Chapter 26: Returned Favors and Confessions
Sunday 0912hrs: Observation Room… Dr. Frasier and Anise/Freya entered the observation room chatting quietly. The doctor and scientist heard Major Carter whispering to Colonel O'Neill. They were unable to make out what she was saying though. Sam stopped talking feeling sensing a goa-uld. She reached for a sidearm that wasn't there out of habit. Sam slowly turned around relaxing when she saw Janet. However she tensed up seeing Anise/Freya. "What are you doing here Anise?" she asked totally ignoring her friend.
Janet never thought to warn her Sam that Anise/Freya was on base. Ever since Anise made a move on Jack Sam's has been apprehensive towards the tok'ra female. "Sam, she's here to help…nothing more than that." She said then in a very hushed voice 'right ANISE!' Anise however didn't quite catch on to Janet's prompting. "Major Carter, I'm pleased to see you. How is Colonel O'Neill doing this morning?" she asked. "He's ready for his antidote, other than that Jacks still with us." Sam answered glaring at her. Anise finally realized what Dr. Frasier meant by Major Carters reply. "Major Carter, I'm here to help like Dr. Frasier said. I do not wish to come between O'Neill and yourself. He made it quite clear that his heart belonged to you." Anise tried to reassure Sam then continued.
"In fact I perfected the antidote. This vial will destroy the poison that has infected the colonel." she finished. Sam defensive stance eased a bit. She had unconsciously put herself in front of Jack protectively. "You have, that's great. How effective is it?" Sam asked very happy still guarded though. Janet let out the breath she was holding. She knew that Sam would never trust Anise fully when it came to the colonel.
Janet and Anise/Freya approached Jacks bed now that it was safe to do so. "I started working not long after I arrived. The solution was simple yet complex. May I administer the antidote Dr. Frasier?" she asked then glanced at Major Carter. Janet looked at her friend for approval. Sam still hadn't moved from her spot. She nodded her head moving out-of-the-way. Sam watched her nemeses closely though. The three women stood and watched the monitors for any positive change.
It took about 25mn for the heart monitor show a stronger signal. Collective sighs came from the women. "Colonel O'Neill will still need monitored closely until he's free of the poison. If you'll allow it Major Carter I would like to sit with him for a while. I promise I'll be respectful." Anise/Freya answered. "I'll think about it Anise." she replied in a neutral tone. "Sam, I'll watch over him for now. Cassandra will want to help out as well. He'll be in good hands." Janet said hoping to ease her fears.
Sam just realized that Cassie wasn't with them. She looked about not seeing her waiting by the doors. "She's with Ron and Daniel. Cassie just couldn't wait to tell them the good news." Janet answered Sam's unasked question. Sam just nodded relaxing more. "I'm going to get a shower then. I didn't sleep well last night. Sophia and Teal'c thought I'd be better off sleeping in a bed. I wish they'd just left me here. My nightmares tend to stay way when I'm near the colonel." Sam explained as she stretched. Taking one last look at the colonel she gathered her things and hesitantly left the room.
Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head
Las Vegas, Ne. 0920hrs: In another room hundreds of miles away a cell phone rings. "Detective Shanahan speaking." he answered out of habit. His new wife, Jessie, was in the bathroom freshening up. They were meeting the wedding party for breakfast at 9:45. "It's Berry Pete. I have some bad news, you might want to sit down." his friend said. Pete had a bad vibe since he woke this morning. He looked to bathroom were Jessie was happily humming. The bad news was going to ruin their weekend for sure.
"I think I'd rather stand Berry." His friend took a deep breath then continued. "Do you remember an arsonist by the name of Daryl Pike?" Pete recognized the name immediately. "Yes, I caught him trying to burn down a church in Denver. Last I heard he was still in prison." he answered in hushed voice so Jessie couldn't hear. "They released him on good behavior 1 year ago. I hate being the one telling this but he burnt down Jessie's house and your apartment building." he said with sorrow.
