Jack stared at Daniel. Sam's missing. The words echoed around the silent gate room.

'But we think she's alive and that we know how to find her.' Daniel said quietly. 'We need a science team with expertise in the ZPM. We think the chamber the Jaffa found was part of an Ancient outpost like the one we have in Antarctica. Sam was tracking the power source and we think that's the best way to find her.' He continued. 'Back-up would be good; Mitchell and Sam got attacked so we could use a med team.'

Jack moved. He turned to the Airman standing by the door. 'Get Doctor Lee and two scientists of his choosing geared up and ready to leave with whatever equipment is needed. SG3 and SG12 will act as search and rescue. Get Doctor Lam and two of her people geared up and ready to leave with whatever equipment they need. I want them all in the gate room in ten minutes.'

'Yessir.' The Airman saluted and raced away.

Jack whirled back to Daniel. 'What happened?'

'It's a long story.' Daniel said rubbing his forehead. He gestured. 'I think you should come back to Dakara too. We might need you to operate the technology with that gene thing you've got going.'

'Fine. You can brief me as I gear up.' Jack said striding out of the gate room. He gestured at another Airman. 'You. Find General Hammond. He should still be on base and ask him to meet me in the gate room.'

Daniel followed Jack and explained the whole mission as the other man pulled on his gear. He was up to the point where he had realised that the missing Jaffa had probably been re-materialised at the same location where they had dematerialised when he stopped for a breath.

'Sam told me to go with Teal'c and apparently the Council gave her permission to continue working in the chamber to search for the power source to disable the system completely.' Daniel continued. 'Anyway, from what we've been able to find out, Sam and Mitchell were attacked by Cral'k and a couple of his buddies. It turns out he was working for Ba'al.'

Jack slowed in putting his vest on and nodded for Daniel to carry on. 'Go on.'

'Mitchell was knocked out at the entrance where he was standing guard.' Daniel said shifting on the bench. 'Sam took down two of the Jaffa but not before one of them planted a bomb. She also managed to injure Cral'k who ran back to the Council with a story about her attacking him.'

'Sweet.' Jack said reaching for his cap.

'One of the Jaffa was only badly wounded and when he woke up he saw a bright green flash, realised the bomb was about to go off and ran out just as we got there.' Daniel said. 'There was a massive explosion.' His throat closed as he remembered the staggering pain of thinking he'd lost Sam. 'We thought at first she was…was dead.' He couldn't look at Jack. 'But when we got the whole story out of the Jaffa who'd escaped the bomb, we realised the green flash of light meant that she must have used the transportation system to get herself out of the chamber.' He swiped a hand over his face.

'Sounds like Carter.' Jack said softly.

'Only she's not responding to the radio so she could be anywhere. Mitchell figured if we track the power source, there'll be consoles we can use to access the system and work out where she sent herself.' Daniel concluded still not looking at the other man.

'Mitchell?' Jack asked.

Daniel nodded and suddenly realised as he glanced up that Jack had crouched in front of him.

'You going to be OK going back?' Jack asked.

Daniel nodded. 'I thought…for a while, I thought I was going to have to tell you she was dead, Jack.'

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder squeezed it gently. 'Come on. Let's go find her.'

Daniel fastened up his vest and they accepted the weapons on their way into the gate room. It was already filled with people including Hammond and Landry; the wormhole already activated.

Jack marched straight to the ramp and pulled his cap down harder as he rested his hands atop the P90. Somewhere after their gearing up, Daniel realised a little startled, Jack had become General O'Neill. He had donned his military persona like a second armour.

'OK, people.' Jack said loudly bringing everyone to order. 'Listen up. This is a search and rescue so this will be all you get on the situation. Colonel Carter was attacked on Dakara by a rogue Jaffa working for Ba'al. She was forced to use an Ancient transportation system to save herself. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, the rogue agent blew up the only known console that had access into the system.'

He gazed around the room. 'As I have some freak gene that allows me to use Ancient technology which may assist in the search, I will be leading the SAR myself. We are going to go to Dakara; find the power source to that system where there is likely another console and we are going to find Carter. It is likely that she may be injured and will require medical attention. Any questions?'

