AN: Looks like this will be 18 chapters +/- an epilogue...so we're almost there! Hope you enjoy this next one!

CHAPTER 13

As soon as they reached the other side of the wormhole, Dr. Fraiser and her medical team flocked to Sam transferring her quickly from the stretcher to a gurney. She still wasn't breathing on her own, requiring an Ambu bag to provide oxygen. They intubated her as soon as they got to the infirmary. Jack reluctantly stepped back to let the medical professionals do their jobs, but his body refused to relax the entire time.

She had awoken briefly and was agitated before falling back to sleep, but the effects on her breathing had subsided enough to where Janet felt like they could extubate her safely. She hoped removing the breathing tube would allow Sam to wake up even more. Jack didn't leave her side as he held vigil until she stirred again opening her eyes and focusing on him.

"Hey you," he said as he motioned for the nurse to go get Janet.

"Hey," she replied hoarsely.

"You gave us quite the scare there. How are you feeling?"

"A little groggy, but fine. What happened?"

"Not sure exactly, but looks like you were hit with some kind of chemical that knocked you out. Fraiser's trying to figure out what it was."

"Hey Sam. It's good to see you awake."

"Thanks Janet. Did you find anything out yet?"

"Well, your blood work came back fine. There are no signs that there will be any long term effects. We just got back the test results from the box. There was a compound I've never seen before, but its chemical structure is similar to propofol, an anesthetic. However, it's almost fifty times more potent which is why such a small dose caused the same respiratory effects."

"I thought they wanted to kidnap me, not kill me."

"Excuse me, Colonel O'Neill," interrupted Walter. "General Hammond wants to see you in the briefing room."

It wasn't until he moved to get up and felt some resistance that Jack realized he had taken Sam's hands into his and their fingers were now intertwined. She wouldn't let go silently telling him that she needed him by her side. He gave her a reassuring squeeze along with a soft smile as he gently rubbed the back of her hands with his thumb.

"Get some rest. I'll be right back," he promised.

Now that he knew she was going to be ok, the dread he had been feeling for the past 24 hours slowly dissolved and his anger and frustration built up quickly as he walked the halls towards the briefing room.

"Major Davis!" he yelled when he saw the man. "How the hell did this happen?!"

"We're still working out the details, sir."

"Well give me the detail-less explanation. You were supposed to inspect everything that goes to the Gamma Site!"

"I did, sir. Personally. We scanned video surveillance of all the areas from supply preparation to deployment to see everyone who came into contact with the shipment. If you look here at footage from the gate room, you'll see Lieutenant Portis slip something in...right there." Davis paused the video and pointed to direct Jack's vision.

"Son of a bitch. Where is he now?"

"We have him in the interrogation room. He claims to have no idea what's going on. In fact, he has no memory of the past two days."

"I want to talk to him."

"Sir, are you sure you should—"

"I said, I want to talk to him," repeated Jack slowly and firmly.

Major Davis looked over to Hammond for guidance. He responded with a simple nod.

"Very well. Right this way, sir."

Jack entered the interrogation room with authority. He sized up the young lieutenant sitting in the chair. His hands were folded on the table and head was down until the door opened. He looked scared. Scared was good. Jack could work with scared.

He waited and just stared until Portis started shifting a little under the scrutiny of the superior officer's eyes. Jack took his time to make the silence and his presence as uncomfortable as possible for the young man. It was only once he started shifting more in his chair that Jack moved and sat down across from him.

"How long have you been working for the NID?"

"I don't work for the NID, sir."

"Then how much are they paying you, Lieutenant?"

"Excuse me, sir?"

"What did they offer you to kill Dr. Carter?"

"Oh God, is she dead? Did I kill her?"

His look of determined confusion quickly changed back to fear and distraught. His head immediately fell down into his hands on the table. Jack was caught a little off guard at the reaction, but recovered quickly and angry.

"You don't get to ask about her!" he shouted slamming his fist on the table. "Now answer the damn question!"

"Sir, like I told Major Davis, I have no idea what's going on."

"Lying won't do you any favors."

"I'm not lying. I would never do anything like that."

"We have video of you placing the package in question onto the F.R.E.D."

"I...I don't remember that."

"Well what do you remember?"

"The last thing I remember is coming to work on Friday and changing in the locker room. The next thing I know I have this excruciating pain and shock going through my body."

"You were zatted?" Jack asked Davis more so than Portis with a look that said "that might've been an important detail you left out."

"Yes, when he was attempting to flee."

"And you don't remember anything else."

"No, sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. That's all for now."

Jack got up to leave with Major Davis following close behind.