Pete collapsed into the nearest plush chair in disbelief. He remembered Pikes last words as he led out of the courtroom by his feet. "I'll find you and burn everything you love to the ground! You hear me! EVERYTHING! You PIG!" "Pete, are you still there! Buddy…" his friend said with worry. "Ya, I'm still here. How did he find me? I transferred down here shortly after that." he asked barely controlling his anger. "Pike explained that an anonymous letter arrived with your information. Included was a promise of a large payoff if he took the job. He confessed despite an attorney warning." Berry explained omitting Pikes rather course words for his friend.
There was silence from Pete and that worried him. When Pete was mad his anger would build up then explode like a volcano. Most often it was because of something his ex-girlfriend said or did. When Pete got back with Jessie he was 100% better. "When I get back I'm going to ring Pikes neck till his head pops off!" he said with complete rage. This got his wife's attention as she walked into the room. "Pete, I know you're pissed off but there's more." Berry informed his buddy. Pete stood suddenly startling Jessie as he yelled "There's more…!" his friend anticipating Pete's reaction held the phone away his ear.
"Babe, what wrong?" she asked not daring to get close to him. She knew this from experience. "What's wrong? A sadistic SOB burnt down our homes...that's what!" he answered her. "Both of our homes burnt down! Who would do such a thing?" Jessie asked through tear filled eyes. Berry waited for Pete to get back to him. He knew Jessie needed Pete's attention now.
Pete went to comfort his wife though still angry. "An arsonist that I arrested back in Denver wanted revenge." he informed her with a heavy heart. "We have no place to live now. What are we going to do? Your SUV was in the garage..." she mentioned. "Yes, I know. We still have your Mustang. We'll just have to live in a hotel for now. One thing is for sure, I'm going to ring Pikes neck and the person who sold us out." he responded. He held Jessie close to him rubbing circles on her back.
"Berry is still on the phone. You should see what other bad news he has for us." she said between sobs. Pete picked up his phone while still holding Jessie. "I just told Jessie. What's the other bad news?" he asked placing the phone on speaker. "Jessie's mustang got stole by car thief's. the crooks then used it as a getaway vehicle Pete." he told them. "Did you recover it, please tell me you did. My parents bought it as a high school graduation gift." she asked still crying. "I'm sorry Mrs. Shanahan, the bank robbers crashed into a propane truck. Your mustang was a total loss. I'm really sorry guys, this day should have been filled with happiness." Berry answered sincerely." Pete held Jessie as she started in with fresh tears. They had lost all of their worldly possessions. "Berry, can you pick us up at the airport Monday?" he asked still angry as a bear. "I can do that, just text me the information. Again, I'm sorry we couldn't stop him." Berry apologized. "It's not your fault, I need to go. I'll text you later with the information." Pete replied. "Later brother, take care of your wife. You still have each other." with that said he hung up. "I love you babe, I never stopped loving you!" he said to Jessie. "I love you too,I never doubted you once. I knew that Carter woman was just an assignment." Jessie reassured him."I got to freshen up again, give me 10mn and I'll be ready." she said letting go of Pete kissing him fully on the mouth. Once she was out of earshot he mumbled to himself "so help me God if anyone from the SGC was behind this.." as he went to the mini bar for a drink….
Karma bites Potato heads
General Hammond Office SGC ... "Please be seated Major Rollins." the general more ordered than not. "Thank you Sir." she replied noticing Colonel Maybourne in the room as well. "The reason I ordered you here is to clarify some possible discrepancies with your file." he informed her. "Discrepancies Sir?" she asked playing dumb. George nodded to Col. Maybourne as he stepped forward. The major leaned back a bit intimidated. "Your file shows that a Jeffery Rollins as your grandfather is that correct?" he asked placing a picture of him in front of her. "Yes sir, that's him. What's going on Sir's?" she asked concerned for his safety.
