Title: The Embassy

Disclaimers in Part 1

Part 7

Week 28 Day 2

JACK

TG-1, the very first training group at the SGC, finally made it to graduation. The unit staff held a little ceremony for the very excited six who made it. We were every bit as proud of their accomplishment as they were. After the cake and congratulations, I met with each graduate to give them their new assignment. Some were a little happier than others were.

I proudly offered SG team positions to our best and brightest, Staff Sergeant Marie Jameson, Lieutenant Lucy Thomas and Lieutenant Harry Jones. Jones' attitude had turned around after the little incident at Ferretti's wedding. It made him realize what a hopeless jerk Sweers really was. Lieutenants Mugabe and Townsend quite happily took positions in the scientific and technical research groups at the SGC.

That left only our problem child, Sweers. I took great pleasure in informing the young man that we had managed to convince the Supply Officer that the lieutenant was worth the risk. Believe me, it took a lot of convincing, including two bottles of very fine Scotch.

"There is no way I went through all this for just a crappy supply officer job, Colonel. I demand you find me a place on a team," the pipsqueak shouted.

Calmly smiling at the young man, I replied, "Sweers, I don't think you realize your position here. You're the lieutenant and I'm the colonel. It says so somewhere on my uniform. I say where you go and you go there. You're damned lucky anyone would take you after your little performance at Ferretti's wedding."

"Oh, so that's it. Your little whore comes whining to you saying that I didn't fall for her charms and I end up in Supply. Well, there's no way you'll ever convince anyone that you're not doing this for personal reasons."

"What are you blathering about, Sweers?"

"I turn down your chippie, Colonel Carter's, invitation to a little horizontal Mambo party and you relegate me to a dead-end do-nothing job. If you think you'll get away with this, you have another thing coming. Sir!" He spun on his heel and stalked out, slamming my door on the way.

I blew out a long breath. "This is so not my day." Sam hadn't told me who put the moves on her, now I knew why. I'd have twisted his little pin head off his shoulders.

LIEUTENANT SWEERS

I couldn't believe it. That asshole really thought he could screw me out of my spot on a team. My spot. That little twit Jameson, an enlisted peon for god's sake, got a spot. I was not going to take this lying down.

My father wasn't available to me, as always, so I waited in my apartment for him to deign to call me back. Two days and several bottles of very good cognac later, my phone rang.

"What is it this time, Nick? Get someone pregnant or run over another homeless person? I thought you told me if I got you the spot you wanted at that secret base you wouldn't bother me again."

"Dad, I graduated from the training course today. I wanted you to know that I could make it if I put my mind to it."

"Nick, I've always known you were smart, just undisciplined. So you actually made it. Didn't have to blackmail anyone, did you?"

I gritted my teeth. It was so unfair. "Not. This. Time."

"Well, congratulations, Nick. Maybe the military will be the right place for you after all." I could tell he was sitting back smoking one of those stinky black cigars my mother loathed so much. "I'll be sure to tell your mom you finally finished something. She'll be so proud." Sarcasm practically dripped off his words.

"Gee, thanks. What I called about was the assignment I got after finishing practically at the top of my class. They screwed me. I should be on a team, not stuck in Supply dispensing condoms and Aspirin. You need to do something about this. Get me the place I earned."

"Kid, I don't need to do anything. Here I thought you'd finally wiped your nose and quit whining about how unfair life is. I'll tell your mom you called." The bastard hung up on me.

Well, one thing I'd learned from him was that there was always another way and that enough money bought anything. I vowed Colonels O'Neill and Carter weren't going to get away with this, this, travesty. My plan to separate them at the reception hadn't worked, but I knew just the man to help me get my revenge.

Week 29 Day 7

LIEUTENANT SWEERS

My plan was simple, yet would prove to be quite affective. I'd managed to "procure" copies of the letters written by my friends, the colonel twins. The sappy sentiments made me sick.

I contacted a very talented guy I knew from an evening spent in juvie a few years ago before Dad's lawyers sprung me on a technicality. Loved those technicalities. My contact provided the pages of the faked letter, for which I paid him very generously. They never knew what hit them.

