Thanks for the great reviews guys, I really do love them all, but I feel I must remind you that this is purely a story which is set in my own little fantasy universe, so anything goes – well, almost - within reason.

NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

With that the trio proceeded down the corridors at a sedate pace, heading for the gate-room and Sam's promotion ceremony.

Chapter 14 – Promotions & Propositions

When Jack entered the gate-room there was a spontaneous round of applause and cheers, making him redden with embarrassment although he was secretly pleased with his reception. He waved a hand to all around him, but his wide smile was for Sam standing at the base of the ramp, looking very smart in her dress blues.

Their eyes met and held each of them for a few moments, passing on their love and pride in the other. Sam dropped hers first before anyone else could notice and pass comment.

They parked the wheelchair next to her and took their places. Janet came and stood next to him too, just to make sure he didn't suffer any reaction to being out of bed for the first time. She rested her hand on his shoulder briefly as she bent down to ask him if he was okay.

"I'm fine Doc," he grumbled, despite feeling a little light-headed and shaky.

She straightened up again just as General Hammond entered the room and the ceremony began.

There were other promotions too, and Sam's was the last and the highest ranking. Jack was so proud of her he felt he would burst when she held her head high and recited her pledge. He just wished that he could be up there pinning the silver leaves onto her uniform.

He watched her salute Hammond and turn smartly to walk down the ramp, then she stood to attention in front of him and saluted him too. He snapped off a smart reply and grinned with pleasure.

He spent a few minutes after the ceremony chatting to General Hammond, thanking him yet again for his consideration concerning the regulations, and apologising for the umpteenth time for not advising him of their situation before now. Hammond brushed it aside, reassuring Jack that he had nothing to worry about, reminding him that he had just redeemed his soul and to concentrate on getting better.

As soon as the little celebratory buffet was over, Teal'c pushed Jack back to the infirmary and with Daniel, helped get him undressed and back into the bed. He felt drained, in pain and exhausted by the little he had achieved. At this rate, he thought, it was going to be every bit as long and hard a slog to recovery as Janet had warned. He lay back against the pillows, but refused to give in to sleep until a certain Lieutenant Colonel was by his side.

Fifteen minutes later that same woman, now dressed in blue BDUs, walked into the room, passing Janet on her way out.

"He's all yours honey, and good luck," Janet huffed after throwing her patient an exasperated glance over her shoulder. Sam was welcome to him, she thought; he was grumpy from exertion after his little jaunt.

Sam smirked and patted Janet on the arm before she smiled at the weary figure lying on the bed. He grinned back, but was more than happy to know she was here at last and that he could relax and let sleep overtake him. He couldn't be grumpy with Sam, no way. He just hated being fussed over by everyone, especially Janet. He'd managed to get rid of Daniel and Teal'c at last, but Fraiser had hovered, asking stupid questions about how he was, despite being told he'd felt fine.

"Hi!" she said, smiling broadly.

"Lieutenant Colonel," he replied with a huge beaming smile.

Sam giggled, and leaned in for a kiss.

"Don't expect that every time we're on the base," she chuckled. "General Hammond wouldn't approve."

"I know, but I'm an invalid so I think he'll look the other way right now."

"Just as long as you're in here and not out there Colonel!"

Sam jerked back as if she'd been burned to reveal the senior officer standing in the doorway.

"Ooops!" she whispered in an aside to Jack.

"General!" Jack said, though he could barely say it round the sudden yawn that caught him unawares. "Sorry Sir."

Hammond huffed and frowned at him, but amusement lit his grey eyes.

"That's okay son. I know you must be feeling tired after today's outing. I'll let you get some sleep in a minute." He turned to Sam with a nod. "At ease Colonel," he said, addressing her by her new rank with a smile, before speaking to them both. "I just received a phone call from Major Davis at the Pentagon. It seems you have some strange friends Jack," he said grinning. An anonymous tip off from someone who shall remain nameless, though we can all guess who it is, led them to find the driver of the truck."

"That's good right?" Jack asked, knowing full well, that Harry was on his case; though his instincts about the tone of Hammond's voice were screaming 'no' at him. there was more to it than Hammond had revealed so far. "Am I right in sensing there's a 'but', in there sir?"

Hammond nodded at him and Jack sighed. What now?

"The rig was found almost burned out some time ago, but nothing was thought any more about it as it was one of several that had been in a fire at a depot outside of Pittsburgh. Investigators have just managed to identify an object found on the floor of the cab. Lodged beneath the drivers seat they found a USAF service pin with a set of initials, engraved on the back." Hammond paused for a moment to draw a deep breath. "They managed to trace it back to it's rightful owner."

"And?" Jack could barely contain himself, all thoughts of sleep abandoned through the mounting tension.

Hammond rubbed his hand over his bald pate and sighed with frustration.

"It belonged to a Joe McAlister who was on a temporary assignment to the Pentagon security detail."

"Have they arrested him yet sir?" Sam asked eagerly, hoping that he might name some names that would help solve this mystery.

"No," Hammond replied succinctly, his face full of regret.

"No? Why the hell not?" Jack demanded angrily.

"Joe McAlister was found hanging from a beam in his basement a few days ago. They presumed it was suicide but now they're not so sure of it. Davis said they were looking into it further with an open mind. It could be that he couldn't live with what he'd done, or that he was a liability and was silenced. Either way, it doesn't help much, and if it was the latter, then it looks like they're worried we're getting closer. I'm sorry Jack."

