Just a short part this time. I know Jackie is constantly amazed at the great reviews and I'd like to add my thanks to everyone for your comments on the parts I've written. - Flatkatsi

Supporting Rumors - Part 86

Sitting forward in his chair, Daniel closed the report and looked slowly around, trying to come to terms with what he had just read.

If anything reminded Daniel of his friend's position, it was Jack's office. It seemed even bigger than the last time Daniel was in it, so many months ago, with its large windows letting in plenty of natural light and its furnishings solid and expensive looking.

Piles of folders were stacked neatly on the desk along with more in and out trays than Daniel had ever seen in the one spot. In the middle of it all sat a coffee mug and a plate holding the remains of a sandwich – it was clear Jack had only managed to snatch a few bites while working.

Jack was staring at him, obviously waiting for some sort of response to the information Daniel had just been given, information that came as a complete shock to him.

"I can't believe it. Are you sure he's guilty, Jack? I mean, he's the International Committee civilian representative, he's not military."

"Daniel, look you know how things and folk can be deceptive. You've been around the universe for long enough now. Just because he's a civilian ... have you watched the news at all lately?"

Daniel glared as Jack shook his head and sighed. He just couldn't believe he'd been taken in by Guzy. His head spun with the implications. "I handed him everything, didn't I? I gave him everything he needed to keep on ..."

Jack raised his hands, stopping Daniel in mid-flow. "Hey, quit. It isn't your fault. Guzy was good. He wouldn't have been appointed as the IC rep otherwise. He checked out one hundred per cent at the time, just like all the other damn traitors. It took me ages to find the evidence to ..."

"You found the evidence?" echoed Daniel. Jack stiffened, waiting for some kind of insult no doubt, but Daniel was feeling betrayed by someone he considered a friend, someone he had trusted with what he considered to be matters of vital importance to the SGC, to the Earth ... and he missed the O'Neill defenses kicking in.

"Yes. Look, Daniel, can we drop this?"

"What the hell made you suspect him? I mean, I worked with the guy on a fairly regular basis, you could have only met with him a half a dozen times ..."

"I can't discuss the details with you. You don't know how much ..."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both."

If Daniel had been completely with it, he would have seen the warning light in Jack's eyes, but as it was...

"Fine. You pin stuff on someone and ..."

"Pin? Pin? Fuck." Jack swung the chair around and slammed the folder he was holding down on his desk.

Daniel looked aghast. "God, sorry Jack ... I didn't mean that how it sounded." The three stars on Jack's shoulders were caught in a patch of light, making them gleam and Daniel was reminded of something else – the man in front of him wasn't just Lieutenant General O'Neill, Head of Homeworld Security and one of the most powerful people in the country, he was also his friend.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack's face was grim. "The man is guilty, Daniel. Get over it. He abused his position and the trust placed in him. He sold out."

Daniel sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I'm sorry... it's just such a shock... I ... how many more of them are there?"

Jack shrugged. "Who knows? At least as far as I can tell the SGC is clean – for the time being - and several officers have been cleared. Don't take it personally. There'll always be someone out there ready to sell their ..." Jack paused and looked down at his hands, clasping them together firmly.

"Soul to the devil?"

Jack nodded. He'd done that a time or two in his career, but never for what these men had done, never for money, power ... never to betray his country, his world... "Yeah, I guess."

"Jack?"

Jack glanced up, to find Daniel looking him in the eyes. "Yes?" He was tired – weary of all the intrigue and the politics, sick of being the one responsible for so much. And most of all, he hated the way people looked at him now, as if he was some sort of executioner, even Daniel. He waited, his nerves on edge, for Daniel to continue.

"I just want you to know, that as much as I miss you being out there with us, watching our six, I am really, really glad we've got you here and you're still watching out for us."

Jack swallowed harshly, totally taken aback by Daniel's words, and his eyes diverted back to his hands, before he swung around to his desk. "Yeah, well, someone's got to, huh?"

Daniel smiled and nodded. "Yes, Jack, and I am glad it's you."

xoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC