Chapter 12
Sam, Jack and Mac arrived home first. Mac went running, while Sam and Jack went into his lounge. Sam knew it was time they had a talk. She had left without any words of goodbye after all. She knew if they'd done it she would have been hurt and felt lucky they had found it in themselves to help her and Jake get away from Pete.
"Sir," she began, knowing this was her chance to apologise. He laughed slightly
"I haven't been your CO for a long time now Sam" he pointed out, saying nothing he wasn't going to let her get out of this one so easy.
"I know. Jack" she began again
"I won't apologise for leaving the SGC, I couldn't risk Jake not having a mother. I didn't stay on base and wait cus I didn't want to cause a scene. I was going to wait figuring you'd come to my house."
"We did, you were gone"
"I know, when I arrived back Pete was waiting, he'd been promoted it started immediately. Deputy Police Chief, their one had been shot and they needed a replacement. Pete told me then suggested we go on a drive before I knew it we were half way there" Sam revealed, "he thought he'd told me we were driving straight up but I didn't, when we arrived he had picked out a lovely house even got it decorated with a nursery. It was nice; I just wished I got some choice. Anyway I wrote you all letters, long, long letters, sent it and received no reply. I wrote so many and never got any response, even invited you to come to my wedding."
"I never received a thing" Jack said honestly shocked,
"I know, I spoke to Janet and she said the same thing, Pete said he had posted them on the way to work, I guess he never did they just always came back returned unopened" Sam said sadly shaking her head.
She had understood why they hadn't contacted her, it went with what Pete had been saying she was a horrible person. Everyone she loved had left, and then they wouldn't reply to her letters, she had just assumed now they didn't have to see her they had chosen not to. She knew how hard it was keeping up with everyone while working on active duty at the SGC. Having moved a lot she was used to losing friends and the difficulties of keeping in touch.
"I kept the letters, there in one of the boxes." Sam stood up going to the box, she pulled out a folder with resealed envelopes in. True to her word they were addressed to each of them and there were at least 15 letters each all with returned to sender on them. She handed him the ones addressed to him.
"Why don't you finally read them I think I need to go for a nap" Sam said. Jack nodded as he fingered the letters. He read them all one by one. She had told him everything in them, how Pete was hurting her, how he was getting therapy, there were photos of Jake, he was reading them as Mac came back.
"Wow you have great running tracks" she commented before realising something was wrong.
"Sam gave me her letters; damn I wish that bastard has posted them" Jack said angry. Mac sat down next to him, aware talking at this point would just annoy him further. They had that in common.
"Jack can I read them it might help Sam's case especially with the postage stamp" Mac asked, Jack shrugged.
"We should ask Sam"
"Its fine," a voice from the stairs told them. "Anything that will help put him away" Mac nodded,
"First I will shower" Mac decided going upstairs to use the bathroom. Sam just sat next to Jack on the sofa and rested her head on his shoulder needing his presence.
Soon the others returned from the zoo with Jake and Lizzy telling them everything that they had missed. When they'd been put to bed Sam, Jack and Mac informed them of the plan before they all retired for the night.
The next day was spent in Jacks house painting pictures and cooking. With everyone it felt like a real family. Even Mac who had only known Jack until a few days back felt like she belonged here, she wasn't looking forward to going back to Washington even if Harm, Harriet and Bud where there.
It was the following day that they got the call. They were ready to investigate. Sam and Mac would be wired. Jack would stay at home, if Pete saw him there he'd get suspicious. Someone had mentioned Jacob and Lizzy going too but Sam and Jack quickly vetoed that. They weren't going to risk their kids for this. With promises from Jack, Teal'c and Daniel that they weren't going to let Jake out of their sight Sam and Mac left for the station.
As they nearer Sam tensed controlling her breathing. Mac noticed giving her a sympathetic smile.
"It'll be ok, remember I'll be with you the whole time and internal affairs have their guys on standby". Sam nodded she knew all this.
They entered the station, the receptionist recognising Sam, she stood coming over to greet her.
"Mrs Shanahan I heard about your attack I'm so sorry, your husband is in his office would you like me to call him?" She asked.
"No that's ok; I need to talk to detectives Alison Parks and Roger Mollom please" the receptionist nodded calling them. They came in taking Sam and Mac to an integration room. As soon as they were out of earshot the pretty receptionist called Pete giving him the heads up unaware she was being observed.
