For notes, warnings and disclaimers see chapter 1

Chapter 2: Truths in Black and White
(Jack's POV)

I wonder what the general wants. I mean, I'm more than grateful for any opportunity to get away from the paperwork he's determined to have me catch up with, but the fact remains that he was determined, my team is still on stand down and I don't think the general would give me an easy way out without a damned good reason. In other words, this means trouble and I know it, now all that's left for me to do is to figure out how much trouble, though --given the circumstances-- chances are it's more than a little. Simply put, I don't think the general would have given me even a temporary reprieve from my paperwork hell otherwise.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" I ask as soon as I walk into his office.

"Have a seat, Jack," says the general and the fact that he is using my first name, combined with the fact that he is looking more than a little nervous is enough to confirm my suspicions. Whatever this is about, it is not going to be good. Knowing that the ostrich approach is not likely to get me anywhere I swallow hard and do as I'm told.

"Do you remember what happened in Simarka?" he asks and I can't help but cringe.

"With all due respect, sir, I don't think I'm going to be forgetting about that particular mission any time soon," I say, already not liking where this is going.

"Well, son, I don't know how to say this but it seems things were even worse than we were originally led to believe."

"Sir?" I ask, wondering what more could there be. I mean, what I know is bad enough!

"You see, I've just received a copy of the first draft of a series of guidelines and background info I had asked Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter to put together and I'm afraid something new has come up."

"Guidelines?" I ask, not quite knowing what that could be about.

"Yes, you see, son, when the details of the Simarka mission first came to light, one of my primary concerns was the safety of female SG team members when it comes to their interaction with other cultures. Let's face it, the truth is that, given how most ancient civilizations viewed women, this situation was something that should have been foreseen. To help us get a better idea of just what we may find out there --and in an attempt to prevent another incident such as this-- Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter have been working on a series of guidelines intended to help SG teams recognize, avoid and if necessary defuse these kinds of situations," explains the general.

"Avoid them how?" I ask, even though what I'd really like to know is what do these guidelines have to do with whatever it is that the general wanted to tell me.

"Well, the original idea was to combine a quick introduction to how women have been perceived throughout history with a few basic guidelines in terms of field anthropology that Dr. Jackson felt might be better suited for the kind of situations we are likely to encounter than the military approach. Anyway, as I said, earlier today I was reading the first draft and that brought some things to my attention, things I think you should know as Captain Carter's CO."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Back when she told me what had happened, Dr. Fraiser mentioned that Turghan had issued some threats. At the time I didn't really understand their significance... now I do," he says, not quite meeting my eyes.

"Threats?" I repeat, not really knowing what else to say.

"Here, I'd suggest you read section four, pages thirty-two to forty-six," says the general, handing me a very thick folder as he gets up. "I'll be waiting outside."

At that he leaves me alone and I open the folder with as much confidence as I would reach for a venomous snake, knowing that whatever it is that is written on those pages, it is not going to be good... in fact --going by the general's reaction-- chances are it's going to be very, very bad. Still, knowing that whatever it is chances are it is important, I gather my courage and turn to the pages in question.

Fifteen minutes later I'm feeling literally sick... that and I also have a very strong urge to break something, or someone... preferably Turghan but unfortunately the bastard is on a different planet and out of my reach. That realization doesn't help my mood, not one bit.

I hear rather than see General Hammond walk back into the office and I try to get my emotions under control, with try being the operative word.

"Why wasn't I told about any of this?" I growl, knowing I'm way out of line here but not particularly caring.

"Well, son, I'm afraid that is partly my fault," admits the general.

"What do you mean it was your fault, sir?" I asked, shocked by that response.

"You see, when Dr. Fraiser filled me in on what had happened on Simarka she mentioned that Turghan had threatened to have Captain Carter circumcised. I asked her how the hell do you circumcise a woman and she basically told me I didn't want to know. I realize now that I should have pushed the issue but unfortunately I let it drop, not wanting to be distracted from what I believed was the main issue. I discovered my mistake earlier today," he explains.

"So what am I supposed to do now?" I ask, feeling totally out of my depth.

"I don't know, son. I know this is not an easy thing to come to terms with but I suggest you work things out with your team."

"Daniel knew... all along the little bastard knew and he didn't say anything," I say, feeling more than a little betrayed by the realization.

"Yes, as did Dr. Fraiser. I'm going to be having a very long talk with her as soon as I can."

"Well, sir, with all due respect, I have to say that between Daniel and Janet you got the best deal."

"How so?"

"She is shorter, that means the body is going to be easier to hide," I grumble, wondering what am I supposed to do here. I may be able to understand why Carter didn't say anything about any of this but Daniel is a different matter and we are going to be having a very serious conversation. I need to be able to trust my team and he has to understand that he just can't keep something like this from me. Heck, we all have to do a better job at trusting each other and somehow I'm going to have to knock that into that stubborn head of his. He may have been trying to protect Carter but the fact is that in this line of work what we don't know can kill us --literally-- and I'm not sure he understands that.