AN: Thank you all for the reviews! I'm glad y'all are enjoying the story. We still have a lot more ups and downs for our favorite pair. =)
CHAPTER 8
It had only been a couple of days since they returned from Soltaris. Jack had monitored Sam's movements closely in order to follow her off the base. He figured that if she had really stolen those orbs for the NID, she'd be contacting her handler soon after they returned. However, she hadn't left the base at all so neither had he. Apparently she was busy setting up the details for the exchange program. He didn't have as much, or any, excuse not to leave the base and knew it would become suspicious if he stayed overnight any longer. He had to figure out when the drop would be. When he knew she was in a meeting, he made his way over to her lab.
Jack looked both ways before he slid his key card to open the door. He quickly entered and closed it behind him. He headed towards her desk and started opening up the drawers looking for her purse. He pulled it out of the bottom drawer and dropped it on the table top. A tinge of guilt started to creep into his chest. He shook the thought out of his head as he inhaled deeply. The answers he needed were on that phone. He just hoped somehow he was wrong. Taking another deep breath, he started scavenging through her purse. When he found it, he quickly opened it and scanned the most recent messages from this morning.
"Make the drop tonight at 1800. You know the address."
"No, I want a meeting with Machiavelli."
"That's not possible."
"I have done all that you've asked. I am risking everything so I want to personally had this over to ensure its delivery."
"Machiavelli has agreed to meet with you."
"Friday at 2100. 145 W. Cimarron St. Don't be late."
He frowned as he read the messages as it seemed to confirm his original assessment. Jack quickly scribbled down the address on a piece of paper and put the phone back in Sam's purse. If she was really a spy for the NID, he knew he would need more proof if anyone was going to listen to him. As her left her lab and rounded the corner, he almost ran right into her.
"Carter! I was just stopping by your lab to look for you."
"Oh sorry, I was in a meeting with Catherine. What's up?"
"Um...the guys and I were going to have a team night on Friday and I was wondering if you wanted to join."
"This Friday? Uh, sorry, I can't...I have plans already. A date actually."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Well, someone's popular. First Cashmere, now some mysterious Earthling? Good for you Carter. Well if your date ends early, feel free to come over." He gave her a quick smile as he ran off.
On Friday, Jack followed Sam's car off the base. The address was to a warehouse near downtown. It was just busy enough that it didn't draw attention to itself essentially making it unremarkable. Sam parked across the street at a construction site. Jack parked on the street at the opposite corner and watched her go inside. He scanned the perimeter of the building before grabbing his sidearm and following her in.
Inside, it was dark and quiet except for muffled voices and a light through a window on the second floor. Jack made his way up the stairs as he hugged the wall creeping slowly towards the occupied room until he was close enough to hear.
"Well done, Doctor. I'm impressed. I'll admit I wasn't sure you had what it took, especially after that disaster on P5X-224."
Argh, Maybourne. Jack mentally groaned. This was definitely not good.
"I also want to discuss my future with the NID," he heard Sam's reply.
"In due time. Keep up what you're doing and soon you'll be able to have any position you want."
"I'm about to provide you with the jackpot of alien technology. I'm talking weapons, shields, power on both small and large scales. They honestly have no idea what they possess."
"What are you asking for?"
"I want to know exactly who I'm working for and I want to be involved with the details of this whole operation."
"You can't be serious."
"Why should I hand this information over just to let someone else oversee what's done with it afterwards? At the SGC, I'm in charge of the whole project. I want the same thing here. You know I'm the best person for the job anyways."
"Be that as it may, it's not my call."
"But you do have influence over those that do make the call."
"Fine. I'll put in your request. No promises though."
Who was this woman? This was not the Sam who just two days ago seemed conflicted and confused on that balcony or the one who's been on edge the past month. It was Jack now who was confused and conflicted. Which one was the real Sam? Everything he had started to feel seemed real but maybe she was just that good at playing him.
"Well if there's nothing else Doctor, we'll be in touch."
Maybourne's words brought Jack out of his thoughts. It was now or never, but he definitely could not let Maybourne leave with that alien technology. He took a quick breath and then burst through the door. They both turned to see Jack standing there pointing a gun in their direction as Maybourne started to reach for his weapon.
"Ack, don't even think about it. Put the gun down."
"What the hell is this?" asked Maybourne as he followed Jack's directions. "You're double crossing me?"
"What? No! I don't know what he's doing here."
"I heard you two had been getting pretty close lately."
"It's not what you think. I was just using him."
"Alright that's enough. Last I looked, I was the one holding the gun. So both of you just zip it."
"Jack, you don't know what you're doing," Sam said to him.
"I'm busting you two for stealing alien technology for the NID, that's what I'm doing."
Jack took out his phone and started dialing a number. Sam saw Maybourne eyeing the bag on the table and calculating the risk. Simultaneously, their eyes went from Jack back to the bag then to each other before they both lunged at the bag knocking it over. The cloaking orbs fell to the floor and rolled to Jack's feet. In one motion and before Jack could react, Maybourne grabbed Sam around her shoulders and pointed his gun at her head.
"Not so fast, Colonel. Give me the orb, and I won't hurt her."