Inside the integration room Sam and Mac were seated.
"You wanted to see us?" Alison began
"It's about my statement, I lied. There weren't any burglars," Sam began but Roger interrupted
"We've already arrested 2 people in connection to this they both confessed" Sam shook her head looking at Mac who squeezed her hand as a show of support.
"It wasn't them it was Pete, he beat me up and hit Jake, he has been hitting me for a few years now, well since before Jake was born" Sam told them. The detectives exchanged glances.
"Mrs Shanahan this has been a great shock, let me ring your husband get him to take you home" Roger said. Sam shook her head as Mac spoke
"My client is not confused and has a doctor willing to provide evidence as will Jake to the nature of her injuries." The detectives looked at each other.
"Interview terminated at 1100, Mrs Shanahan, I think I better find your husband let him talk sense into you" Roger stood up, before looking at Alison, who followed him out. Sam by this time had a death grip on Mac's hand.
Alison returned less than a minute later,
"Mam I'm probably going to get sacked for this but the witnesses were wanted for a bigger crime the evidence was all there then it was gone, they then confessed to the lesser crime of attacking you. Police Chief ordered us to drop it. My advice is get out of here while you can. Most of the force is scared of him a few are ignorant but some enjoy it, see being a police officer as an unbeatable thug. Please get out of here now" Alison said her voice trembling. Sam smiled
"I can't but thank you" she said as Alison left. It wasn't long before Pete came down his deputy in tow.
"Sammie I've been so worried, where did you go let's get you home, where is Jacob?" he asked sounding concerned.
"We are over Pete, you won't hit me again" Sam told him. Pete laughed ignoring her turning to Mac
"Who are you?" he asked
"I'm Samantha's lawyer" Mac said. Pete laughed as did his deputy.
"Samantha has been suffering mental health problems for several years now including delusions; Pete has been caring for his wife despite these difficult circumstances. The attack made her mental health problems worse and we are really concerned for the safety of Jacob." The deputy said. Mac pretended to consider this but she knew it was a lie, a convincing one but a lie all the same.
"I assume you have evidence of Samantha's mental condition" Mac asked, Pete nodded pulling out a folder. Mac looked it over. The forgeries were almost undetectable.
"I need to talk to my client alone" she told them, they both smirked.
"Sam this might be our chance I don't like leaving you but it might mean more of Pete's supporters come out. Maybe I could even feel them out, but it's up to you" Sam nodded she knew this was her chance she dreaded it but had the reassurance she could get out of it at any time.
"Ok," Mac left, going outside complaining how her client was insane and she was never going to get paid. She saw the receptionist asking if she could call her a cab then began gossiping. She found out pretty quickly Pete had been having an affair with the receptionist. Mac subtly asked if there was any way they could lose a parking ticket she had the receptionist nodded and told her that as she'd brought Sam back the chief would probably help her out.
Sam was having a worse time after Mac had left Pete had told her she was going to pay for this so bad. He'd demanded to know where Jake was. Sam had refused to tell him. So was currently in a cell in protective custody. She wondered how long she would have to wait. It wasn't long before a detective she hadn't seen came in. He began talking telling her she was going to be arrested for abduction; Sam knew he was trying to scare her but she had to admit it was working.
"Hey babe" Pete said opening the door, Sam glared at him, "It's okay your safe now, I'm here" he came over and hugged her. "Sammie you might not remember but you're not very well. We need to know where Jacob is Sammie." Pete said, Sam looked at him glaring
"I'm not ill and I'm never going to tell you" Sam told him, he slapped her, his temper flaring.
"Where is he you bitch, you don't understand I have won, they think you're crazy. I have a nice little prescription for some sedatives, maybe finally you'll be the good little wife and I won't have to send cops over to the house to check on you or order them to follow you around to make sure your doing what you're meant to. I want to know where my son is Sammie, I haven't bribed this whole station to lose it now I can do whatever I want to you and nobody will stop me. I checked with Mark and Jacob isn't there. I told him all about your mental breakdown. Your friends don't love you Sam not like I do. Nobody loves you like I do" He started shaking her,
"So why are you screwing the receptionist, I was always faithful to you Pete, even when you beat me up. How many more are there Pete?"
"Lots, you weren't good enough I needed more" They heard shouts from outside Sam knew it was the cavalry arriving.