"I want you to search through all surveillance footage we have of Portis since Friday morning when he arrived at the base. Check outside the locker room before and after he enters. I want to talk to anyone who had any potential interaction with him."

"What are you thinking, sir?"

"Maybe he's telling the truth. Kid seems scared to death, and I don't think he's that good of a liar."

"You think he was drugged?"

"Not sure Davis, but we have seen that substance the Goa'uld use for mind control and the cure is some sort of electrical shock. I'm just saying it's possible," Jack said when he saw Davis' skeptical expression.

After a couple of extra days in the infirmary, Sam was released to her quarters on base much to her protest, but General Hammond and Catherine both insisted. She conceded because she had a feeling it was mostly Jack's suggestion and she knew he wouldn't feel comfortable any other way. He had enough to deal with without having to worry about her. She was getting a little work done so she wouldn't be too far behind once they returned to the Gamma Site when she heard a gentle knock at her door.

"Hey kiddo. I got here as soon as I could. You ok?"

"Dad! Yeah I'm fine. A little annoyed that I'm stuck here but overall good."

"That's great. I heard they might've found the mole?"

"Yeah, maybe. We know who actually planted the package, but still not sure if he was working alone or even involved."

"Well, Mark is in town so I thought it'd be nice if we all got together since it so rarely happens. You think they'll let you off the base for some dinner at least?"

"I'll have to check, but I don't think that'll be a problem if I can get a note from my dad to skip out on school," she replied with one of her full smiles.

"I'll talk to George," replied Jacob with a chuckle as he gave her another kiss on the top of her head.

It had been three days of watching surveillance film and questioning a dozen personnel. That wasn't surprising since the locker room was a busy place first in the morning. Jack and Sam were scheduled to return back to the Gamma Site in a couple of days, which would at least relieve some of the tension he had been holding in his neck. He'd been unable to relax knowing that someone at the SGC still wanted to hurt Sam. This was the place he was supposed to feel the most comfortable. He hated whoever it was that had taken that away from him.

"Colonel O'Neill to the briefing room!"

He quickly dropped the fork with his bite of cake on it and bolted to the elevators. When he exited on sub-level 27, Major Davis was waiting for him.

"Sir, we found something you're going to want to see."

"What is it?"

"Lieutenant Portis' car was logged as entering the premises at 0630 on Friday morning."

"Ok..." replied Jack motioning for Davis to get to the point.

"But he didn't use his badge to come into the building until 0715."

"So, what happened in that 45 minutes?"

"Well, sir, take a look."

As they entered the briefing room where Janet, Hammond, and Catherine were already waiting, Major Davis signaled for the computer tech to start the video. Jack watched the monitor where they saw Portis arriving to the base in his truck. As he is getting out, Colonel Makepeace is seen approaching and getting his attention. They talk uneventfully for a few seconds before Portis turns back and reaches to perhaps grab something from inside his car.

Suddenly Makepeace jabs the young man in the arm with something. Portis turns around already disoriented and tries to take a step towards Makepeace before collapsing. Makepeace catches him and places him back in his car even buckling the seatbelt and putting the keys in the ignition. He then takes out a small vial and puts it in Portis' jacket pocket.

"Did we question Makepeace?"

"Not yet sir. We didn't have any evidence that he had interacted with Lieutenant Portis."

"Ok, search Portis and Makepeace's lockers and try to find that vial. Sam's still on base right?"

"I'm afraid not. I let her go out to eat with her dad tonight."

Jack picked up the phone on the conference room table and dialed the front desk.

"This is Colonel O'Neill. I need to know if Colone Makepeace is still on base." He paused while they checked the records. "Ok, thank you. Damnit," he said as he hung up. "He signed out twenty minutes ago. Janet, do you know where they went?" Jack asked as he was half way out the door.

"Marco's off of Boulder Street!" she shouted after him.

Dinner was turning out to be a disaster. Sam should've known that it was a horrible idea getting together with both her dad and brother, but she was so desperate to get off the base that she agreed against her better judgment. To make matters worse, Mark had invited a friend without asking Jacob, so they were off on the wrong foot from the start.

Eventually, things got heated enough that both men had to excuse themselves from the table leaving Sam with her brother's cop-friend with an over the top goofy smile. He was over complimentary and over attentive. She had a growing suspicion that this was a set up or at least that was Pete's impression of the night. He had been going on and on about something that she was only half listening to as she kept glancing towards the door willing her brother or father to come back.

"I'm sorry I'm rambling. Enough about me, so what do you do Sam?"

"Um, well I help with research on deep space telemetry."

