Disclaimer: 'Stargate SG1', 'The 4400' and all the characters associated with both shows belong to people who aren't me. As I doubt that the owners would be willing to trade their rights for some magic beans that aren't in any way magical, this is not going to change at any point in the foreseeable future.

Chapter Six

"Any complaints? Nausea? Headaches?" Janet asked, shining a penlight into her friend's eyes before checking her throat to make sure that there was no possible sign of infection or anything else amiss.

"No." Sam answered as soon as the tongue depressor was removed from her mouth.

"Then it looks as though you're in perfect health." Janet reported cheerfully. "Just like last week."

"And the week before that, and every other week." Sam finished glumly. "How long are they going to insist on these check-ups? I'm fine."

"At least you can have your check-ups here." Janet reminded her. "Would you rather go to NTAC for them?"

"Good point." Sam made a face. Having to report to NTAC on a weekly basis was bad enough, she had no desire to have any more medicals there than she could possibly avoid. She sat still while Janet took a sample of blood and labelled the vial, checking the box on the report form she was required to fill out and send on.

"We're nearly done, Sam. I'm afraid that another requirement has been added, though." She said apologetically, taking a prepared syringe from a plastic case. "It's just a vitamin booster." She assured her hastily. "It was checked in the labs here." Wiping Sam's arm with an alcohol swab, she injected her. "All done."

"Thanks."

"I want you to lie down, at least for a few minutes." Janet cautioned. "Just to make sure that you don't have a reaction to the shot, with your blood chemistry."

"Do you think they've noticed at NTAC?" Sam asked, aware that an unidentified metal and an alien protein were bound to attract attention.

"Maybe we've been lucky and they haven't. Without knowing what they were looking for, it is possible that they might have missed it. If they did spot it, hopefully they'll assume that it's something that happened when you were away." Janet said. "They haven't said anything to me, though – or asked you in for extra tests."

"Thankfully."

"How have you been getting on with missions?" Janet asked as she tidied away her equipment, disposing of the needle and syringe. "Settling back onto the team okay?"

Sam nodded. "Fine. It's just…" She hesitated before continuing, trying to choose her words.

"Colonel O'Neill is still hovering?" Janet asked, her tone mingling amusement and sympathy.

"And Teal'c." Sam complained. "Daniel and Mitchell are the only ones who leave me alone to work most of the time."

"I imagine that Daniel, at least, hears from Colonel O'Neill whenever he does leave you by yourself – and I'd say that he's keeping a closer eye on you than you might think, even if he isn't being obvious about it. You can't really hold it against them, Sam." She added gently. "Losing you was hard for a lot of people, but much worse for your team. They had no idea where you were or what had happened to you for six years." She smiled slightly. "You can probably expect them to keep being overprotective for at least that long."

General Hammond's expression was grim when three fifths of SG-1 joined him in the briefing room, taking their seats when he motioned for them to do so.

"General?" Daniel had been surprised by the summons – and more than a little irritated over the interruption to his work. "I thought that we weren't going to have our mission briefing until tomorrow morning. Where are Sam and Mitchell?"

"Carter's having her check-up with the Doc." Jack reported immediately.

"I know." Hammond looked across at Daniel. "This isn't a mission briefing, Dr Jackson, you'll be having that tomorrow, along with SG-3. Right now, I'm concerned about something else. You've all been keeping pretty close to Captain Carter, I know."

"I told you that you wouldn't be able to keep Sam tied to your apron strings forever." Daniel told Jack, a note of triumph in his voice.

"I have not…" Remembering his protectiveness over the past weeks, Jack swiftly changed tack. "What's wrong with me wanting to look out for a member of my team?"

"Absolutely nothing, son." Hammond assured him. "And under the circumstances, I'm very glad of it. Have you – any of you – noticed any hostility or suspicion directed at Captain Carter by anyone on this base?"

"McKay's a bit ticked off over the fact that Carter's smarter than him." Jack said after a few moments' consideration. "But he flirts with her a lot too."

"Most people are happy she's back." Daniel said. "A few people are a little wary, but I haven't heard anyone say anything against her."

"And Carter hasn't mentioned anything."

"If any of those working at the SGC were hostile towards Captain Carter, it is unlikely that they would make their feelings known in her presence or ours." Teal'c observed shrewdly.

"Good point." Hammond agreed. "What about Major Mitchell? How have he and Captain Carter been getting along?"

"Fine. They're not exactly best buddies or anything yet, but they work together without any problems. What's this all about, sir?" Jack asked.

"Since Captain Carter's return, the SGC has been monitoring all media coverage relating to the 4400." Hammond explained. "This programme was broadcast this morning on MNCN." Lifting a remote, he switched on the television and hit the play button.

The screen flickered to life and a face all four men had come to detest over the past months appeared, speaking to a man none of them recognized, whose efforts to defend the 4400 were not meeting with much success.

"I think that the public has a right to know if they have one of these people living in their neighbourhood." Barbara Yates was insisting. "We have no way of knowing what happened to them while they were gone. They could be impostors, or walking time bombs."

"Or innocent people who have done nothing wrong and who shouldn't be persecuted over something they had no control over." The man countered immediately. "They have a right to get their lives back without interference or fear of prejudice."

"I'm starting to like this guy." Jack quipped quietly.

"Me too." Daniel agreed.

"But there haven't even been any limits placed on the kind of employment they can take." Yates continued, warming to her theme. "We have 4400 working in our schools, in our hospitals, even in our military." She turned away from her guest, directing her full attention at the camera and her audience, savouring the bombshell she was about to drop for an instant before continuing. "We have it from a reliable source, who has asked to remain anonymous for the time being, that one of the 4400, an officer in the Air Force, has been allowed to return to active duty and is currently working at a base in the Colorado area. Don't you think that the public should be concerned about the potential damage she could cause if…"

Disgusted, Hammond muted the volume on the television. "I think that we can all be pretty sure who she's talking about." He said quietly, his tone grim.

"Have you told Carter yet?" Jack asked.

"I'll be speaking with her as soon as she's finished with Dr Fraiser."

"I can't believe that anybody here would give Sam away like that." Daniel muttered, dismayed.

"It's not a pleasant thought, son." Hammond agreed. He looked around the table at the other three men. "But somebody has to have tipped that woman off and we need to find out who."

TBC.