Sam drove to her old workplace, apprehensive and excited. She couldn't wait to see how far Vikki and Scott had got, but was worried about Andrew, the missing scientist. Pulling into a visitor parking space, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Why was she nervous? In her years on SG-1, she'd learned that her gut feeling was usually right, and now wished it wasn't usually so accurate. She walked into the building, and checked in at the desk. The woman at the desk got on the phone and called Mary to come to the main entrance. Sam resisted the urge to pace around the entrance way, as she saw Mary hurrying towards her.

"Hey."

"Hi Dr. Carter. I've got the rest of the day off."

"My car or yours?"

"Do you mind? I can give you directions, but I don't think I can drive right now. My minds on too many other things."

"Sure. Let's go."

Sam drove to Andrew's apartment and listened to Mary talk about the past few weeks. She had not noticed any changes in his behaviour or demeanor, and was still in shock over his disappearance. So he wouldn't get fired, she had told his boss that he was at home with the flu. No one at work, besides Vikki and Scott, knew that she had called the police. When they had questioned her, they didn't suspect foul play, and she told them that everyone at work believed he was ill. As he had packed a suitcase, and there were no signs of a struggle, the officer had told Mary to contact them in seven days if he had not been seen or heard from. Mary had put that off, hoping that Sam would find some clue to where had gone. He had now been gone for nine days.

Sam wandered around the apartment looking for anything that would give her a clue as to why he had gone, and where. Neither of them knew how many different suits he owned, or how many different pairs of jeans, so they couldn't tell if he'd gone for business or pleasure. There were no dirty dishes in the kitchen, and the fridge held nothing like milk, or vegetables, that would've gone bad by now. While they walked around, the small tabby cat followed them, brushing their legs every time they stopped.

As Sam walked past the desk, the cat ran underneath, and she could hear it playing with something. She looked and saw a laptop power chord, still plugged in.

"Mary?"

"Yes."

"Did Andrew normally bring his laptop home?"

"Rarely. He liked to leave work at work. Why?"

"The power chord is here, and it's still plugged in."

"So he brought his laptop home, and forgot to take the charger with him?"

"Why would he bring his laptop home? The project he was working on wasn't one that would take him a while. Scott figured that had he been here, he would be done and on the next project by now."

"Maybe he was doing something else?"

"Maybe. Look around. Do you see any other live cables lying around?"

"Didn't really look."

"This cat keeps playing with this one, and it's got little teeth marks all over it. I'm guessing that he keeps the cables and chords out of it's reach so it won't electrocute itself."

"He does love his cat. He found her by the dumpster one night, as he took out his garbage. She was skin and bones, had a nasty infection, but he took her in anyways. This was about a week or so after you left."

"How old is she?"

"The vet guessed that Tanit is just under a year old right now."

"Tanit? Interesting name. Where did he come up with that?"

"Not a clue."

Sam's cell phone rang, and she answered it after seeing it was Daniel on the line. She excused herself and went into the kitchen to talk to him.

"Hey Daniel."

"Hi. Find anything?"

"No, not really."

"Nothing at all?"

"The only thing that I think looks odd, is a power chord for his laptop he left plugged in."

"Ok. That's weird how?"

"He's got a cat, Tanit, who appears to like chewing through electrical chords. The ones for his appliances are covered up, or 'cat proofed' except for this one. It just strikes me as odd that he would leave this one plugged in, with no laptop attached, considering the attention he gave to all the others."

"Tanit?"

"Yes, the cat's name is Tanit. Why?"

"I recognize that name. Uh, I'll give you a call back in a little bit. I'm just going to check something."

Daniel hung up without a goodbye. Sam returned the phone to her coat pocket, puzzled. Why would the cat's name bother Daniel? She joined Mary in the living room.

"Who was that?"

"A friend of mine. I can't see much else here. Can you access his computer at the lab?"

"Yes, but not all the files."

"That's ok. I just want to have a look at some of the recent projects he was working on."

On the way back to the lab her cell phone rang again.

"Daniel?"

"Sam, I was right."

"Right about what?"

"The cat's name. Tanit."

"What about it?"

"In Phoenician mythology, Tanit was a consort of Ba'al."

"It's the name of a cat, Daniel. I think you're reading too much into this."

"How long has he had the cat?"

"A little less time than I've been at the SGC."

"We know Ba'al is on Earth. What if he found out what you guys were working on?"

"And what, planted a cat for a spy? Andrew's been at this company for years. He's worked here most of his life. There's no way that he would pass information on to anyone."

"Perhaps not willingly. What if he had been implanted."

"You really think that is the case?" Sam was very skeptical.

"Think about it. He has access to the lab, most of the files on the computer, and he's gone missing just as your team is finishing the delivery system."

"I still think it's a bit of a stretch."

"When you get back to his lab, check if there's any missing information, or anything that looks like it's been tampered with. Just go with me on this."

"Ok. Hang on a sec."

Sam looked questioningly at Mary, whose cell phone had rung just after she had answered hers.

