A/N: There are no specific trigger warnings for this chapter, but there are a couple of references to the assaults that have occurred thus far.
Sam watched in awe as her godfather strode into the Colorado Springs police precinct. The man didn't stop at the front desk or answer the calls of two beat cops as he made his way back to the Chief of Police's office. He knocked once, before opening the door wide.
"I want to see Colonel Jack O'Neill and I want to see him right now!" General George Hammond ordered.
"Excuse me!" The middle-aged, mildly overweight man sitting at the desk sputtered in shock. "You cannot come barging into—"
"One of my most decorated officers, the Deputy Commander of my base, is being interrogated as we speak without legal or military representation," Hammond growled. "You will produce Colonel O'Neill within two minutes or I will have to notify the President that you are interfering with a top secret, classified operation. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," the chief of police nodded frantically. "Kinkirk!" He bellowed around Hammond. "Where's O'Neill?"
"You had Hyme and Shanahan escort him to a holding cell, sir," the female officer responded, working hard to hide her amusement. The words made Sam go cold with dread.
"Well, go and get him," the chief snapped.
"Major," Hammond turned and motioned to Sam, who hobbled into the office between Daniel and Teal'c. He gestured to the chair, and though it breached protocol for her to sit while a superior stood, she sank gratefully into the chair.
"We have another matter to discuss," Hammond said stoically. "One of your officers assaulted one of mine," he gestured to Sam. "Major," he prompted.
"Three days ago, Pete Shanahan attacked me in my home," Sam stated plainly. "I'd like to press charges."
"This is highly unusual," the chief hedged. "I was not aware the military became involved in civilian domestic matters."
"Major Carter is my goddaughter," Hammond said evenly. "I am here to support her in a non-military capacity."
"I see," the chief pressed his lips together in apparent irritation. "We do not tolerate the kind of behavior you are insinuating at CSPD," he hedged, shuffling papers on his desk.
"I'm not insinuating anything," Sam replied sharply. "I'm stating it plainly and clearly. Detective Pete Shanahan assaulted me."
"Detective Shanahan, as you know, is a recent transfer from Denver. I believe you," he nodded toward Sam, "are the main reason he is even here."
"I beg your pardon?" Sam asked, aghast. "Are you saying that Pete's actions are somehow my fault?"
"Of course not," the chief said in a placating tone, "I'm only stating the facts. If not for you, Shanahan would still be in Denver."
Hammond opened his mouth to reply, but the door opened as Kinkirk escorted Jack into the office. Sam's gasp was audible as they all saw his face.
"What kind of operation are you running here?" Hammond roared. "Are you alright, son?" He asked Jack who had clearly been in an altercation. The corner of his mouth was bleeding, along with a small cut on his right cheek. The same eye already showed signs of a shiner developing.
"Yes, sir," Jack replied. "As you know, I've survived much worse." His words caused Hammond to suppress an exasperated chuckle. Leave it to Jack to joke about being roughed up in a police station. Although that was probably his plan all along. "Shanahan decided to show his bad cop after Officer Hyme decided it was a good idea to leave us alone in the holding room, with the cameras off, sir."
"This is unacceptable," Hammond growled, turning once again to the Chief.
"I agree," the man jumped to his feet, desperate to direct anger away from himself. "I will launch an internal investigation at once. You have my word. Both Hyme and Shanahan will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."
Hammond nodded.
"In light of this development, all pending charges against Colonel O'Neill will be dropped immediately," the chief added. "And I'll have an officer take your statement, Major."
"See that you do," Hammond ordered. "I'll have our CMO send over Major Carter's medical records regarding her assault. I am taking a personal interest in the outcome of your internal investigation," Hammond told him. "Seeing as two of my senior officers have now been assaulted by CSPD personnel, I am tempted to contact JAG to see if this qualifies as a military matter." The lie rolled off his tongue easily, causing the chief's eyes to widen.
"I am hopeful that won't be necessary," the chief looked like he was going to be sick.
"See that it isn't," Hammond ended the conversation by turning on his heels and walking to the door. "I trust you can finish up here, Colonel?" He waited for Jack to nod. "Sam," his voice gentled, "I'm glad you called me. I'm here if you need anything else."
Sam exited the police station feeling a million times lighter as she allowed Daniel and Teal'c to support her while Jack brought around his truck. She'd spent the last hour re-living every nuance of Pete's attack as Officer Kinkirk generated the report.
Jack had offered to stay with her, but this was something she had needed to do on her own. When she'd finally emerged from the room, her eyes rimmed red from holding back a flood of emotions, she found her three teammates waiting on her. She knew they wouldn't leave, but the show of unwavering support made her heart swell with emotion. This is what love was supposed to feel like.
When Jack's truck pulled up, Daniel opened the door while Teal'c guided her inside.
"Will you two be alright for a while?" Daniel asked as Sam secured her seatbelt.
"Sure," Jack nodded with a glance to Sam, who also nodded.
"Teal'c and I have some stuff we need to wrap up on base," Daniel explained. "We figured we'd see you both tomorrow. Unless you need us?"
"There's a warrant out for Shanahan's arrest," Jack said. "Hyme is on administrative leave and probably lying low after the stunt he pulled," he felt Sam's hand brush his on the bench seat. "Call me cautiously optimistic, but I think we've seen the last of them for a while."
"Be well, O'Neill. Major Carter," Teal'c told them before Daniel closed Sam's door.
Daniel and Teal'c crossed the small parking lot to Daniel's car. As Teal'c folded himself inside the small sedan he felt a tickle on the back of his neck. Surveying his surroundings he didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but he had learned long ago to trust his instincts.
"Do you believe Pete Shanahan will now leave Major Carter alone?" He asked Daniel. He fastened his seat belt and scanned their surroundings once again.
"I don't know," Daniel put the car in drive and eased forward. "I hope so."
"I hear a hidden doubt in your statement, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel pursed his lips together for a moment. "It all seems too easy, doesn't it?"
"I, too, expected there to be a more impressive end to the events set in motion," Teal'c agreed.
"That is the very definition of anticlimactic," Daniel chuckled at Teal'c's descriptive narrative before he turned serious. "I just hope the lack of excitement isn't a foreshadowing of more to come."
"Indeed."