There were none. Each man and woman looked back at Jack eager to begin the mission.

'SG3 and 12 move out; science and med teams follow them.' Jack ordered. He stepped off the ramp to speak to Hammond.

'General…' Jack began.

'I'll mind the store, Jack.' Hammond said without waiting for the request. 'Good luck and Godspeed, son.'

Jack nodded and saluted before he made his way back to Daniel. The two men were side by side as they walked through the wormhole and back to Dakara.

Mitchell waited for them on the other side. He saluted Jack formally. 'Sir. Bra'tac has secured the area by the old chamber for us to work.'

'Lead on.' Jack said before issuing orders to the others.

'Have you had any luck reaching Sam?' Daniel asked as they began the walk to the destroyed Ancient chamber.

'None.' Mitchell said. 'When you left, Teal'c returned to the Council and Bra'tac got their support for our plan to find Sam. They also organised a group of Jaffa to search the old city in case Sam transported there. Teal'c went to show them the likely spots and meet us back in front of the chamber.' He gestured. 'I think they're scared we're going to blame them all for allowing Ba'al's agent to attack us.' He reached up to touch the lump on his head again.

'So, having a good first day, Mitchell?' Jack asked dryly seeing the movement.

'Well, I haven't been taken over by an alien yet, sir,' Mitchell replied, 'but I have lost Colonel Carter.'

Jack saw the crushed look Mitchell was trying to hide and knew it was guilt that the Jaffa had gotten past him to Sam. His own anger at the other's man failure to protect her briefly competed with his professionalism before the latter won out. He cleared his throat. 'Yeah, I may have not mentioned the fifth rule; expect that you will lose Carter occasionally. When was the first time we lost her?' He asked Daniel. 'Third, fourth mission?'

'Fourth.' Daniel said.

'There you go. Fourth mission.' Jack said gesturing. 'Some kid kidnapped and sold her that time.'

'Sir…' Mitchell appreciated what the General was trying to do but…

'The sixth rule, Mitchell,' Jack continued talking over him, 'is always find Carter when you lose her.' He held the other man's gaze. 'OK?'

'OK, sir.' Mitchell responded.

Jack saw the younger man relax a little. 'And hey, on the upside, you haven't been taken over by an alien.'

'The day's young.' Mitchell quipped.

They made their way down the path and Jack could see that Bra'tac had already organised a massive operation just in front of a blackened entranceway on the side of a mountain. Large artificial lights had been set up; there was a campfire burning brightly. Jaffa swarmed the area and Bra'tac was stood in the middle shouting orders.

Jack made straight for him. 'Bra'tac.'

'O'Neill.' The old Jaffa clasped Jack's forearm. 'On behalf of the Jaffa High Council I bid you welcome to Dakara and apologise for the circumstances that have brought you here.'

Jack nodded. 'Where can my people work?'

'Jav'nec! Gyr'c!' Bra'tac yelled at two young Jaffa who immediately came to order. 'Help the Tau'ri get set up and give them whatever assistance they need.'

Jack confirmed his approval to SG3 and SG12 with a sharp nod, who moved into assist the science and med teams along with the Jaffa.

'You have brought equipment to assist in finding her?' Bra'tac asked.

'We have,' Jack confirmed.

'And a medical team, no? This is good.' Bra'tac nodded with satisfaction. 'She may be in need of your doctors given Cral'k's attempt to rape her.'

'His attempt to what?' Jack asked. His eyes snapped to Daniel.

The archaeologist gestured weakly at Jack's furious glare. 'I may have skipped over that part.' Daniel admitted.

'It is unlikely he was successful.' Bra'tac said. 'If he had been able to take her, there would have been no doubt that he would have killed her after.'

Jack turned from the small group of men. 'Carolyn! Get over here!'

Carolyn hurried over. 'Yes, General?'

'There's a possibility that Carter was subjected to a sexual assault.' Jack forced the words out but kept his voice low. There was no reason for the other teams to know.