DANIEL

I was sitting down to lunch with SG-1 and Janet when the mail arrived. Mayhem ruled until Gunnery Sergeant Jefferson bellowed once and every Marine in the room stood to attention. Quite impressive, our gunny. He distributed all of the letters, including two to Janet, one for Sam and, surprisingly, one for me.

I was happily poring through Cassie's letter when I heard Janet ask, worry obvious in her voice, "Sam, are you okay?"

Sam sat frozen in her seat, pale, statue still. Frankly, she looked like a whipped puppy. She laid the letter on the table and walked away mumbling, "Gotta go back to my lab. See you later."

Janet and I exchanged worried glances. She picked up Sam's letter and scanned it, her mouth gaping. "Oh god, Sam." She stood, shoved the letter into my hands and ran after her friend.

Teal'c took the letter from my limp hands. "It appears we were wrong about the subject of our wager, DanielJackson."

"Why? What's in the letter, Teal'c?"

"Perhaps it would be better if we go to ColonelCarter's lab. I will tell you on the way."

Alice leaned forward and asked quietly, "Sir, what's the matter? Can we do anything to help the colonel?"

"Not right now, Alice, but I think she's going to need all of our support."

TEAL'C

O'Neill's letter to ColonelCarter shocked me beyond anything he had ever done. The cruelty surpassed that of Apophis as his worst.

Dear Sam,

How can I say this? Might as well just spit it out. I'm getting married next week To a woman I've been seeing for a while now. I introduced you to her at Joan and Ferretti's wedding. I meant to tell you this while you were at my house, but couldn't face having a hysterical woman on my hands.

Debbie and I met at work. Her girlish crush developed into a real love for me that I've found I return. She is the type of woman who could really make me happy, so I'm going to grab her while I can.

She cooks, sews and isn't really a career woman. I decided a while back that I want more kids and she's ready and willing to stay home for our kids. She's young enough at 24 that we can have several.

Best of all, there are no regulations between Debbie and me. She knows I was briefly involved with you and doesn't care about our little affair as long as it ends before the wedding.

I hope you can be happy for me.

Sincerely,

Jack

SAM

Stunned doesn't even begin to explain how I felt. Somewhere under the layers of numbness and nausea, I knew my heart was breaking. So much for the technology of the Ancient's Stone. I guessed it was just another cheat like the rest of the carnival games. Work was my only refuge from the constantly whirling thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me day and night. My friends and team hovered over me, trying vainly to get me to eat, rest, or talk to them about my feelings.

Vesia came by several times a day with some new delicacy prepared by Mamarce to tempt me. "Signorina, you must eat! You too skinny," she would reprove me each time. If she were busy, she'd send Tyrrhenos with the treat. I ate what I could choke down and threw away or hid what I couldn't stomach. Oh, don't get me wrong. The food was fabulous, as always. I just couldn't keep much of anything down as much as my stomach hurt.

When their attentions became too much, I'd escape to the formal gardens so lovingly brought back to life by Gunny Jefferson and his cadre of volunteer gardeners. A rose-draped arbor stood close to the western wall and cunningly hid a small bench from the rest of the little park. It became my refuge.

JANET

"How could he, Sam?" I said for the thousandth time, sitting on a stool in her lab. It seemed to be about the only place she ever was. I was furious for her. If I could have gotten my hands on that man, the colonel would have begged for mercy. I imagined new ways to make his life the living hell he'd given Sam.

She never looked up from her laptop screen as she replied. "Janet, please. I'd really rather not talk about it. I have a ton of work to do on the results Barton gave me for the power clay. General Hammond and the Pentagon, not to mention Area 51, can hardly wait to find out if we can reproduce its properties back home."

"Why don't you take a break, Sam? It's late and you've been here since early morning." I saw the stubborn expression on her face and hardened mine. "I could make it an order, Colonel."

"You would, wouldn't you?" With pursed lips, she closed her laptop and locked the door to her lab behind us. Looking a little lost, she asked, "Where to now?"

"You're coming home with me. Daniel can be by himself tonight. I have a friend who needs a little of my time." I put my arm around Sam and we made our way up to the third floor. Her ribs stood out sharply against my arm through her thin tee shirt. I hadn't realized just how much weight she'd lost.

