A/N: Thanks for the great feedback. . . I'll try to have the next chapter up tomorrow!

Standard disclaimers apply.

Seshat's Secret Chapter 4

Daniel turned the corner into the General's office, still lost in his own thoughts. He stopped in the doorway out of habit, but failed to notice the General turn his attention immediately upon him. He just stood there a moment.

"Dr. Jackson. Please, have a seat."

"Hm? Oh, yes." He sat down, telling himself to focus.

"I need to talk to you about our guest."

The younger man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Daniel fought the heat rising in his face. He seriously hoped Jack didn't say anything. "Okay."

"I know I gave my word that Seshat would be welcome here for the seven days she requested. She will be. However, I'm having some reservations about what we're going to do with her when that time is up."

"Sir?" So, Jack didn't say anything but Daniel had the feeling this wasn't much better.

"Although the information she has provided, and the assistance she's given you, has been undeniably valuable, I don't see how we can truly determine whether or not she's a threat."

"She's been . . ." Daniel began to defend her.

"Doctor," The General held up his hand to stay his words. "It's just beyond our resources to make that determination. I've weighed the options carefully, and I've made my decision. I wanted you to hear it directly from me."

Daniel had to fight down the urge to argue. So many other 'bad guys' had proven themselves trustworthy in the past, subjecting Seshat to a different standard was unfair. A string of rationalizations formed in his mind. Hammond must have recognized the look on his face, because he continued quickly before Daniel began speaking.

"I've spoken with the Tok'ra. . ."

"Sir?"

"Doctor, this could be beneficial to her as well. If she's been honest with us, then she may very well be welcomed to join them. They want to take her with them when the seven days are up."

"Why? She's given no indication that what she's saying isn't true. I mean, if we don't give her the benefit of . . ." Jack's harsh words echoed through his memory. "Okay, I know it's only been a few days, and she could be lying, but really don't think she is. I believe her."

"That's why I'm going to allow her to finish out the agreed seven days. At the end of that time, the Tok'ra will come to collect her. She won't be harmed, unless she gives them no choice." The General voice had the tone of finality to it.

"I assume you haven't told her." Hammond shook his head at Daniel's question. "Then I'd like to be the one to explain."

"Not yet, Doctor." The General closed the file on his desk and folded his hands over the top. "Son, I know you've become fond of her and what I'm about to ask won't be easy. I don't want you say anything until the Tok'ra return. In fact, over the next few days I want you to gather as much information from her as you can on the other Goa'uld any potential threat we may not have uncovered yet."

"You want me to lie to her?" Daniel didn't quite manage to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"That's not what I'm saying. I'm telling you to continue as agreed. You're just not to inform her of the pending arrival of the Tok'ra." The General watched the young man's brow tighten as he spoke. "This could very well be in her best interest, as much as ours."

Daniel finally nodded in agreement. He didn't like it, but if the General made up his mind, this was an order. If he pushed the issue too much, he would be removed from the equation completely. "What will they do with her?"

"The Tok'ra are as uncertain as we are about her. She's not true Tok'ra, but she does exhibit their beliefs. It's possible her host was brought up and conditioned to accept her. So, the question of her intentions comes into play. The use of the Tok'ra memory device was discussed."

"They're going to rifle through her memories to see if she's evil?"

"That's one way of putting it."

"I don't like it." Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

"Duly noted, Doctor." Hammond looked at the clock. 1740 hours. "Why don't you go on home. I don't think going back to work with her this evening would be prudent. Go home, think this over and start fresh in the morning."

"No, we have far too much…"

"That's an order, son, not a request. I'll pass the word along that you will be continuing your work in the morning."

- - -

Traveling down the hall, Teal'c took notice of the light coming from DanielJackson's office. A guard stood outside the door. As the large Jaffa nodded greeting to the SF, he saw the Goa'uld woman alone in the office. Teal'c stopped to inquire.

"Where is DanielJackson?"

"He was called to General Hammond's office a few minutes ago, sir." The SF informed him.

Taking the opportunity to exchange words, alone and unencumbered, Teal'c stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. Seshat looked up from the computer and quickly minimized the screen. Her posture was rigid, and she looked upon Teal'c with an expression he took as challenging.

"Is there a reason you are here?" She asked.

"I would like to know why you are in DanielJackson's office without his accompaniment." Teal'c moved closer, noting the blocks of minimize items on the computer screen; a file named 'P5J323 Image 4', an Acrobat file that began 'Ref 2571- Study' and the Archeological Archive Program that held the database information from the SGC and Area 51.

"That would be Daniel's concern, I believe, not yours." She positioned herself between the Jaffa and the computer.

"Anything pertaining the security and operation of this base, including any work of DanielJackson's is my concern. Do not forget, you are here with the agreement to subjugate to any security measures we see fit."

"I do not like you tone." Seshat responded coldly.

"That is irrelevant. You still have not answered, what are you doing?" Teal'c towered over the petite woman.

She rolled her eyes slightly, but still decided to acquiesce. "There are references to the Scrolls of Thoth on that planet. It also tells of twenty-one false scrolls that are in fact Goa'uld sleeper bombs. I'm attempting to see if there is any record of any of them being found."

"Is DanielJackson aware of your search through his data files?"

"Not yet. He was summoned away before I began."

"Then you shall stop until he returns. I suggest you return to your quarters." Teal'c held a hand out toward the door.

"I have work to do. I suggest you leave me to it, Jaffa." He eyes blazed.