"He's there? Ok. We're on our way."

"Mary who's where?"

"Andrew just signed in. That's good. Now we've just got to ask him what he was thinking! Running off and scaring the daylights out of me."

"Daniel. Andrew just returned to his lab."

"What! How far away are you?"

"A few minutes. Why?"

"I'm calling Jack."

"What! There's no need for that Daniel. We've just got to go talk to the guy. If he is what you say he is, I'll know as soon as I get close enough."

"If he has been implanted, he's going back to destroy his trail, or worse, destroy the project."

"Damn, never thought of that." Sam stepped on the gas as Mary held on to her seat belt, staring at Sam in confusion.

"When you get there, call me back. I'm getting Jack on the line. He's closer to you and has more power to do what's needed."

"Ok."

"Sam?"

"Yes?"

"Don't get in his way. If he kills you, we'll never get this thing up and running. That's probably what he wants."

Daniel hung up abruptly once again. Sam turned to Mary and tried to figure out how to explain this.

"What's going on Dr. Carter?"

"The project I'm working on, is for the government."

"Is that why there's a guard outside your old lab door all the time?"

"Yes. There is a possibility that Andrew has been compromised and leaking information."

"What! No, you've got that wrong. He wouldn't do something like that."

"I don't know him well enough to make that call. For now I have to assume the worst. I'm going to need your help."

"What do you want me to do?"

"When we get there, I need you to pull the closest fire alarm, so everyone evacuates the building."

"Ok. What about you?"

"I need to find out what's going on."

Sam didn't bother parking this time, just pulled the rental to the front doors, put the park brake on, and ran into the building. She showed her pass to the woman at the desk, and bolted down the corridor to the stairs. She hoped she could make it up a few flights, as all the employees would be flooding down them once the fire alarm went off. She was almost at the second floor when she heard the bells ringing. She pushed her way past people coming down as she took the steps two at a time to the fourth floor. There were still people coming downstairs as she opened the door, but no one remained on her floor. She walked towards Andrew's lab, and stopped as she felt it's presence. She glanced down the hallway, not seeing the guard outside her old lab. She assumed that Scott and Vikki had made it downstairs with the guard.

She cautiously pushed the door open so she could look inside the room. He wasn't there, so she stuck her head in a little further. Walking into the room, it was obvious he had been there. Papers were strewn around the room, the computer lying on the ground, glass fragments scattered on the floor. Careful not to step on anything and disturb it, she exited the lab.

She knew he was in the building somewhere, and had to find him, before he found her. As she passed the other labs, she peered inside the window to see if there was any sign he had been there. Several looked like they had been ransacked, while others were untouched. The loud ringing of the fire alarm prevented her from being able to hear his approach, but meant that he wouldn't hear hers either. Feeling his presence move away, she quickly made for her office. She pulled out her key from her purse, and opened the door, locking it behind her. She ran to the safe, hidden behind a normal looking filing cabinet, and punched in her combo. Carefully she removed two glass vials and placed them one in each pocket. Everything that could rattle against them, she placed on her desk, and carefully made her way out, locking the door behind her again.

She guessed that he would be in her lab, and felt it's nearness grow as she approached it. All the blinds were down, and prevented her from seeing anything inside. She heard a scream and put her hand on the door handle. Opening it just enough to see inside, her heart stopped as she took in what was happening. Scott was lying face down on the ground, while the goa'uld in Andrew was holding Vikki tightly around her neck, struggling to cover her mouth. She was bleeding from just above her eyebrow, and he held a zat to her. There was no sign of the guard.

Daniel dialed Jacks number the second he hung up with Sam.

"How may I direct your call?"

"General Jack O'Neill."

"I believe he's busy at the moment on another call, may I have..."

"Tell him it's Dr. Jackson. It's an emergency."

"Please hold."

Daniel waited the next few seconds pacing around his desk, as far as his phone chord would allow him to move.

"Daniel. What's going on?"

"Jack, it's Sam."

"What happened?" Despite his previous attitude, there was genuine concern in his voice.

"I think there's a problem with her missing scientist."

"What?"

"I mentioned it to you yesterday. I now think he's been implanted."

"As in..?"

"Goa'uld."

"Where?" Jack's voice changed again. This time the voice snapped into military mode.

"Sam's old lab. He returned and she's on her way back."

"I'll get reinforcements there as fast as I can. You got an address?"

"Yes. I'll go check with Landry. Prometheus may be back by now. They'll get you there the quickest."

"Call my cell phone. I've got to go talk to some higher ups."

This time it was Jack who hung up first. Daniel left his lab sprinting for the elevator. He found Landry in his office, and burst through the door after knocking once. Landry looked at him, frowning, until Daniel explained the situation. He immediately sprang into action, telling Walter to get Colonel Pendergast, and shouting for SG teams 3, 6 and 12 to get geared up. As soon as it was determined that Prometheus could beam the three teams to Sam, Daniel grabbed the closest phone and called Jack.

"We're going to send three teams to get Sam and the goa'uld."