"I just happen to have a bottle of that Fume Blanc you liked so much last Christmas. Want a glass?" I offered. At her nod, I opened my front door and waved her inside. We soon sat on either end of my sofa, each with a glass of wine.

"Tell me, Sam." She closed her eyes and took a large sip of the wine, then another, using the alcohol as an anesthesia. I'd seen it plenty of times as a doctor.

"He's married by now, you know." The tears fell slowly, but she didn't bother to wipe them away. Sam was the strongest woman, heck the strongest being, I'd ever met. To see her cry over such a creep made my blood boil and my heart break.

DANIEL

There had to be some mistake. Jack would never have hurt Sam like that. At least, I hoped he wouldn't. The man I first met might have, but not the man I'd come to know over the past seven plus years. After a week of watching Sam grieve in silence, I couldn't take it anymore. I snuck into her place and took the letter from Jack, made a copy and put the original back.

The next day was my regular meeting with General Hammond, so I packed my bag, kissed Janet goodbye, checked in on Sam and collected Teal'c who was meeting with Hammond himself. The authorities had made a decision on a treaty with the Jaffa and we were to negotiate the details.

GENERAL HAMMOND

To say the very least, I was flabbergasted by Doctor Jackson's revelations. It explained some of Colonel O'Neill's bizarre behavior for the past couple of weeks, but didn't jive with what I knew of the man. However, the letter Jackson showed me was clearly in O'Neill's handwriting.

"Of course, I'll do as you ask, Doctor Jackson. Colonels Carter and O'Neill are my friends. If you can shed any light on this situation, I'd be very grateful."

"Thank you, sir. Now, Teal'c and I reviewed the proposal and have just a few changes. Nothing of real significance to Earth, but of great import to the Jaffa and their goals."

Week 31 Day 4

JACK

About three weeks after Sam left Earth, General Hammond ordered me to Hawai'iki to make a tactical assessment of the embassy's defenses. It was obviously an excuse to get me there since Teal'c was at least as capable as I was at designing the fortifications. The very idea of going there again was tough to take. Sure, I wanted to see Teal'c, Daniel and Janet, but the thought of running into Sam filled me with melancholy.

I joined the semi-weekly supply caravan from the SGC in the gate room. Hammond was waiting there with … another two HTs.

"We startin' a dealership, sir?" Hammond snorted his amusement. At least I could still make him laugh.

"No, Colonel, Daniel has asked for two to be delivered with each supply caravan. That's as fast as we can get them to him. Seems the Hawai'ikians can't get enough of these and are willing to pay as much as we ask."

"Hmm, do I smell a retirement opportunity, sir?" Hammond laughed openly this time.

"No, Jack. But Doctor Jackson has enough people begging him for the things that he may not need a budget from Earth next year."

"Whoa. Way ta go, Danny," I muttered. I saluted the general as I rolled up the ramp and through the Stargate.

DANIEL

The day after I got back, Jack showed up around noon riding another Segway. The supply train was nowhere in sight. Given the state of the two HTs, Jack and the other rider must have been racing half the way here. He jumped off the vehicle and sauntered toward me, a patented Jack O'Neill smirk behind those sunglasses. I could tell he wasn't happy about being here.

"Jack thanks for bringing the Segway. We can't get enough of them. Come inside before Janet sees you." I pulled him away from the two hulking Marines striding toward him, fire in their eyes. Sam was popular among the Marines as an officer who appreciated them as warriors and could do what they do, if necessary; plus, it didn't hurt that her smile could melt any man's mind in milliseconds.

Inside the foyer, I hurriedly pushed him into a small reception room just off the grand foyer. I really missed Teal'c's steady presence and wisdom at times like this. With the treaty negotiations complete, Teal'c had gone to visit Master Bra'tac.

"So, tell me why I don't wanna see the mini-terminator this time," Jack sniped sarcastically. I guessed that whatever changes his new bride had wrought weren't for the better.

"Jack," I warned.

"Daniel," he mocked.

"Jack!"

"Just spit it out, Daniel!"

"Well, she's not too happy with you right now, Jack. None of us are."

