Hello everyone, I'm so sorry for the delayed update and that this may not be so good- please dont be disappointed! I'm revising 24/7 for my exams but after 26th May I'll be updating like there's no tomorrow don't you worry. But until then I could publish at any given time, It's whenever I have a minute to write you see. Thank you soooo much for the reviews that bring joy to my day, especially to DwarfRunner, dpdp, houghtam and jean d'arc! Enjoy, it's short and sweet.
O'Neill: (hectically) Sir! They were going through Carter's stuff!? Surely they're breaking some sort of rule like… I don't know- invasion of privacy!
Hammond: Colonel please calm down, I understand this situation is difficult to comprehend and this reaction is exactly why I did not inform you of it straight away.
O'Neill: I am second in command of this base, and Carter is a member of my team I should have been informed right away!
Daniel: You don't know the device is hers do you?
Hammond: (offended) Dr Jackson, if I didn't think the device was the Major's I wouldn't have put a woman I've known her whole life in a holding cell would I?
Daniel: Then why didn't you tell Jack- or anyone- about it?
Hammond: Because I wanted to be certain. This is a sensitive matter.
O'Neill: (annoyed) Why'd you let God damn Wade be apart of it but not me?
Hammond: (bluntly) He was present when the device was found.
O'Neill: Sir, I could have gotten Carter out of this mess.
Hammond: Jack, the evidence against her is building up.
O'Neill: (Shouts almost pleading) But she's INNOCENT!
Hammond: (Scans the room then looks back at Jack) And this is why I didn't get you involved.
O'Neill: (confused) Wha- what is why?
Hammond: You're too emotionally involved. (Daniel looks at Jack then at Teal'c then at the ground. Jack turns round to check on his teammates and he could tell they were looking at him and had quickly faced the ground. He looks back at the General gobsmacked)
O'Neill: (tensing his jaw) I'm… too… what?
Daniel: (awkwardly) Um sorry, I think this isn't really going anywhere so I would like to go and check on Sam to see how she's doing.
Hammond: That's fine, you're dismissed.
Teal'c: With your permission General Hammond, I too would like to visit Major Carter.
Hammond: Go ahead. (Teal'c exits) And yes, you are. (Jack opens his mouth to argue) And Colonel, it's understandable, she's a valuable member of your team.
O'Neill: I've had Carter's life in my hands a lot- far too many times to my liking- and each time, well look she's still alive to tell the tale. Although now she may be wishing otherwise.
Hammond: Yes, you have been responsible for her well-being a lot over the past few years, but every time I've seen what it does to you. Off the record, I know you have a lot of concern for her, whenever something bad happens to her I can see the way it impacts on you. You go to extremes in your head, I can see you trying to rationalise every word so you don't give anything away, but I didn't get into my position by believing the words that come out of people's mouths.
O'Neill: Sir, I'd do the same for Daniel or Teal'c, we're a close team.
Hammond: (Smirks and shakes his head) Tell yourself that, but don't go trying to fool the rest of us.
O'Neill: I still would have liked to have known she was being arrested.
Hammond: I know, and looking back on it maybe I could have told you but I couldn't take the chance that you or another member of your team would do something erratic.
O'Neill: You know we never would sir, we're only looking out for her.
Hammond: Yes I know that, but Colonel there is nothing you can do.
O'Neill: She didn't do it!
Hammond: I believe you, well I really want to. This situation is very difficult, I know Major Carter would never imagine betraying us but evidence says otherwise. (Looks down and gives a fond smile) Hell, as a kid she'd never even tell on her brother if he took the last of the cookies that Jacob kept for his coffee.
O'Neill: Is there anything… you could do?
Hammond: (offended) You don't think I've tried? Not only have I had an unearthly amount of lack of sleep trying to get the case of her back, now this new found evidence is about there's no way around it! Jack, I get you care about her, but you are not the only one and you need to understand that. Daniel and Teal'c are just as concerned for her as you are. So go down there and show your support, then use your time to help her win this case because if she doesn't then God knows what'll happen.
O'Neill: Yeah, I'll probably go check on her.
Scene change- O'Neill arrives at level 16, Daniel is just exiting Carter's cell, he looks disturbed.
Daniel: (very hollow) Jack give her a minute.
O'Neill: What, why?
Daniel: She wants a moment alone, she was quite upset in there.