Harry got the nod from George to go ahead. "How much time alone did you spend with your grandfather Major?" he asked gruffly. She stayed silent a little too long for Georges liking "I recommend you to answer the questions truthfully Major, this could go very bad for you." he said in a no-nonsense voice. "I only saw him for breakfast once a month Sir's." she answered promptly. "What did you discuss Major. It doesn't matter how trivial it may seem." Harry asked. "We ah...discussed politics and movies. Is he okay, did something happen?" the major replied more concerned that before. "His welfare is not of your concern. Elaborate on what you just said Major." he ordered.
"My grandfather was not a fan of President Hayes or the Republican Party. He retired from the NID for that reason Sirs." realizing what she just said made her cringe internally. "The NID and you didn't think that was important information for us to have." George bellowed out causing Harry to jump slightly. "General Sir. I only recently found out he re-tired from the NID. He let it slip in one of our chats saying they wanted him to come out of retirement. Truthfully Sirs, I'm not lying to you."
Maybourne stared at the major before speaking. "Why did you not report this immediately? You know we have issues with them." he asked leaning into her personal space. The major tried to lean further into the chair if that was possible. "He's my grandfather and a patriot.I refuse to believe he was a rogue agent." she answered with confidence.
Harry looked at George seeing him nod. "Your grandfather was a rogue NID agent. I know that for a fact because he tried to kill me this morning. I also know he was behind the Col. O'Neill shooting. He's dead by the way along with a WET team." he told her bluntly. Rollins started to tear up. Harry slapped the table bringing the major back to the conversation."I recommend you to come clean real quick! You career is on the line!" George added for effect.
She looked at the two superior officers, squared her shoulders then looked them both in the eyes "I'm not saying anything more until I have a military lawyer." the major declared. "Is that how you want this handled Major Rollins?" the general asked. "Yes Sir, I have done nothing wrong." she answered staring daggers at Harry. "If that's how you want it soldier." George said picking up his phone. "Walter, send 4 SF's up to my office." he ordered looking right at the major. "I'm having you put in a holding cell until your AF lawyer arrives. No contact with anyone including your team. Do you understand Major?" biting her tongue not saying what she really wanted to she replied "Yes Sir." the SF's came and escorted the major to her upscale cell without problems.
"What do you think Harry?" George asked. "I think she's lying through her teeth Sir. I can't prove it yet but I will." he answered honestly. The general nodded in agreement reaching for his phone. "Walter, send in Specialist Tam." He ordered. Harry gave him a questioning look. "You'll see colonel." A moment later there was a knock at the door. "Enter…" he spoke. "SPC Tam reporting as ordered Sir." River answered standing at attention. "At ease specialist, is she telling the truth?" he asked cutting to the chase. "Sir, Major Rollins is lying about her knowledge of her grandfather's status. She was working for him as an asset. Her mind deceives her." she replied then looked at Harry.
"Your related to Colonel O'Neill." she said without any reservation. Harry was totally caught off guard at her comment. What Specialist Tam said was true. His mother was Jacks aunt. George smirked knowing that River confirmed a long-held suspicion. "Is this true colonel, are you related to Colonel O'Neill?" Both men had agreed to keep this information between them. There was no need for anyone else to know. "Yes Sir. My mother was his father's sister. Just how did you figure it out Spc. Tam?" He asked in a serious tone.
River looked at the general as he nodded his head. "Nirrti captured and altered my DNA. She gave me the ability to read minds among other things. Her goal was to use me as an advanced host, she failed." River finished explaining. "Okay, I don't doubt you one bit. The only question I have is why are you sharing this information with me?" He asked wondering what else she might have gleaned from his mind. "The two of you will be working together while conducting your investigation. I needed you to know of her abilities. Tam's abilities are classified Colonel Maybourne." He finished. "Understood Sir, this will be loads of fun." Harry smiled at the thought of having a living breathing truth detector. This interrogation was going to be way too easy. In the back of his mind warning bells were going off though. He would have to watch his thoughts as not to show any deep dark secrets.