He grunted; a look of indifference crossed his face. "Why am I here, Daniel?"

"It's your breakup with Sam. We – Teal'c, Janet and I – thought the two of you should discuss this, this, Dear John letter thing. Maybe … explain the cruel tone of the letter; maybe give and accept apologies. We've all been friends for so long; I'd hate to see you two lose so much."

"Whatever, Daniel. I've got lots of work to do back at the SGC and the supply group is leaving in an hour or two."

"They'll wait as long as I ask them to, Jack. Why don't you wait out in the garden while I round up Sam?" I followed him to the back hallway that held the garden door, the stairs to the lower floor and the elevator.

JANET

I walked by Sam's lab to check on her and found it empty. She must have escaped to the garden again. I was glad that at least she wasn't working, hidden in the basement lab.

"Janet," I heard Daniel shout from the stairway. "Have you seen Sam? Jack's waiting in the garden and I want them to talk. I think it'll be therapeutic for her to confront him."

"Daniel, what were you thinking? She's nowhere near strong enough for that, and she's probably in the garden herself." I had to find them, to support her, to protect her from more hurt. We raced for the stairs.

JACK

I wandered through the garden, barely aware of the beauty around me. It couldn't penetrate the shell of rage and sadness that had surrounded me since… I didn't want to go there.

A soft, familiar laugh floated toward me from the west. I turned toward an arbor. The long flower-covered canes hid the occupants of the hidey-hole from my position, so I walked to my right. As I walked, more of the two people inside came into view until I could see my Sam - well, she wasn't my Sam anymore - and a young man. She sat on a small bench; her Lothario knelt on one knee in front of her as if he was proposing. Slowly, I walked in their direction as though drawn by a magnet. Sam shook her head as he held something out to her.

"Please, Signorina Sam," he begged, an ingratiating smile on his young, line-free face. There was not a gray hear in sight and he had a butt I knew Janet would drool over.

He pushed whatever it was further toward her and she grimaced. Her hand reached toward his offering with noticeable reluctance, took an item and placed it in her mouth. Sam chewed mechanically and swallowed with an obvious effort. Her boyfriend smiled and held out the dish again.

"Tyrrhenos, I don't think I could eat another bite. You keep tempting me all day long." She reached out again to place her hand on her lover's cheek. A surge of rage assaulted my senses, blinding me momentarily. I must have made a sound, because Sam glanced in my direction. She gaped at me, then turned her stricken face away.

"Signorina Sam, what is it?" He looked my way, then back at her. "This is the swine who hurt you?" He stood and started to advance toward me, furious. I was ready for him, ready to release a little pent up frustration.

"Tyrrhenos, Jack, no!" Daniel yelled as he and Janet burst from the back door.

SAM

Damn him for coming, for seeing me like this. At their request, I reluctantly followed my friends and Colonel O'Neill to a room where I paced restlessly. The colonel leaned back lazily in his chair and put his feet on the table in typical O'Neill fashion.

"Sam, will you please sit?" Janet asked. My body sang with adrenalin; sitting would have been torture. I continued to pace restlessly.

"Let's just get whatever you have planned over with, Janet." I demanded. "I have work waiting for me."

Colonel O'Neill, with his inimitable style, sneered. "Looked more like monkey business to me, Colonel." I really hated him then.

"Whatever, Colonel," I sneered back.

"Stop this, both of you," Daniel yelled. "I brought you both here to talk about this situation, to resolve all this anger and the feelings of betrayal, so Sam can move on."

"Looks like Sam has done a lot more than move on. What about me moving on?" the colonel asked angrily, almost shouting. Deliberately, he sat back, an indifferent mask covering his handsome face.

"You, you… jerk. How dare you say that after what you've done? Sir," Janet yelled, leaping to her feet. I thought for a moment she'd dive over the table at him until Daniel gently pulled her back.

"Please, there's no need for shouting. Jack, we just want you to explain your actions, why you wrote that letter and …" Daniel started.

"Which letter, Danny? We've written dozens since she left Earth. Although, I have to admit her last letter was a real doozie," the colonel replied coldly. This confused and infuriated me.

"My last letter? You have to be kidding, sir. At least I didn't cut your heart out with a spoon."