"No." Teal'c took a step forward. "You may be here as a guest, however I will find out if you are being dishonest with my team. If you are, it will be most unfortunate for you. Now leave, or I will forcibly remove you."

The two stared each other down for a moment. Being spoken to as such, by a Jaffa, was not something she was accustomed to. Obviously, this one would not back down and seem not to care that she was Goa'uld. Considering the computer behind her, she knew there was more information to be found, but she did have enough to start. If she argued with this one, her guard may increase and that would make what she had to do next far more difficult.

"Very well." Spinning quickly she shut the machine off at the power switch and moved to the door. "I'll return to my quarters."

After she left, Teal'c sat at the desk and turned the computer back on. It booted up, but it gave no indication of what she'd been studying. He leaned back considering the file he'd seen on the computer. He was convinced she'd been hiding something, although he did not know what.

He picked up the phone nearby, dialed an extension and waited for the familiar voice to answer. "MajorCarter. Please meet me in DanielJackson's office. I would like to know if you can recover some information that was lost on the last shutdown."

- - -

Daniel stepped up to his front door, only half surprised to see Jack sitting on the ground with his back resting on the frame. At least he waited outside instead of breaking in. He knew by the look on the Colonel's face this was not going to be a pleasant conversation. The evening just kept getting better and better.

"Jack."

"Hey," O'Neill stood, lifting a bag with him. "I brought Chinese."

"I'm not exactly hungry right now." He stepped around, unlocking the door.

"Okay," Jack followed Daniel in, without invitation and went straight for the kitchen. "You care if I eat without ya then?"

"Sure." Daniel muttered under his breath. He could hear the fridge open and the crack of a beer being opened. "Make yourself at home."

Daniel dropped his bag beside antique secretary in the hall, and dropped his keys into the carved bowl. Ignoring the unwanted house guest, he headed to his bedroom. Daniel kicked his shoes into the closet and sat heavily on the bed. 'Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away,' he thought wistfully.

"Yo, Daniel!" Jack strolled into the room holding a fork and a take out carton. He stuck it right in the archeologist's face. "That supposed to smell like that?"

"Jack!" He pulled away.

"What?" the Colonel stuck his nose in the carton. "I think it's a little funky."

Daniel let out a rush of air. "Are you just here to annoy the hell out of me or do you actually want something?"

"I want to know if you think this is funky." He shoved the carton back at Daniel.

"Jack." He practically whined. Still, he took a sniff. "Smells fine to me."

"Good." Jack shoved a huge fork full into his mouth. "So," he spoke through the food. "You want to tell me anything?"

"No. Not really." Daniel threw his glasses onto the nightstand. He stood and retreated to the living room. Jack followed, shoveling food into his mouth. Grabbing the beer he'd opened, Jack moved to one of sofas and plopped down. For all the world, looking like he'd be comfortable there all night. "Okay, fine, what do you want to talk about?"

"I think you need to find a nice, local, human girl to get your rocks off, instead of messing with the gals you run into at work."

"Jack!"

"What? I'm just saying you need to get out more. Remember what normal is like. 'Cause you're headed for a bad scene." He took a long swig of beer.

"It's really not like that." Daniel paced the room, denying everything, but silently admitting 'Maybe a little, but. . '

"Bullshit."

"This really isn't any of your business." Jack's brows shot up. "Okay, so I think she's fascinating and intelligent AND I really think she's in line with the Tok'ra, not the Goa'uld."

Jack looked at him with an expression that clearly said 'oh please'. He sat the food down and took another long pull from the beer before continuing. "Okay, just for the sake of argument – I mean this is way out there – just say you're right and she is invited to join the Tok'ra. What do you do then? I mean, we all know how doomed long distance relationships are." Jack's voice dripped sarcasm.

"It's not like I'm looking for the 'ever-after', Jack. There's some attraction, that's it." Daniel knew it was a lie the moment it slipped passed his lips.

"Need I say it again? Uh, bullshit."

Not knowing how to answer, unsure of how he even felt, Daniel laid his head back and pressed the heals of his hands into his eyes. He knew he should listen. He knew that when the rare occasion rolled around where there was real chemistry, he leapt far too quickly. He knew it.

Still, when Ati spoke to him, he felt his heart race. The feel of her tiny frame wrapped in his arms seemed right. Tasting her mouth, falling into those kisses, was intoxicating. He wanted more and that part of him didn't care about the consequences.

The questions circling his mind came down to 'is it love, lust or wishful thinking'. In recent months, during the quiet times in the night, loneliness crept into his bones. It took him a long time after Sha're's death to admit the idea of resolving to spending his life alone was only a form of self pity. He didn't want to be alone.

"Jack," Daniel stared at the ceiling. "I appreciate the concern. I do. But I don't think there's anything to worry about. Hell, I'm having a hard enough time trying to figure it all out, much less trying to explain it to you. I just don't know."

His CO nodded, chewing slowly. "Okay," He held out the carton of food. "Wanna bite?" Wordlessly, Daniel reached out and took the carton, sniffing once again before taking a bite. Jack stood, heading to the kitchen. "I'll get a couple more beers. Is there a game on?"

"Think so." Daniel clicked on the television. Silently thanking his friend for just accepting 'I don't know' and then providing a much needed distraction. Jack handed him a cold beer. He looked up into his friends eyes. His words of thanks extending to much more than just bringing him the beer.

More to come...