"It's over Pete I won; they've got evidence of your corruption, or your abuse. You lost me, your job, and Jake." She told him. He opened the door seeing the agents swarm in he knew there was no escape so he went for Sam. Thinking he was fleeing, it took her by surprise when he grabbed her slamming her head into the bench. This time however Sam knew whatever happened Jake was safe. She elbowed him before grabbing him and flipping him over. He fell as she placed him in a lock as the police surrounded her. As soon as it was safe she let him go ignoring the people trying to help her. It was over she just wanted to hug her baby. Outside Mac was waiting by the car giving her statement to an officer. It was going to be a long process working out who were the rats and who were being threatened but knowing one cop in the station who was honest helped. Sam went over to her Mac stopped seeing Sam with blood covering her head.
"Sam, are you ok? I should take you to a hospital" Mac said, Sam shook her head
"No I need to see Jacob, please let me go home and see my baby" Sam begged. Against her better judgement Mac agreed to drive to Janet's rather than the hospital. She figured that Janet could look over any immediate injuries and if Sam needed to go to a hospital her friends would convince her easily.
They arrived at Jack's where before they'd even left the car the door had opened. Mac got out the car, as Jack opened the door to Sam's. Seeing that she was bleeding he brought her out. Janet was there looking at her head.
"Let's get her inside," she ordered, Jack nodded picking her up. Sam protested but it was ignored. Inside he placed her on the sofa as Daniel went to get Janet's first aid bag.
"I'm okay guys" Sam said as she saw Jake come into the room looking worried. He hadn't known what had been going on just that everyone had been worried. He knew it had been around his mother somehow. Nobody would tell him where she was or what was going on, even Lizzy hadn't been told. Now she was back and her head was bleeding. Ignoring everyone he ran to his mum. Sam caught him needing to hug her son as much as he needed his mum.
Janet left them as long as she could but needed to check out Sam.
"Jacob sweetie I need to check out your mummy, why don't you go and play with Lizzy?" Janet asked, Jake shook his head not wanting to leave his mum.
"Jakey could you get me some water?" Sam asked Jake reluctantly got up.
Janet sat down, checking Sam's wound relieved to see it wasn't too deep and there wasn't a skull fracture. Next she checked Sam's pupils, they reacted normally.
"How much pain, any nausea and any other injuries?" She asked, Sam shook her head; Janet applied steerostrips before taping some gauze over it, hoping that would hold.
"No he slammed my head, other than grabbing my arms that's it" Janet nodded as Jacob came back in with the water. Sam used it to swallow the painkillers.
"I'm going for a nap, Mac can fill you in, I'm guessing Janet will want me awake in 2 hours." Sam guessed Janet nodded. Jacob took her hand following her out he wasn't going to let her out of his sight yet which Sam had been counting on she wanted to cuddle him for a bit glad the worst of the ordeal was over.
As soon as Sam had left and Cassie had taken Lizzy out Mac began. She told them as much as she knew. They were all incensed at the thought he was going to get her declared mentally unstable. Realising that if she hadn't found them she'd be drugged up to her eyeballs leaving herself and Jake totally vulnerable to Pete.
"So what is next?" Daniel asked Mac.
"Internal affairs got it all on tape; they'll want to interview Sam, Janet, Jake and Lizzy to get a statement to support that interview. Once that is done they'll interview every member of that police department trying to work out who was bribed, who was forced and who was innocent. They face a huge clean-up operation. Then they will have to work out the implication on any person they have put away or haven't put away. All prisoners will have the right to appeal technically as any evidence that has been touched by any cop that was corrupt could have been compromised. Luckily Pete would have little impact on day to day case running, and since Colorado PD was recently involved in a scandal they've tightened evidence protocols. This will make it slightly easier." Mac explained glad she wasn't a lawyer here. Every case tried would be reviewed.
"What's the fall out going to be for Sam?" Daniel asked. Mac sighed
"I don't know. In the short term there is going to be a lot of press interest local and national. In the long term as she could be seen as the whistle blower there might be a lot of pissed off cops."
"We'll need to talk to Carter decide what is best." Jack told them. "Jake and Lizzy's school doesn't break up for a while, but if needs be we could home school them, Carter has maths and science, Doc biology, Danny languages, I can do sport with Teal'c, we can all cover English" he said thinking aloud. The others nodded.