"Actually, that's exactly what you did, Sam, and I want to know why. Tell me, why did you dump me with a Dear John letter?"

JACK

Sam looked so fragile - pale, thinner, dark shadows under her eyes and hollows in her cheeks. She paced like a tiger in a cage, obviously burning herself out running on sheer will. Sam stopped at my question and faced me defiantly.

"What?" she exclaimed, her face scrunched in a frown of confusion and anger.

"You heard me." I searched through the pockets in my vest until I found her folded and much-creased letter. It slid across the table to stop between the three of them. Daniel picked it up and read it with Janet.

"I don't know what you're playing at, sir, but I don't think this is funny." Sam turned away from me, breathing heavily, almost panting with the effort.

"Sam, you should read this," Janet urged quietly, standing to pass it to Sam. Meanwhile, Daniel reached into his breast pocket for a piece of paper, which he handed to me. My feet slid from the tabletop to the floor as I leaned forward to take it.

"What is this, Daniel," I inquired. He merely gestured that I should read it, so I did. "What the hell? I never wrote this load of crap. Where did you get it?"

"And I never wrote this," Sam asserted, waving her letter. She read it aloud.

Dear Jack,

I am so sorry to say this in a letter, but I couldn't keep fooling myself any Longer that our relationship can work. With the distance between us, plus our workloads, the possibility of our ever being together is, to say the least, remote. I want more and I can't have it with thousands of light years between us.

Remember when I said so long ago that I've always been attracted to the "lunatic fringe?" Well, after serious consideration of the advice of friends and family, I've decided that it's time I grew up and found a man with a little less emotional baggage.

I'm still young enough to have children with a man of my own age, a man who will still be young and vital when they're going off to college.

She gasped and accused, "You seriously thought I wrote this trash. How could you think that badly of me?" and angrily started reading again.
Dad agrees that I deserve the very best and has encouraged me to find it. I hope you can forgive me and wish me well.

Take care of yourself,

Sam Carter

"God, Jack, that must have hurt to read," Daniel said sincerely. I merely grimaced.

Sam's voice shook with emotion. "The letter I got is in your handwriting and it's on your stationary, sir. Why should I believe you didn't send it, and just regret it and your hasty marriage now?"

"Yeah, and I should believe you didn't send the one I got. Why would either of us write a letter like this?" I stood and moved two steps toward her, hands in my pockets. "Tell me you didn't write it and I'll believe you, Sam," I offered. One of us had to take that leap of faith.

"I. Did. Not. Write. It. Satisfied?" Her voice shook and she looked away to stand, arms folded around her body protectively, back pressed against the wall.

"Yes." Short and sweet.

"Are you married to or dating Debbie?" Sam asked, staring hard at me now.

"No and no. You met her. Is she remotely the type of woman you can see me with? She's a sweet kid, if somewhat lacking in her taste in men, but there's no way I'd ever date her, let alone marry her. Plus, for cryin' out loud, she's young enough to be my daughter!"

DANIEL

I knew Jack well enough to be confident he was telling the truth. I asked him, "So, where didthe letters come from?"

In response, Jack asked, "Sam, when we got separated at the reception did you dance with my student, Lieutenant Sweers?"

Surprised, she answered with distaste, "Oh, yeah."

"What's that got to do with this, Jack?" Daniel leaned forward, his expression doubtful.

"Hold on, Daniel. Sam, did he proposition you?"

"Yeah, he was quite crude about it and forced me to make a scene to get rid of him. He got very angry and a couple of the SFs escorted him outside."

"I thought so. He seems to think that his not getting on a team was revenge because he, and I quote, 'didn't fall for her charms.'"

Sam's lips mouth thinned to a mere slit. Her voice was rough with emotion, "That young man is delusional. He was drunk, crude and aggressive. I have dozens of witnesses who'll vouch for me if you don't believe my version."

"Of course I believe you, Sam. I never questioned that he was making it up," Jack replied sincerely. "I don't think he's used to being turned down. But I think the little worm either wrote or had someone write those letters, and, even if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm gonna prove it." His jaw clenched. I'd never seen him so determined.