Jack moved his gaze to meet Sam's. There was fear in her eyes. As she closed them, her body slumped down ever so slightly. He realized it wasn't just fear from the metal barrel pressed against her temple. No, it was fear that he might actually let it happen and guilt because she thought she deserved it.
"Maybourne, we both know you're not one to get your hands dirty so let's cut the crap. Let her go and maybe I'll think about giving you a head start before I kick your ass."
"You're right. Luckily, I have Agent Devlin over here who loves to get his hands dirty."
Jack heard the cocking of a gun as he turned to see the tall, broad man now standing behind him. He grimaced before surrendering his gun.,
"You didn't really think I wouldn't have back up, did you?"
"Why yes I did think you might just be that stupid."
"Now the orb."
He reluctantly held it out for Devlin to take and throw it over to Maybourne. Satisfied, he pushed Sam towards Jack who caught her in his arms.
"You know what to do. Clean up after yourselves."
"Yes, sir."
"Jack, always a pleasure. I'm sorry, Doctor. We had such high hopes for you," said Maybourne as he put the orb in the bag and quickly left. Once he was gone, a second man entered and tied their hands up.
"Alright, let's move it," Devlin ordered as he motioned with his gun to go out the side door.
"You know murder isn't usually in the job description for 'legitimate organizations.'"
"It's not murder if they never find your bodies."
He led them into a large storage room that was obviously much more sound proof than the offices above. There was a tarp laid out in the middle. Agent Devlin then pushed Jack and Sam with the barrel of his gun to move to the center.
"Go stand watch," he directed the other man.
"Devlin, what's your status?"
"Ten minutes. Get the concrete ready," he replied over the radio. "Ok, who wants to go first?" He asked looking back and forth between them. When they didn't answer, he chose for them. "You," he said pointing to Jack. "Get on your knees."
He hit Jack in his bad knee when he didn't comply. Jack let out a groan as he fell to the ground. Once he regained his composure, he looked up at Sam. His face begging her to look away.
As Devlin aimed his gun at Jack, a crash sounded outside the door followed by the familiar sound of a zat gun firing. Taking advantage of the distraction, Jack quickly stood up and grabbed the gun while incapacitating Devlin with it. He aimed the gun towards the door as it opened, but relaxed when he saw Teal'c standing there.
"Nice timing, T!" Jack said as Teal'c untied his hands. After he was free, he rushed over to Sam to untie her while Teal'c checked on the unconscious man. He undid the knots slowly and held her hands in his for a moment longer than necessary as he waited for her to look up at him.
"You ok?"
She nodded, and he proceeded to finish untying the rope. Once they were unbound, Jack felt her right hand swiftly make contact with his face.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"What the hell were you thinking?"
"What was I thinking? What were you thinking?"
"You've ruined everything."
"Wh...what are you talking about? You're the one who has explaining to do."
"I don't have to explain anything to you."
"Hey Devlin. Everything's set up. You on your way?"
"O'Neill. We must leave now."
"Teal'c's right. How many more guys are out there? I didn't see any when I got here."
"I took out three guards inside the building. There should only be two more at the construction site."
"Ok, we'll need to take them out before they call for backup. C'mon, stay close."
They quickly crept back out of the storage closet and through the corridor to the open room of the warehouse. When they heard footsteps approaching, they hid behind some crates by the door. They waited for the man to enter before Teal'c hit him with the zat gun from behind. Suddenly a second man came through the door and drew his gun to fire at Teal'c. Jack emerged from the shadows and hit him in the head with the grip of his gun.
"Is that the last one?"
"I believe so."
"Ok, let's go."
"Wait, are we just going to leave these guys here like this? What if they escape?" asked Sam.
"I have already contacted the local authorities and FBI. They should be on their way."
"Teal'c, take Dr. Carter back to the base. I need to go after Maybourne."
"No, you don't," said Sam sternly.
"I can't just let him get away."
"Don't worry about Maybourne. We need to get back to the SGC now. All of us."
"But—"
"Samantha Carter is right. General Hammond has ordered me to return both of you to the base immediately."
"Fine. Let's go," said Jack reluctantly as they ran across the street and piled into his truck.
The ride back to the base was quiet. There were a million questions they had for each other, but both took the time to process the events of the night. When they arrived, they followed Teal'c to the briefing room. Hammond was sitting at the head of the table in anticipation of any news while Catherine paced back and forth in front of the window overlooking the Stargate.
"Samantha! Thank goodness you're ok. Are you hurt?" exclaimed Catherine as she quickly pulled Sam into an embrace before giving her a motherly lookover for any obvious injuries.
"I'm fine too if anyone was wondering."
"Sam, go ahead and get checked out in the infirmary. Colonel, a word in my office please."
"Sir," started Jack as he entered the general's office followed by Catherine. "I know what you're going to say but—"
"Stop right there, Colonel," interrupted Hammond with as stern a look as he's ever given him. "I told you to stay out of this Jack."
"Sir, Sam was—"
"Undercover."
"Wh...excuse me?"
"Sam has been working undercover for the past nine months trying to help infiltrate a rogue section of the NID. And in one night, you have effectively blown her cover."