That afternoon, they all gathered for a final check up. Fraiser had removed the bandage from Colonel O'Neill's head and replaced it with a smaller piece of gauze. She'd also injected him with a dose of painkillers before wishing him good luck with a concerned frown.

Carter was waiting with a wide smile. "Colonel," she greeted her CO. "I've got the bugs. They're built into these watches, one for you and one for Teal'c. They're made of plastic, so they're harder to discover."

"Sweet," O'Neill commented, picking up the watch and putting it around his wrist. "Anything on that word, Major?"

"Yes, Sir," she answered. "It's SG-1, Sir."

He glared at her in surprise. "Wow," he commented.

"Simple and effective. The General uses it a lot to address us. Makes perfectly sense, Sir."

"I guess it does," he agreed. "Hard to believe we haven't used it all that time, though. Murphy, are you ready?"

Teal'c bowed his head, his eyes showing that he didn't like his nickname. "Indeed, I am, O'Neill."

"Daniel and I are going to remain close all the time, Sir," Carter said. "Get out of there as soon as we have the evidence on tape."

O'Neill threw her a quick salute. "Yes, ma'am. All right. Teal'c, let's go. You drive."

Teal'c easily found an empty parking lot near the NID headquarters and pulled up the truck. He glanced at his friend on the passenger seat. O'Neill had been sleeping during the whole trip, but now opened his eyes to look around him.

"We're here."

"Indeed we are, O'Neill," Teal'c nodded. "Are you ready to proceed?"

O'Neill threw him a quick smile. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we're able to gather at my place for a pizza and a nice cold beer."

"That would not be wise, O'Neill," Teal'c stated.

Shrugging, O'Neill climbed out of the truck and closed the door. "A man's gotta dream..." he sighed before turning his attention to the ones who were listening to them through the wires. "Okay, kids. We're going in. Make sure not to miss anything."

The two men walked towards the building, and, after identifying themselves at the main entrance, they walked down the corridors heading for Captain Potter's lab.

The Captain apparently had been warned by the guard at the entrance, as he just got up to meet with his guests. "Colonel O'Neill, what a surprise," he said with a smile. "Teal'c... what brings you to the NID?"

O'Neill marched inside the lab, making a wavering gesture with his hand. "Oh, I think you know, Captain... Let's talk about alien devices able to hack human brains, shall we?"

Potter feigned surprise. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sir," he said firmly.

"I believe you do," Teal'c joined in. He stepped next to his CO, straightened his shoulders and folded his hands behind his back. "You cannot deceive us."

Potter stared at the Jaffa. If he was surprised at all, he sure wasn't showing it.

"We know all about your little operation, Captain," Jack lowered his voice. "We know about the schematics the Tollan scientist provided you with. Impressive, very impressive."

"What are you talking about?" Potter kept up his act. "Sir?"

O'Neill turned his head and pointed behind his ear. "I'm talking about this. Or better, what's inside there. The device you planted there without my permission. The device that almost made me kill General Hammond. Almost..."

"I don't know..." started Potter.

"Cut the crap, Potter," O'Neill barked. "You damn well know what I'm talking about. We've got Captain Williams and he told us all about you..."

"Indeed he was most willing to cooperate," Teal'c added.

This time, the NID Captain shifted uncertainly on his feet, staring at the floor for a moment.

"Don't worry, Captain. It's not you we want. I want to know who the one behind this is and you are going to tell me that. Who gave you your orders?" O'Neill continued.

Potter looked up, the brief nervousness vanished as he'd gained control over his bearings. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sir."

"Drop the dumb act, Captain. You're smart enough to know when you're driven in the corner. Who ordered you to put this device inside my head?" O'Neill took one threatening step forward.

Teal'c did the same, approaching the Captain from the other side. "I suggest you listen to Colonel O'Neill."

The now visibly nervous Captain staggered two steps back. "I can't," he stammered.

"Oh, yes you can," Jack snapped. Before Potter realized it the Colonel had drawn his gun and aimed it straight at the man's chest. "And you will. Now, who gave you your orders?"

Potter's eyes were wide open with shock as he couldn't look at anything anymore but the end of the gun pointed in his direction. "Sir! You can't do that!"

"Why not?" O'Neill shrugged nonchalantly. "I am doing this, am I not?" He slowly moved an inch closer, anger now covering his face. "Teal'c, cover the door." He watched as his alien friend stepped in the door opening to watch his back before turning his attention back to the NID scientist. "You think you're smart, huh? You think you're untouchable, with your little friends watching your back. Well, I've got a surprise for you, Captain. Major Carter is way smarter than you and she's figured the whole thing out. And you know what?" Jack shortly pointed at his ear with the top of the gun before aiming it at Potter once more. "She's rigged it. Reprogrammed it. Hammond is no longer my target. You are."

Potter's mouth fell open as he gasped. "She couldn't have..." he started uncertainly.

"Of course she could," O'Neill barked, knowing he was getting closer. "Now who gave you your orders?"

Captain Potter stared from the deathly serious Colonel in front of him to the stoic Jaffa keeping guard at the door. Calming himself, he forced to smile. "You won't shoot me like that, Colonel. And the device needs to be activated..."

"By the Stargate," O'Neill interrupted him bluntly. "But Major Carter told me about the second trigger she has discovered..." He paused to see whether his words had effect. "Teal'c, what was the word again?"

The Jaffa threw a quick look in the hallway before turning his head towards the now shaking scientist. "I believe it is SG..."

"Stop!" yelled Potter. "Don't. Please..."

"Start talking to me..." threatened O'Neill.

Potter shook his head desperately. "I can't..." he mumbled, pressing one hand over his face. "They'll kill me..."

"Teal'c?" O'Neill demanded unmercifully. "The word?"

"No..." Potter begged. "I'll tell you all you want to know. Please..."

PLOP.

A soft popping sound ended the conversation. A bullet broke its way through the lab's window. It hit the Captain in the middle of his chest.

Jack dove for cover.

Ssssssssshhh.

Potter's eyes widened as he slowly sank to the floor.

Teal'c disappeared.

The door slammed shut.

Sssssssssshhhh.

O'Neill took in the small hole near Potter's heart. The Captain's eyes were open, but Jack knew the man was dead.

Sssssssssshhhh.

Gas.

O'Neill frantically crawled towards the door. He was holding his breath, but the gas was already slowing down his movements. His limbs felt heavy and failed to cooperate properly. He forced his body to obey, agonizingly slowly reaching for the door.

Sssssssssssshhhh.

His vision was blurring. He tried to focus on the doorknob but it kept switching position. Swaying dangerously, Jack managed to get to his knees. He reached an unsteady hand forward. Determinedly, he grabbed the knob.

The door was locked.

Ssssssssssssshhhh.

Damn. Jack cursed as he slowly collapsed, his shoulder hitting the wall before his body slid down to the floor. Blackness was consuming him, engulfing him and he was unable to fight it any longer.

"Teal'c," he tried to call out but it wasn't more than a faint whisper. His consciousness slipped away, his last thought being that this really wasn't his day.

Argghh! Another cliffie! He-he.....