SAM

I was so relieved. I'm ashamed to admit I started to cry then. Not big weepy sobs, but silent tears and felt a sudden weakness in my legs. The past few weeks had been a nightmare. I hadn't been able to eat or sleep, my stomach ached constantly, and my body was on the verge of collapse. So, it did.

"Sam!" Jack yelled as he rushed to catch me. My head was spinning from the events of the past minutes and, probably, dehydration.

"Let's get her downstairs, Colonel," Janet ordered, once again the doctor. He scooped me up as if I weighed nothing, which even with the weight I've lost isn't true. I vaguely remember the ride down in the elevator to the clinic. Janet and Marisa loaded my arms with IV needles.

"Jack, please don't leave," I asked softly, grasping onto his arm.

He sat on a chair by my bed and said, "Never, ever, not even if you beg me to, Sam"
His pronouncement, so seriously delivered, made me chuckle.

"Good," I replied as I drifted away, his hand in mine. It seemed as though no time had passed at all when I drifted back and heard Janet and Jack talking.

"How is she, Doc?"

"She's seriously anemic, is showing evidence of abdominal pain - which she failed to inform me about – and hasn't been eating for some time. I suspect she has a bleeding gastric ulcer, sir, but only endoscopy will tell for sure. Plus, she's exhausted, dehydrated and needing a little TLC, Colonel. Frankly, sir, the woman needs a keeper. After we had to hospitalize her twice while you were stranded on Edora, I thought my lectures would have cured her tendencies to …" She trailed off, grimacing, knowing she'd let the cat out. I'd sworn the others to secrecy about my little problems while he was missing.

"While I was on Edora? What do you mean?" I winced at the anger and suspicion in his voice.

Janet sighed and ruefully elaborated, "She worked herself into such a state of exhaustion, laboring day and night trying to get you back, she collapsed twice and I had to practically tie her down to keep her out of the lab." Janet sounded annoyed, at herself for slipping and probably at me for putting in her in this position.

"Thanks for telling me all this, Doc. I'll see what I can do about getting her that keeper."

"Are you going back now, sir?"

"Yeah, I need to have a talk with Hammond about this … situation; plus, the training program is getting ready to start up again. I was only supposed to be gone for a few hours, not overnight."

"Will we see you again soon? I know Sam will get better much faster if you're around. She always has," Janet remarked, a smile in her voice.

"I promised Sam I wouldn't leave her. As soon as I can finish up a few things, I'll be back, even if I have to walk all the way from Earth. Count on it."

GENERAL HAMMOND

I was surprised to see Colonel O'Neill back so soon, since he'd just left the previous morning. It didn't bode well for the success of Doctor Jackson's plans. From the control room, I used the PA system to ask him to join me in my office.

"Do you have anything to report, Colonel?" I asked after he'd closed the door to my office.

"Yes, sir, I do. I hear you've seen the letter Sam got, ostensibly from me. Well, this is the letter I got, supposedly from her." He handed me a single piece of sky-blue paper. The contents shocked me as badly as had the other.

"Well Jack, I assume you didn't both send Dear John letters to each other. So, who did?"

"Excellent question, sir. Although, I have an idea who it may be." His jaw clenched and unclenched in obvious fury.

"Care to enlighten me, Colonel?" I asked, curious.

"Our favorite student, Lieutenant Nicholas Sweers," O'Neill announced caustically.

"Why, beyond the obvious fact that he failed to make a team, do you think it's him?"

The colonel moved, limping slightly, from leaning on my credenza to sitting in my guest chair. With as few words as possible, he gave me the story of the young man's behavior at Lieutenant Colonel Ferretti's wedding reception and Sweers' threats after receiving his assignment.

"That's pretty damning on the surface, but do you have any hard evidence?"

"Not yet, but I intend to find it. He must have used accomplices, especially to get a copy of the letters I sent to Sam when they're all off world with her. Someone wrote those fake letters and I'm not aware that forgery is one of his skills." He fidgeted in the chair. "Daniel is working on finding out who at the embassy might have been willing to do a little B&E work. I'd like permission to use some outside help to check through the security tapes for anyone accessing my quarters and office."