"Oh that sounds fascinating. What kind of research is new in the field of deep space?"

"Well you know, satellites, radars and stuff like that. Nothing really that interesting."

"Oh, I bet it's more exciting than you're letting on. C'mon tell me a little more about yourself. What do you like to do around Colorado?"

Sam was about to go into another short, abstract answer when they were interrupted. Thank goodness. She thought thinking it was her dad coming back. She was surprised when she looked up and saw Colonel Makepeace.

"Colonel?"

"Hi Dr. Carter. Sorry to bother you. Colonel O'Neill sent me to bring you back to the base. He says it's urgent."

"Oh, why didn't he just call me?" she asked as she looked at her phone and saw that she didn't have any service inside the restaurant. "Well that explains it. Sorry Pete, I've got to go. It was really nice meeting you," she said as she quickly gathered her stuff and rose from the table. "Let me just go get my dad."

"Colonel O'Neill already informed him and said to go ahead and just bring you back."

"Oh...great. Lead the way Colonel."

They exited the restaurant and headed towards an alley between the next building. Sam wasn't paying much attention as she was just glad to be rescued from any more time alone with Pete.

"Not that I'm glad there's an urgent matter, but I've got to thank you Colonel for saving me back there."

"Just doing my job, ma'am. Right this way."

Sam was fumbling putting her phone back in her purse when it buzzed with a couple of texts. They were from Jack.

"Sam, call me when you get this. Stay visible to other people."
"Don't trust anyone. I'm on my way to you."

She stopped in her tracks. That's weird.

"Um, Colonel, I think I left my wallet back in the restaurant. Let me just run back and get it real quick."

"Dr. Carter, time is of the essence. I'm sure your dad will grab it for you."

"That's ok, it'll just take me a minute."

She turned to go back towards the restaurant when she felt a hand grab onto her arm tight and pull her back towards the alley. He cuffed her mouth with his other hand before she could shout for help. There was no one in the parking lot to see him pull her out of sight. As she struggled to get loose, she managed to get enough force to kick him hard in the shin with her heel and then bash his face with the back of her head. He released his grip on her, but before she could run or shout, another set of hands were around her. She twisted her body again to wrangle her way free from the new grip and landed a knee to the groin of the second attacker.

As Makepeace recovered and started to move back towards Sam with a gun, a punch landed straight across his face. Stunned, he looked back to see Pete who had wound back to send another fist. This one was easily stopped by Makepeace who returned the blow to the abdomen. While Sam continued to fight off the second man, Pete and Makepeace grappled with each other.

Jack sped into Marco's parking lot, stopping right in front of the restaurant. As he got out, he spotted Jacob walking out the door with Mark closely behind.

"General, where's Sam?"

"The hostess said she just left with a man."

"Makepeace," Jack mumbled under his breath as he pulled out his phone and called Sam. C'mon, pick up.

Suddenly a gunshot rang from the alley. A couple of bystanders went screaming and running into the restaurant. Jack immediately drew his side arm and ran towards the sound, dreading the worst. As he got to the entrance of the backstreet, he saw a man lying on the ground unconscious and then two men with Sam in their arms shoving her into a van.

"Stop it right there Makepeace! Let me see your hands."

Both men froze and did as Jack ordered. He eyes focusing on the still body inside the van as he approached them quickly, but cautiously.

"You're making a mistake Jack."

"Put the gun down and turn around slowly."

"Look, I'll tell you anything you want to know, just don't let them hurt me," blurted out the second man Jack didn't recognize.

"Shut up, Crawford."

"Both of you, shut up," demanded Jack as he could hear the sound of Major Davis arriving with back up.

"This isn't over. They're going to keep coming for her," said Makepeace as a couple of officers were cuffing him and leading him to the transport car.

"Give us a minute," he signaled to give them some privacy. "What are you talking about?"

"They won't stop until they get what they want Jack."

"And what is it exactly that they want?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"I can put in a word for you if you cooperate."

"Your word doesn't mean a damn."

"Well, we've got two of you. By the sound of it, your friend over there is a talker and when I get him to tell me what I want, maybe I'll just let it slip out that it was you that gave up the information. I'm sure your bosses won't be too thrilled to hear that you snitched."

"I'd be a dead man."

"He'll get the same offer, but I'm giving you a chance to talk first. Tell me how to stop them. I can help you."

"This goes higher than you can imagine. They're some of the most powerful people in the world."

"Well I know some pretty powerful people in the galaxy. Maybe we can figure something out if you help me. Why do they want Carter?"

Makepeace studied Jack's face for a minute before letting out a heavy sigh. "They've come to an agreement with the System Lords to exchange her for the safety of the planet."