O'Neill: (looks down at ground then back at him) Where's Teal'c?
Daniel: He actually went in first, he only left a few minutes ago someone needed me to translate something but it was the Goa'uld script we were working on so he said he's go. That was about three seconds before Sam lost it.
O'Neill: Crap, is she alright now?
Daniel: Probably not.
O'Neill: I'm going in anyways. (He and Daniel nod at each other and the guards open the door to Sam's cell, she's pacing around. She's obviously just been crying but she's putting on a brave front, its only the look in her eyes that give her away, her hair is messy to show she's been running her hands through it and her hands are a little shaky. She's startled when he walks in) Hey, sorry didn't mean to interrupt.
Carter: (croaky voice to show she's just put herself together but she sounds firm) No, sir it's fine.
O'Neill: So I came to let you know that there's pie for lunch today, rumour has it it's real meat.
Carter: Oh wow, what a treat sir.
O'Neill: Yeah isn't it just. (itches his head) Nice place you got here.
Carter: (smiles) Thanks sir.
O'Neill: Could use with some colour on the wall if you ask me, maybe a blue.
Carter: (uncertain) Blue?
O'Neill: You're right, maybe a yellow.
Carter: That could work sir.
O'Neill: Bulbs are a little dull too, might wanna change those, also maybe a lampshade.
Carter: Got any recommendations?
O'Neill: You'd be surprised what you get with your everyday Walmart.
Carter: Sir I never pictured you as a Walmart guy.
O'Neill: Yeah I'm not. (she smiles and he gives an acknowledging nod) So, how you holding up?
Carter: Yeah I'm fine sir.
O'Neill: Call me crazy but I'm not convinced of that.
Carter: The situation sucks sir.
O'Neill: Tell me about it.
Carter: (pacing to herself) I just… I swear on my life I do not have a Goa'uld communication decide sir! I would never do such a thing and I don't know why nobody is believing me-
O'Neill: I believe you Carter. (she doesn't acknowledge he's said anything and continues rambling)
Carter: My track record is perfect-well mostly perfect I mean going against orders to save the planet a few times has happened but otherwise I've done nothing wrong. In fact some people call me uptight when it comes to orders, I don't disobey them let a lone betray my planet-
O'Neill: Carter, I believe you. (she doesn't listen to him again)
Carter: I don't know how that device got into my locker sir because it wasn't me! When I was on that planet, whenever I wasn't being beaten by some misogynistic ass, I was trying to find out who the infiltrator was not expect to be accused of being the person myself! I honestly don't know what to do, someone is out for me or something, I don't understand why this is happening I mean I hoped I'd be believed, but I guess this 'evidence'-
O'Neill: Carter! (she jumps and looks at him eyes wide open) I believe you. (she exhales and gives a small smile)
Carter: You do?
O'Neill: Always. (She gives a slight smile full of sincerity and her eyes tear up) You do know, it's okay to get worked up every once in a while, I mean Carter you are still human.
Carter: (smirks) If I cry like some irrational little girl people will certainly think less of me.
O'Neill: Carter, you're braver than anybody else on this base.
Carter: (Tears in her eyes, almost a whisper) Sir, what am I going to do to…
O'Neill: (walks towards her so they're a foot apart) Hey, you've got nothing to worry about. We're all gonna be working our asses off for you.
Carter: But what if it's not enough.
O'Neill: One way or another I'll ensure you get out of this. (She frowns unsure) Just now I was with Hammond and he said a few things, one of them is how I go to extremes for you. Carter, (takes a step forward) I- (looks down at her, she's looking at the ground) Do you remember the Za'tarc test, (she looks up her eyes swelled with tears ready to escape) what I said still stands and will always stand. I would rather die myself than lose you- or let anything happen to you. (locked eye contact) And do you know why that is?
Carter: (chokes on a tear, still maintaining eye contact) Because you care about me.
O'Neill: (smiles) A lot more than I'm supposed to.
(she's about to burst into tears) Come here. (he pulls her into his arms and she cries, he holds her tightly and then she pulls away looking up at him)
Carter: Sir, I never say this but… I'm scared.
O'Neill: Hey, of course you are. but I've got you. (she leans her head into him and quietly sobs, he places a kiss on the top of her head)
Until next time X (also if there's any errors sorry I'm extremely sleep deprived so that's why as it's early hours AM here in the UK)