Jack shook his head in disbelief and frustration. How many more people were they going to kill just to keep quiet over this? Was it really worth that much? Was it worth so many lives to keep him out of the programme? He was in doubt as to why they had chosen him; he'd made so many enemies in his time at the SGC; trodden on so many toes to ensure the SGC stayed on the front line. He felt drained. The earlier exhaustion had set in again with a vengeance. He closed his eyes feeling thoroughly spent, only to open them a moment later when he felt a hand to his shoulder.

"Get some rest Jack. Davis is good, he'll get to the bottom of this, I swear."

"Yes sir," Jack sighed, closing his eyes again.

Hammond nodded to Sam then left the room, his fists curling with annoyance at what they had done to Jack, and disappointed because he felt they were banging their heads against a brick wall; the rules just changed again and until they got to the bottom of this Jack was still vulnerable.

Sam lifted his hand in hers and brought it to her lips, worried when Jack didn't respond.

"Jack?"

Finally he opened his eyes with an effort and smiled wanly up at her, but there was no sparkle present in his eyes. He looked more tired and older than she had expected. And like him she just wanted this over. Done with, so they could get on with their lives and their all important work. She sighed inwardly, but smiled back, running a hand over his cheek tenderly.

"Go to sleep Jack. I'll be here. Always!" she whispered even as he gave a slight nod and drifted off.

OoOoOoOoO

Colonel Frank Simmons climbed from his car, grabbed his briefcase and locked the door.

"Hello Frank! Up to your old tricks again I see?"

Frank Simmons startled at the sound of a voice, he never expected to hear again. He swung round slowly and tried to make out the shadowy figure standing between some bushes bordering his driveway. It was harder to see exactly where the man was hiding in the dark, made even darker by the thick clouds overhead on a moonless night.

"Maybourne," Simmons grunted in disgust as he registered the voice rather than saw who it was. "I could have you arrested for just being here!" he sneered, leaning back against the car and holding the case's handle in front of him with both hands.

"Really. Then I could have some very interesting tales to tell of a certain Colonel, standing not three metres away, and I'm sure those in the SGC would be very interested to hear them, and in particular Jack O'Neill; let alone a certain Senator who is paying for your services. He won't be very happy to know that your cover has been blown. Kinsey'll drop you like a ton of bricks Frank."

"You wouldn't dare. You never were the strongest link for the NID Maybourne. I believe you were often referred to, especially by Colonel O'Neill, as a... let me see now what was it? Ah yes... as a weasel," he chuckled, quite unperturbed by Maybourne's threat. "And besides, what judge in their right mind would accept the testimony of a disgraced officer who was court-martialled for treason and had been on the run. I don't think you have a very strong bargaining point there Harry."

"Oh, but that's just it Frank. I have!"

"You're bluffing."

"No. I'll leave that to you. See if you can bluff your way out of a court-martial," Harry sighed, remembering his own trial. "It's tougher than it appears. Believe me, I know!"

"I should have had you killed when I had the chance."

"Tut tut, Frank. That's not very friendly now is it? Not since I recommended you for the job too."

"And what you're proposing is?"

Harry shrugged and pulled a long face.

"Where are you hiding him Frank?"

"Excuse me? Hiding who?"

"Oh, come now Frank. I know you like to play games, but really; that Goa'uld will kill you at the drop of a hat and you know. Do you really believe you can control it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Frank denied, feeling a little hot under the collar, but thankful that Harry wouldn't notice his discomfort in the dark.

"I know you shot Jack, and I know you arranged his 'accident' plus the fact that you're hiding the Goa'uld. You're playing with fire and you will get burned. I learned from Jack that you can't trust a snake!"

"Bullshit!" Frank snorted in derision.

"And you're in it Frank. Right up to your neck! Oh, and don't think you can find a way to conveniently bump me off either. Every scrap of evidence I have on you and your cohorts is on disc and a copy will be delivered to the SGC and to the President if anything were to happen to me if I don't report to Dr. Jackson in..." Harry checked his watch. "...around an hour's time."

"What is it you want Harry? I have work to do, which is more important than standing around here chatting to you."

"Hand the Goa'uld over to the SGC Frank and leave Jack O'Neill and the SGC alone!"

"Jack O'Neill is a pain in the ass!"

"He's the real hero here Frank. Something you'll never be."

"And if I don't leave him and his little outfit alone?" Frank asked, ignoring the slight on his character.

"Then the evidence will suddenly find its way into General Hammond's 'in' tray, and also arrive on the President's desk."

"I still fail to see what evidence you have against me that will stand up in a court of law. In case you hadn't remembered, the knowledge about the Stargate and the Goa'uld isn't widely known. Are you going to risk blowing the whole secrets act apart?"

"What have I got to lose?" Harry chuckled, shrugging dramatically, falling silent.

A moment later, his voice echoed from somewhere further away.

"It's just a matter of time Frank. They already suspect you're behind Jack's 'accident'."

This wasn't news to Frank Simmons but the reminder spurred him into action. He listened for any sign of his former chief, but there was just the slight rustling of the bushes in the breeze. Harry had gone. He turned and hurried indoors, his cell phone in his hand already dialling.

TBC