Jack stared at him in complete, utter shock. "What the actual fuck?"

"The Goa'uld believe she's the reason why we're the greatest threat to their existence. It's only a matter of time before she figures something out to turn the tides of the war. They've agreed to leave Earth alone as well as help put people in position to take control of the Stargate."

"Ok, you're going to have to do better than that. Give me a name, Makepeace."

"I don't have a name, but I have an address. You'll be able to get what you need there."

Jack eyed the man closely before handing over his phone to Makepeace to enter in the address.

"D.C.?" asked Jack with a raised eyebrow.

He looked over at the ambulance where Sam was now sitting with that cop guy. He flinched a little when he saw him take her hands. He took back his phone and searched his contents quickly before making a call.

"Hey, it's me. I need a favor," he said as he walked to his truck. Looks like he has a plane to catch.

Sam sat in the back of the ambulance next to Pete. He had just regained consciousness and was asking for her. She felt bad for him since he did sort of help save her life even though she definitely was not going to let him know that. The least she could do was thank the guy for risking his life.

"Pete, you could've gotten yourself killed."

"I'm a cop. It's my job to protect," he replied again with that goofy smile.

"Well, thank you. I'm sorry you got hurt."

"It's just a little bump. I'll have one hell of a headache tomorrow, but that's ok. How about you thank me by letting me take you out for a drink sometime?" he asked wagging his eyebrows now to go along with that goofy smile.

"Oh, well, I don't know."

Sam looked up and around until she saw Jack talking to Makepeace. She shifted a little uncomfortably and Pete took her hands misinterpreting why she was fidgety. She wriggled them free and looked back at Jack just as he looked away. But it was too late, she knew that he saw. She'd explain it all to him later when she actually got a chance to be alone with him.

"I'm actually kind of seeing someone."

"Oh, I see. Well is it serious? I mean it's just one drink."

"It has potential."

"Ok, no problem. Can I at least get your number?"

She looked back up to where Jack had been standing, but he wasn't there anymore. She looked all around for him again, but it was as if he just disappeared.

The only sound that could be heard was the jingling of keys as a man in a suit fumbled with them to find the right one. Once he finally locates it, he quickly unlocks the door and enters the studio apartment. He goes to the fridge and pulls out a beer before turning on the light to the main room.

"Evening Senator." He jumps at the sound almost dropping his beer as he turns to see the source of the intrusion. "I hope you don't mind that I let myself in."

"Colonel O'Neill, I didn't know you were one for breaking and entering."

"The window was unlocked."

"How did you get this address?"

"I have my sources. But trust me, that's the least of your worries."

"What can I do for you tonight?"

"Well for starters, you can call off the NID hunt for Dr. Carter."

"NID? Dr. Carter? I have no idea what you're talking about. I have nothing to do with the NID and I barely know Dr. Carter."

"You know for a politician, you're a horrible liar."

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."

"I've already had your computer hacked and downloaded some interesting information," continued Jack as he pulled out a USB and started playing with it between his fingers. His contact at the CIA who owed him a favor had done quick work and made it as easy as possible for Jack. "You've been a very busy man."

"You're bluffing. You've got nothing."

"Connections to the NID, rogue research operations on and off world, even plans to blackmail a two star general?" Jack paused a moment to let that sink in. "But what I'm most interested in though is where you personally made the suggestion to offer up Dr. Carter while the NID has been conspiring with the System Lords, the same enemy that you spout on about trying to protect Earth from. And you say you're a goddamn patriot!"

"Everything I do is in the best interest of this country. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good."

"Sacrifices?! Let's call it what it is, murder. You know the Goa'uld's word can't be trusted. There's no way they would let us continue to live even if we didn't have Carter."

"Well, we have a difference of opinions on that."

Jack's blood was beginning to boil. It took every ounce of effort he had not to strangle the man with his bare hands. He reminded himself that he needed Kinsey alive to protect Sam.

"Here's how this is going to go. You're going to recall your hounds and leave Dr. Carter alone or else this leaks out. I'd also forget about your plans for Hammond."

"You have no idea who you're messing with. You're out of your mind if you think you're capable of taking down the whole NID. You think you can actually scare me?"

"Oh you have no idea what I'm capable of," Jack replied pulling out his gun.

Kinsey hesitated just a second. "You're really willing to risk everything for this woman? I don't believe it."

"I'm willing to lose everything if I have to," replied Jack as he cocked the gun. "Now make the call."

Jack headed straight to Sam's apartment after getting off the plane from Washington. He was surprised when Jacob answered the door and straightened up instantly despite his tiredness.