'I understand.' Carolyn said. 'I'll inform my people.' Her eyes fell on Mitchell's pale face and shocked eyes. 'Colonel Mitchell, follow me. I need to examine that head wound.'

'Me?' Mitchell blinked at her. 'I'm fine, really. It's just a scratch.'

'Sir.' Carolyn looked at Jack.

Jack sighed. 'Go with the nice doctor, Mitchell and get your head looked at.'

'But, sir…'

'That, Mitchell, was not a suggestion.' Jack clarified. 'You can join back in the search when we get a lock on Carter.'

It was Carolyn's turn to protest and Jack waved her objections away. 'Just patch him up, Doc.'

Neither Mitchell nor Carolyn was happy as they walked away so he figured he'd got the decision about right. Jack turned back to Bra'tac. 'Thanks for everything you're doing here.'

'It is the least we can do.' Bra'tac said. 'I hope our joint efforts to find Colonel Carter help to once again strengthen the bonds that exist between our two people and that you will not blame us all for the actions of one Jaffa.'

'Every barrel has its bad apple.' Jack said. 'Daniel tells me this Cral'k guy was working for Ba'al?'

'It is possible that Ba'al lives.' Bra'tac noted.

'Where is the guy, Cral'k, anyway?' Jack muttered. 'I'd like a word.'

'Cral'k's dead.' Daniel said.

'You skip over that part too?' Jack sighed again. 'Damn.' His brown gaze flickered back to Daniel. 'Teal'c?'

'No, although he did the whole,' Daniel mimed choking someone, 'but actually another Council member killed him when he revealed his allegiance to Ba'al.'

The sound of running footsteps had them all turning rapidly; guns and weapons at the ready.

Teal'c appeared and they all relaxed. 'O'Neill.' He walked swiftly to his friend. 'Has there been any word of Colonel Carter?'

'None so far. You?' Jack asked.

'We have searched through much of the city but there is no sign of her.' Teal'c reported sadly.

'It may be a long night.' Bra'tac noted. 'I will organise some food and drink.'

The older Jaffa walked off into the darkness and Jack was left with Daniel and Teal'c.

'This is most difficult, O'Neill.' Teal'c said gently.

'Jack…' Daniel began.

Jack waved his hand abruptly. 'Let's not go there right now, OK, guys?'

Both of his friends nodded.

'Daniel, why don't you go and find out what Doctor Lee and his geeks are up to?' Jack suggested.

Daniel nodded again and headed over to the science team.

'Crap.' Jack looked after the retreating figure of the archaeologist. Daniel had to be feeling lousy; he hadn't even made a token protest at Jack calling the scientists geeks.

'I must apologise, O'Neill. I assured you Colonel Carter and the rest of SG1 would be safe on Dakara.' Teal'c forced the words out. 'I was in error.'

'It's not your fault, Teal'c.' Jack said tiredly. 'Just like it's not Daniel's, or Mitchell's. Sometimes things just get screwed up; that's what happens.'

Teal'c inclined his head. 'I would have killed Cral'k with my bare hands.'

'I know and I'm sure Sam will appreciate the thought, Teal'c.' Jack patted his shoulder. He gestured at a nearby rock and they sat down. 'Daniel told me some of what's been going on with the Council.' He gestured at the scene in front of them; Jaffa and humans working together. 'I'm guessing the Council finding out Cral'k was a Ba'al agent…?'

'Has prompted them to revise their view of the Tau'ri.' Teal'c confirmed. 'Cral'k was amongst the most vociferous of those opposing our continued alliance. In many ways, Cral'k's plan to hurt Colonel Carter and blow up the device has served to only strengthen our alliance.'

'So he screwed up.' Jack said satisfied. At least something good had come out of the situation.

'He did.' Teal'c's own tone was equally smug. 'I believe this night will bring our people closer together.'

Jack nodded. 'So now we've fixed the whole Tau'ri-Jaffa thing, all we need to do is find Carter.'

'Indeed.' Teal'c murmured.

The two of them stared out into the darkness both knowing without speaking which one they would have preferred to have done first.