Ice Lessons 8

"Nice place." commented Langley as he made his way to the sitting area, Jack followed and turned the TV off.

"What do you want? I'm not going to sue the department if you're worried," stated Jack

"I didn't come here for that. I came to check up on you." replied the detective.

Langley assessed Jack as he stood there in grey sweat pants, grey Air Force t -shirt with a check shirt over the top, one sleeve unbuttoned over the cast. His arm held diagonally across his chest elevating the broken wrist. The detective thought that he looked alert enough under the stubble. Bruised face and black eyes not withstanding. The Colonel was on sick leave in his own home after all.

"I'm fine as you can see. Look, just say your piece and then go back to the real scumbags. I've got other things to do." Jack replied irritably.

"Colonel O'Neill. I'm sure that you are well aware of the serious nature of the crimes here. Our team has been working on this for months! Tracking sightings and leads, all to no avail mostly; the guy would appear then disappear. We pulled in lots of people to help with enquiries." Langley countered, annoyed his peaceful overtures had been brushed aside.

"Go on."

"The kid at the ice rink, you couldn't know but one of the girls attacked was his cousin. Naturally he and his family are upset. Unfortunately he's also made himself a bit of a nuisance. You weren't the only person he's followed. We don't approve of vigilantism of course. He will be reprimanded, and you are within your rights to press charged if you want."

"I don't think that's going to help him any. He thought he was doing the right thing. I know there are rules, but heck I might have done the same thing at his age, in the same circumstances. So if you're here apologising and the kid had his reasons, tell me, you got the right guy behind bars, like my CO General Hammond assured me."

"We are confident that he's the man responsible for these attacks - here in this state." confirmed the detective.

"God, you mean there were more kids…elsewhere?" said Jack horrified.

"There's a possibility. So we're checking the data bases and liaising with other states."

"Do you have enough to make it stick?"

"I can tell you that there was significant material in his vehicle. It's still in the labs being processed. We are going to see if some of the victims feel able to come in for a line up."

"That's very brave of them."

"Yeah, we're hopeful. The cousin is one that really wants to put this behind her. To make sure that the right guy goes down for it."

"It would be good to get something worthwhile out of the whole sorry mess."

"Look, we were only following procedures and leads- paperwork. Your CO and Doctor made everything quite plain to the department exactly how they feel about your treatment. They have copies of the records and evidence."

"Well we never leave anyone behind, detective. They were only looking out for me, I am sure you can understand that."

"The investigating team had already completed preliminary enquiries, and from Cassandra Frasier's statement, you were in the clear. I did want you to be him for a while though."

"I noticed that."

"But certain things didn't add up, even before your CO came through with other evidence for you."

"I'm glad to hear it." said Jack thinking if only the detective knew some of the things he'd done under Uncle Sam's orders Don't go there, Jack.

"So, how exactly did you bring this guy in? If you've been looking for him so long?" continued Jack.

"I'd love to tell you it was through brilliant deduction but it wasn't. He came back to the area. A patrol car saw his vehicle had a broken taillight. When the officers followed him to tell him about it or try and issue a ticket, he sped off. There was a chase and he wrapped his car round a lamp post."

"Anybody hurt?"

"No. Luckily the car didn't explode or anything because the officers found interesting things in the trunk."

"So why did he come back? It doesn't make any sense."

"It does if you get too sure of your little schemes and you need the work which happens to take you to schools. We are still gathering statements."

"I thought there were checks to stop this kind of predatory behaviour."

"You're right, Colonel, there are. But people change names, slip through the cracks in the system."

"That's true. Seen that happen myself." Said Jack, thinking of personnel he'd had to dismiss at the SGC even after they'd made it though Basic and evaluation. He remembered how far Jonas Hanson had made it before totally losing it in the field.

"So you're really ok? I mean it looked pretty bad for a moment there." asked Langley again.

"I'm fine. A few more days until the wrist settles down a bit and I can go back to desk duty." assured Jack.

"Okay then." The detective stared at Jack. Even battered and bruised there was something coiled behind the dark eyes. No way was this officer a desk jockey. He was used to being in charge, doing something. "If there's nothing we can do for you. I'll go." Suddenly he wanted to be on his way.

Both men moved back up the steps to the front door.

"Just make sure this guy gets put away for a long time. I promised someone that would happen," stated Jack. Poor Cassie, she hadn't been that scared since she thought Carter had a Goa'uld in her. Even then, she'd only talk to him, not the Doc.

Langley briefly wondered if O'Neill would make it happen if something went wrong with the DA's office or if there was some cock up along the line.

"We expect to" he said "Bye, Colonel O'Neill, and thanks for being so understanding."

Jack opened the door and Langley stepped outside.

"Detective Langley."

"Yes?"

"Don't take this the wrong way. But I hope I don't see you ever again. Just make sure the system doesn't screw up anymore."

"Right," said Langley, realising that Jack was talking about the whole investigation and not just the incident in the lock-up. Heads were going to roll.

O'Neill watched him walk down the path to his car and drive away.

------------------------

Alone once more, Jack returned to the couch.

He was dealing with what had happened. He had talked to the General, the Doc, Cassie and his team. Jack's natural confidence had taken a knock and he felt both embarrassed and proud of the assurance and support they'd all shown him.

He was not going to think about other elements in the SGC, the NID or even Senator Kinsey that would want some of the mud to stick. The problem was he couldn't promise not to do anything 'wrong' because going through the 'Gate was so unpredictable. Sometimes doing the wrong thing was only way to work it out. But, Jack knew there were people just waiting for him to stick his head above the parapet once too often.

His head had begun to ache. He leaned back and closed his eyes, reviewing the conversation with Langley in his head.

Jack was very pleased that the police were confident of their suspect and their evidence. That this was unlikely to happen to him again anytime soon. Doing their job, routine enquiries…

His eyes snapped open, as he sat up. Dammit, they wouldn't have…? Would they?

He got up and went to the answer machine on the hall table. He had four messages.

Do or die O'Neill.

He pressed play.

As soon as he heard the voice, he had his answer.

Shit. They had.

first message received at 7.03 pm Thursday 29 May.

"Jack, it's Sara. There was a police officer here a couple of hours ago, asking me really personal questions about you. What the hell's going on? You can't keep doing this to me Jack. Jack, are you there? You can't fob me off this time with some phoney science experiment! "and then the phone was slammed down.

Well. That was just peachy.

Fate had conspired against him to trample like a herd of Jaffa all over the shaky bridges he'd rebuilt with Sara and her dad Mike. He'd hurt her. Again.

He saved her message but didn't listen to the others. No doubt it was more of the same. He deserved it after all.