"Of course, whatever you need. I'll arrange for delivery of copies of the tapes to whomever you say. I agree that it would be best not to use our internal security forces in case someone here is involved. What else do you need?" These people were still my first and best team, and I considered them my family.

"At the moment, just a little latitude with some one my more, uh, eccentric behavior while I'm searching. I'll have to act like I still believe the letter is true," he said, as a grimace flicked across his face.

I nodded my agreement to the request, anticipating what he came up with as "eccentric" behavior with both interest and some trepidation.

TEAL'C

When I arrived at the Embassy residence, DanielJackson called Major Adams and me to his office the day after O'Neill left. The compound was in something of an uproar over O'Neill's visit and ColonelCarter's collapse. The prevailing wisdom was that he'd caused it somehow, an assumption DanielJackson asked us not to contradict.

"Someone arranged for forged letters to go to both Sam and Jack, ending their relationship in a rather cruel joke or, perhaps, revenge. They certainly have enough enemies. Whoever planned the deception must have had an accomplice on Hawai'iki because the letters were on their personal stationary and in a very good copy of their own handwriting. Our task is to find out who here is the accomplice and, if possible, get them to implicate whoever paid them."

"You have my full cooperation, sir," Major Adams assured his superior. "I like and respect Colonel Carter very much. She's been very nice to all of us here, making us feel appreciated. If the accomplice is one of my people, the hard part will be getting him or her safely back to Earth before another member of the battalion beats the hell out of them."

"You have my support as well, DanielJackson. I do not appreciate those who injure members of my family. It is never wise to make an enemy of a Jaffa."

DANIEL

We set a little trap for our traitor. I let out that we had evidence locked in my office safe identifying a person who'd helped Colonel O'Neill hurt Sam. Teal'c set up hidden monitoring devices in and around my second-floor office, and we waited for the person to either bolt or try to retrieve the "evidence."

The three of us involved in the operation took turns watching for any activity each night. One the third night, the monitors picked up a darker patch of shadow moving stealthily along the corridor toward the door in question. It was my turn that night, so I woke Teal'c and Tom Adams. While I waited for them to show up, the shadow worked its way to my office door and started on the lock.

Within minutes, the two arrived at the storage room where I hid. "He's just unlocked my door and gone inside. Check out the monitor on the 'safe'. He thinks he's hit a gold mine."

We'd rigged a false safe inside the closet and filled it with papers and some of the bullion from this month's shipment. The real safe left by the Lojan was much harder to find.

"He went straight for it, sir?" Tom asked, grinning.

"Yep, he grabbed all of the paperwork, ignoring the gold. See, he's still searching for the 'evidence' we planted."

"How long do you intend to wait before apprehending him, DanielJackson?"

"At least until he leaves my office with the papers." My eyes never left the pair of monitors recording his every move. "Look! He thinks he's found what he's looking for and is closing things up."

"Shall we?" asked Tom. Teal'c and I followed the major out of the storeroom by the grand staircase and hid ourselves under the nearby stairway to the third floor living quarters. Long minutes passed while we shuffled as silently as possible in the tiny space.

The hallway in front of us overlooked the main foyer below. The large windows to our right let in faint starlight. My eyes were just beginning to adjust when a movement in the darkness caught my attention. Teal'c burst forth, tackled the shadow, and struggled to keep his arms around it.

"Don't let him go, Teal'c," Tom yelled. A hand clawed at Teal'c face and I leapt to grab the thief's hand. He twisted sinuously and almost escaped. I groped and felt a knit cap. I jerked it off his head as the nearly blinding light of a flashlight shone in his face.

His? The beam showed us the snarling face of one Corporal Sally Murdock, a member of the tech team under Tom Adams.

JACK

The package from Daniel contained exactly the information I needed. My JAG contact from darker days had a couple of agents going through the SGC tapes using some pretty sophisticated software. On the face of it, he was devoting a lot of resources to a minor case of forgery and B&E, but the implications led to much bigger fish. The senior Mr. Sweers was under investigation for bribery of federal officials and breaking the campaign contribution restrictions, among other charges. This was just an offshoot of the main investigation and my friend was hopeful it might lead to their gaining some leverage against the lieutenant's father.

