'd had a phone call from Jack asking her to meet with the rest of the team in Daniel's lab.

"Sir?"

"Jack!" he retorted emphatically.

"Sir?"

"Not any more, Carter...er...Sam. Well, yes, but that's beside the point."

"And your point is, Jack?" Daniel asked snidely, wondering if Jack was sickening with something.

"I'm stepping down as your CO," Jack said, dropping the bombshell.

"What?" Daniel cried in disbelief. "Why?"

"Why is this, O'Neill?" Teal'c questioned, perplexed at Jack's decision.

Sam was suspiciously quiet, and Jack turned to give her a huge smile and a wink. She knew he had something planned but didn't know what.

"Actually I'm not leaving the SGC as such, so I'll still be around to keep an eye on you all."

"So what will you be doing then?" Daniel was really curious, and Jack could see confusion and hurt warring with curiosity in those blue eyes.

"Training. I'll be training the new recruits. It's a logical step for me Daniel. With my knees and all, I won't be able to serve in the field much longer anyway. Why wait until I get killed or worse. I'd like a little time to do...things." He looked over his shoulder at Sam and smirked, then turned back to Daniel a moment later to finish. "That is, before I'm crippled completely and have to walk with a cane. Not getting' any younger here Daniel."

Daniel knew Jack was right, but he still hated the thought that someone else would be leading SG-1 from now on. He hung his head down and sighed unhappily.

"Hey! This doesn't mean we can't still be friends and spend time together any more. We can still have lunch or whatever in the commissary together."

"I guess so," Daniel sighed. "But won't you miss going off-world?"

"Probably, but I'll still get to go, sometimes when I train the kids it will be on some planet or other that you guys will have designated as safe! Might even be joining us on occasions. Who knows?"

Teal'c dipped his head in salute.

"We will indeed miss you O'Neill," he said sadly. "As you would say, 'It has been an explosion!'"

Jack frowned trying to make the connection before Sam's giggles made his puzzled expression deepen.

"What?"

"That's, 'It's been a blast!' Teal'c," she said laughing, leading Daniel and Jack to smile broadly with amusement at Teal'c's version of the cliché.

"It sure has my friend. That it has," Jack said, heaving a poignant sigh.

Silence filled the room until Jack made them all jump; his over cheerful voice unsettling them.

"Good, now that's settled, I'll can tell you that your new CO will be Colonel Dave Dixon. He's a good man and good soldier, one I know I can trust to watch your backs. And Daniel, that mean you have to do what he tells you, okay?"

Daniel glared daggers at him, but Jack's face was expectant and he knew he couldn't let his friend down.

"Fine! Okay!" he snipped.

"And as from tonight you're all on a weeks downtime, and I want you all to go home pack a bag. We're off on vacation early tomorrow," he said gleefully, rubbing his hands together.

Daniel dropped his pen on the desk.

"Jack. I have work to do. I just can't drop everything!" he whined.

"Yes you can!"

"No I can't!"

"For this, you can Daniel."

Daniel hesitated and gave up, throwing his hands in the air.

"Okay, okay! So where are we going? And if it's camping you can forget it! I do enough of that when we're off-world!"

"Nope, none of that. Hotel. Luxury beds. Great food. Nightlife!"

"So where exactly is that?"

"Luxor!" Jack said without hesitation, loving it when Daniel's eyes lit up and his jaw fell open.

"Luxor?" Daniel gasped almost falling off his chair. "Really?"

"Would I lie to you?" Jack asked offended. "Don't answer that!" he said quickly, changing his mind and wagged a warning finger at the younger man. "You know Pyramids, Sphinxes an' all; or should that be Sphinxii or maybe it's just Sphinx, well, whatever! Anyway, all that stuff!" Jack huffed, waving a hand in the air in dismissal of his grammatical thoughts.

"Jack!" Daniel warned, but was too caught up in excitement right now to bother to correct him. "Luxor. Wow!" Nothing would dampen his spirits now though. They were going to Egypt. He sat and reflected on where he could show his friends round the country to have a great time. It would be like going home.

Sam giggled at Daniel's enthusiasm and shot Jack a glare!

"What?" he asked innocently, but she just shook her head in resigned amusement.

He shrugged, an evil smile playing over his lips as he waggled his eyebrows at her.

"So, go home, pack. I'll pick you guys up in the truck. Daniel the flight leaves at 10:35 hrs. Be ready by 07:30. Teal'c I pick you up at 07:00. Cart...em...Sam...just be ready huh?" he grinned smugly.

"Sure Jack," Daniel said absently.

"I will be ready O'Neill."

"Good. See you kids tomorrow. Oh, and you'll need plenty of money with you too! It gets a little expensive at times."

Daniel frowned but shrugged, still thinking over the list of sights to see that he had made in his head.

Sam turned and left the room following Jack. She prodded him in the back as soon as they were out of ear-shot.

"You are sooo cruel Jack O'Neill!"

"What me?" he asked, as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

"Yes you Jack!"

"I'm hurt that you should say so Carter!" he bluffed, but the corner of his mouth twitched and she collapsed into a heap of giggles. Poor Daniel.

TBC