"Good evening, General."

"At ease, Jack. Can I call you Jack?"

"You can call me anything you want, sir."

"Well in that case, you can lose the formalities too. Come on in."

"Yes, sir. Sorry...Jacob. Did Hammond fill you in on everything?"

"Yeah, he did. I can hardly believe it." Jack just nodded in agreement. He was still having a hard time wrapping his head around it.

"And Lieutenant Portis?"

"Makepeace confessed that he drugged Portis with a substance the NID derived from nish'ta they received from the Goa'uld. He won't be charged and George will work with him if he chooses to stay with the SGC."

"That's good to hear."

"I never got a chance to thank you for what you did for Sam."

"You mean almost getting her killed...again?"

"It wasn't you fault this time Jack. And last I checked, it was you that saved her."

"I was just doing my job."

Jacob eyed him unconvinced. "So what brings you here...to my daughter's apartment...at this time of night?" he asked suggestively.

Jack cleared his throat hoping to clear away the uncomfortableness starting to rise in his chest. "I have to head back to the Gamma Site to finish supervising the project. I just came to check in and see how she was doing before I left. Since you're here, I have something for you and Sam."

Jack pulled out the USB from his pocket and handed it to Jacob.

"What's this?"

"Insurance, sir," he answered as he narrowed his eyes.

Jacob gave a soft chuckle and nod in understanding. "Still just doing your job?"

"Yes, sir."

I believe you if doing your job means you're in love with my daughter. Before Jacob could prod more, the bedroom door opened and Sam came out still drying her hair with a towel.

"Hey dad, who was at the door?" she asked but stopped abruptly when she saw Jack. "Hi," she said softly.

"Hey."

"I'm going to go take a shower," Jacob announced looking back and forth between them. "Take care, Jack."

"You too, Jacob."

Sam's eyebrows raised at the sound of her dad's first name coming from Jack's lips. Her dad hadn't even corrected him. What the hell just happened?

"So, I haven't seen you around in a couple of days. You kind of disappeared back at the restaurant."

"I had some things to take care of."

"You want to come in past my foyer?"

"Uh..." replied Jack eyeing the closed guest bedroom door.

"We could go on the balcony?" suggested Sam understanding his hesitancy.

"That sounds nice."

"You want anything to drink? Water? Beer?"

"I'm good. I can't stay too long."

"That's right. You're leaving tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"For a month."

"At least. Michael's done setting up everything on Soltaris so he's going to head over to finish up. It'll depend on how fast he can get up to speed."

"Well in that case, I'm sure you'll be back early."

"He is kind of an overachiever isn't he," he replied with a fond laugh. "How's the arm?"

"Oh, it's just a flesh wound. Nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"You get shot often?" asked Jack with a raised eyebrow.

"Ok, first time. I just wanted to sound tough."

"Oh, you don't need to convince me. I almost died from our sparring session. I'd hate to actually be in a fight with you."

She ducked her head but he could see her blushing in the soft porch light.

"Sam..." he started and she looked up at him expectantly. "I...I'm really glad you're ok."

"Yeah, me too."

She stared at the man in front of her and she could feel him resisting the energy pulling them towards each other. The look in his eyes was telling her what he couldn't find the words to say. When she couldn't restrain herself any longer, she moved towards him and landed in his arms. Careful to avoid her injured arm, he pulled her into a deep embrace nuzzling his face in her neck and eventually slowly rocking her back and forth. She felt so safe in his arms and everything seemed right again. Almost everything.

"Jack, about the guy at the restaurant—" she started as she pulled back a little from him.

"It's ok, Sam. You don't owe me an explanation."

"But I want to. Pete is my brother's friend from Denver. Mark invited him to dinner without asking anyone and I think he got the wrong idea."

"He definitely seemed interested in being more than 'my friend's sister' if you know what I mean."

"Well, I told him I have my interest focused somewhere else."

"I'm just saying that I don't have any expectations, Sam. I'm going to be gone awhile. And you know, if an opportunity presents itself, I don't want you to hold back on my account. There's actually something else I need to tell you about—"

"Jack," she interrupted and reached her good hand up to cup his cheek. "Shut up and kiss me."

She smiled and leaned up to softly meet his lips. She moaned a little under his touch as she moved her hand up behind his head and ran her fingers through his hair eliciting a sound from his mouth in return. Their kisses intensified now completely disregarding the fear of Jacob seeing them through the window. Eventually, they pulled back only for the need of oxygen.

"Don't forget about me."

"As if," he replied with his boyish grin.

"See you in a month?"

"Can't wait."