I waited as patiently as I could, which wasn't very much. Finally, my frustration let itself out in some pretty stupid ways – yelling at people who had the misfortune to get in my way, kicking a hole in my desk drawer, and throwing a bowl of blue Jell-O at a hapless food server. I apologized afterward, but it all helped to support my reputation as a bear with a sore paw. The looks of pity I saw turned my way didn't help my mood one bit either.

It took nearly a week, but my buddy came back with documentary evidence of an SF, with whom I'd had a few less than friendly dealings, breaking into my quarters at least twice: once to steal Sam's letters; once to put them back.

We apprehended the SF at his home, not wanting Sweers to hear of the arrest. The JAG lawyers questioned him at length at their Peterson, AFB, offices. Someone must either have paid him well or put the fear of Daddy Sweers into him, but the SF finally rolled over on his co-conspirator, one Lieutenant Nicholas Sweers.

Week 34 Day 7

TEAL'C

With the approval of my master, I accepted the strictures of the treaty offered by the Tau'ri. In return, we gained additional support for the Jaffa uprising. DanielJackson had offered us a place in the Earth embassy, a large unused structure near the back gate we could refurbish to our needs. It would provide us a headquarters, a meeting place and sanctuary. Ready access to the rear entrance of the compound made stealthy arrivals and departures easy. In addition to the well-placed center of operations for our cause, we gained access to potential allies against the Goa'uld.

For our part, we would provide security services, when needed, for the compound and its inhabitants, and instruct the Tau'ri students in Jaffa culture and methods of fighting. I would continue to be a member of SG-1. It seemed a very equitable partnership.

After returning to Hawai'iki, I met with Major Adams regarding the practical aspects of converting an ancient stable into a home suitable for my people. We walked from his office in the embassy, through the wide passageway between the building in which food is prepared and the barracks housing the major's battalion, to the three-story structure along the back wall of the compound.

"MajorAdams, are sufficient workman available to begin the changes we have discussed?"

"According to the guild master, there'll be a planner, what we call an architect on Earth, free next week. If you put together some ideas before then of how you'd like the space modified, he can get started with the plans sooner. How about I assign Corporal Foster to help you put your ideas on paper and into the design program we used on the embassy?"

"I would be most appreciative, Major." We walked through the neglected building, inspecting the integrity of its structure. After perusing the entire edifice, I was well satisfied with its basic soundness and suitability. Once again, DanielJackson had done well by me.

GENERAL HAMMOND

When Colonel O'Neill said he would try my patience, he wasn't kidding or exaggerating. His latest assault on my tolerance came this morning in the form of a demand disguised as a request. With Teal'c spending up to seventy-five percent of his time leading the Jaffa rebellion, no one remained to oversee embassy security. The remaining time Teal'c had went to accompanying SG-1 on missions where he was needed much more than at the embassy compound. His knowledge and skill were invaluable.

O'Neill made a very good case for his transfer to Hawai'iki. The training program was up and running and he could do much of the training there on Hawai'iki; plus, he could do some of the program management from there, transportation to and from the city and the Stargate being the only real obstacle. Since we couldn't begin to fulfill the demand for Segways, none were available for use by the embassy personnel.

JACK

Sam and I were unable to be together until the investigation wrapped up, so I pushed as hard as I could on the JAG office to finish building their case. Finally, I received word they were ready. Because none of their people had high enough clearance to get into the SGC, they planned to make the arrest topside as Sweers left for the day. I could hardly wait.

"You are going to let me be there, right, Jay?" I asked the JAG team leader.

"Jack, you know that's not according to protocol. We can't have you there, as the victim of the crime, when we take the suspect into custody."

"But there's nothing to stop me watching over the security cameras?"

He appeared to consider for a few seconds, then grinned. "No. There's not."

"Yes!" I meant to enjoy very, very much watching the little weasel get nabbed.

Two days later, I stood in the main security center watching the main gate, General Hammond at my shoulder. Sweers signed out of the last checkpoint and walked through the gates to the parking lot. Within seconds, a horde of SFs and JAG officers surrounded the lieutenant. I'm not sure what they thought he'd do when they came after him to justify such a large force, but they had him now.

Continued in Part 8