"Good. That was fast. Can they pick me up?"

"Let me check."

Landry nodded as Pendergast got O'Neill's position.

"Yeah."

"I'll need some gear."

"We'll send it."

Jack's end went dead, and Daniel assumed that he'd been transported to the Prometheus. Bosco returned with some gear for O'Neill and the room filled with a bright white light. Daniel looked up at the computer screen displaying Colonel Pendergast's face and watched as he got up to greet General O'Neill and the men who had just arrived. Daniel dialed Sam's cell phone to let her know help was on it's way.

Sam tried to open the door a little more, so she could see where the airman was. He would have a weapon on him, and if she could reach him, she could hopefully catch the goa'uld by surprise. As she pushed the door open, she cringed as the hinge squeaked. She heard the sound of the zat as she dove behind one of the workbenches.

"Colonel Samantha Carter. How nice of you to join us. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you yet. You have information I need."

"Actually, its Doctor Samantha Carter now." She stood up, her hands in her pockets.

"Ah yes. How silly of me to forget."

"Let her go. She has no use to you."

"Then why should I not kill her, if she is of no use?"

His eyes flashed, and Vikki screamed again..

"If you keep making noise, you will end up like that one."

Vikki's eyes darted towards Scotts still form on the ground. She flinched, but didn't utter another sound. Sam slowly walked towards the goa'uld, stepping around Scott's body, holding the vials tightly in her hands. She needed to get close enough to his face and release contents to free Vikki. She heard a groan, and watched as Scott started to move. As the goa'uld moved his hand, Sam saw her opportunity.

"NOW!"

Vikki struggled against the taller man, causing his shot of the zat to miss Scott by mere inches. Sam pulled the vials out of her pockets as she leapt towards the goa'uld, and smashed them together, breaking them. He turned towards her and staggered when he inhaled the gas. He fell face first, on top of Scott's legs. Sam quickly kicked him off as Vikki helped Scott stand.

"What the hell happened?"

"I'll explain later. Are you guys ok?"

Sam grabbed the zat and the guards gun and held one in each hand. Scott stood shakily against a bench, while Vikki put some paper towel against her head.

"I think we'll live."

"What's that noise?"

Sam could hear a faint beeping noise and looked around for the source.

"I think it's this thing. He put it on the floor after he shot Scott with that thing."

Vikki pointed at the zat in Sam's hand. Sam moved around the bench to the source of the beeping.The second Sam saw it, she recognized it, and it was counting down fast.

"We've got to get out of here, now. Let's go..."

"What is going on?"

"It's a bomb. C'mon move."

She grabbed Scott's arm and started pulling him out of the room, Vikki following. She stopped at the stairs.

"Sam, let's go."

"Get everyone as far away from the building as possible. Let the fire department know there's a bomb inside and it's counting down."

"What about you?"

"I've just got to grab something. I'll be right behind you. There's enough time."

She raced down the hallway towards her office, hearing her phone ring down the hallway. Grabbing a disk from the open safe, and her phone from the desk, she bolted down the hallway towards the stairs. Not having the time to check who had called, she put the phone in her pocket. When she got to the stairs, she yelled that she was on her way down to Vikki and Scott, in case they didn't follow instructions and waited for her. She didn't hear a response as she jumped down the stairs. She rounded the final corner towards the bottom door and heard a deafening boom. She ran to the alcove under the last flight of steps and hoped that she could ride this one out here. She felt the concrete quiver and then nothing, as her world turned black.

Jack ordered the Colonel to find them a spot to be transported to with the least amount of people there. The Asgard sensors on the Prometheus had picked up lifeforms milling around the entrance of the building. Arriving back on Earth, Jack could clearly hear the sirens very close by, and he signaled the men to follow him to the front of the building. As the fire trucks pulled up, the group of SGC teams made it to the entrance. A fireman jumped out of the truck and yelled at them.

"HEY, you can't go in there."

"General O'Neill. We've got a very dangerous man inside."

"We've got a possible fire."

At that moment Vikki and Scott ran out of the main doors.

"There's a bomb in there. Everyone needs to get back."

"Vikki?" Jack had never met this woman, but had heard about her from Daniel. The fire red hair gave her away.

The fireman was urging everyone to move away quickly, as another called over the radio for a bomb squad to come to their location. The other two fire trucks started to move a safe distance away.

"Yes?" Jack had to run to follow her.

"Where's Sam?"

"Inside. She said she was following us out." Jack gestured for the men to follow him. "She was the one who said there's a bomb."

Jack felt the explosion before he heard it and it knocked him to the ground, along with Vikki, Scott, and most of the personnel from the SGC. He turned and watched a ball of flame erupt from a few floors up. He watched in horror as the far front side of the building blew apart, the initial explosion triggering others. He covered his head as bits of concrete, metal and glass showered the area, and the continuing sounds of explosions ripping through the air.

AN: Thanx for the reviews!!! Makes a great pressie!!! Hopefully there'll be another chapter by Christmas, I won't leave you hanging for long.