Scene change- SG1, apart from Carter, are sat at the briefing room table anticipating the General, he walks in with good look on his face and takes a seat.
Hammond: Thank you for coming back when requested.
O'Neill: You said it was very important, everything seems fine around here.
Hammond: Earlier today Major Carter was released from imprisonment and sent home.
Daniel & Jack: What? How?
Hammond: A young man named Captain Rogers came forward and accepted full responsibility for the crime. A little later Major Carter returns to my office confessing to be the one who is feeding the Goa'uld information. We have released Captain Rogers and have put Major Carter away again.
Daniel: What, why would she do that?
O'Neill: Carter is not the snake, now that I am certain of.
Hammond: I have no idea why. She didn't look like she believed a word she was saying, but she said it which made me obliged to act upon it.
Teal'c: It does not make sense why Major Carter would do such a thing.
Hammond: I know. Major Carter did look pretty rough I won't lie. I've bought you some time to get to the bottom of it by having her remain here for an extra 48 hours due to medical reasons. I won't keep you here much longer, just go and see what is going on here because I don't feel up to putting an innocent person away today. Dismissed.
SG1 make their way to Level 16, SFs open her door and they storm in.
O'Neill: Carter what the hell is going on?!
Daniel: (stops Jack) Sam what happened to your face and we- what happened?
Carter: I'm fine Daniel, and sir I'm sorry but I had to confess.
O'Neill: Confess to what? You didn't do anything!
Carter: Sir you have to trust me.
O'Neill: No you have to tell me whats going on. What happened to your face?
Carter: I ah, I fell down some stairs.
Daniel: You don't have stairs.
Carter: I was on a walk.
Daniel: Where?
Carter: (annoyed) Oh Daniel does it really matter?
Teal'c: It does matter because we are concerned for your wellbeing Major Carter.
Carter: I'm okay.
O'Neill: We heard you had some torn stitches, and no offence but you don't exactly look swell.
Carter: Sir-
Daniel: Sam give us something to go on, why are you doing this?
Carter: (desperately) Because I did it!
O'Neill: (raises his voice) No you didn't!
Carter: (regretful) Look, I know it's hard to hear but I have betrayed you all and I'm sorry, but I need to suffer the consequences.
Daniel: Why are you lying to us?
Carter: (begging) Oh please! Just believe me.
O'Neill: (shouting) Then tell me! Look me dead in the eye Carter and lie to me. (walks up to her, they have a few seconds eye contact, his anger soothes and her eyes water, she swallows and then speaks)
Carter: I did it.
O'Neill: Bullshit Carter. (turns around and walks out aggressively opening the door and then swinging it shut causing Sam to jump)
Daniel: You know Sam this isn't easy on anybody.
Carter: Yeah, must be real hard for you on the opposite side of these bars.
Daniel: Sam-
Carter: Look Daniel I'm sorry. You just have to trust me, I'm doing the right thing here.
Daniel: Well at least you understand what you're doing but we sure as hell don't. See you later, we're gonna try and find a way to prove you innocent whether you like it or not. (Daniel exits, Teal'c nods at Sam then follows him, she's left feeling guilty that she just lied to her friends)
Daniel, Teal'c and Jack are in Daniel's office.
Teal'c: It is most strange that Major Carter is now accepting blame for a crime she did not commit.
Daniel: Maybe someone said something to her?
O'Neill: Who? And what could someone say, she was so desperate to get out. Then as soon as Hammond gives her the green light she goes and turns herself in.
Teal'c: Perhaps she was approached during the time she had left the facility and the time in which she returned.
O'Neill: What before or after she 'fell down some stairs'?
Daniel: You think she's lying about that too?
O'Neill: (fed up) Don't even pretend like you believe her Daniel.
Daniel: No I don't, I just, I don't get why she's doing this. Someone must have got to her good.
O'Neill: She wouldn't do something because she got beat up that's for sure, they must have said something.
Daniel: But what?
O'Neill: If I knew that we wouldn't be discussing it!
Daniel: I know we can get through to Sam we just have to keep trying.
Teal'c: I will go and visit her.
O'Neill: Okay, let us know if you find out anything. (he nods and leaves) Who even is Captain Rogers anyways, why would he take the bullet for Carter?
Daniel: He's the one who was on SG3 when they accompanied us to P3X 564.
O'Neill: Where?
Daniel: The rocky planet where Sam got herself trapped in that cave.
O'Neill: Ohh yeah. Ah the kid with the blonde hair? The one who kept showing us pictures.
Daniel: Yeah and you then snapped at him and told him we weren't at a mothers meeting.
O'Neill: (defensive) what? we weren't!
Daniel: I don't get why he'd do it, like he doesn't even know Sam so why take the plunge for her
O'Neill: Maybe a crush.
Daniel: Are you having a laugh?
O'Neill: What? You never know.
Daniel: He's married with a family.
O'Neill: That hasn't stopped a lot of people. (awkward silence) Anyway, we need to talk to this Captain Rogers kid to find out why he came forward as a starting point to why Carter is now trying to convince the world she did a crime she didn't do. (Daniel nods)
Scene change- Teal'c is on his way to see Sam, he steps into the elevator and the only person inside of it is Wade.
Wade: Hey Teal'c.
Teal'c: (nods) Major Wade. You seem to have gained some bruises since we last spoke.
Wade: Ah yeah, wrestling match with Ferretti got a little out of hand.
Teal'c: I was unaware that Major Ferretti was a good wrestler.
Wade: (jokily) Yeah so was I! Where you off to now?
Teal'c: To visit Major Carter.
Wade: Oh. Yeah I heard she turned herself in willingly, I mean I know I thought it was her but I didn't truly believe it you know.
Teal'c: I am certain Major Carter did not do this and that she has been set up, we intend to investigate into the matter.
Wade: (taken back) Ah wow really. Well let me know if there's anything I can do.
Teal'c: I do not think O'Neill, Dr Jackson or I would require your assistance.
Wade: Ah yeah I guess I get that. (shrugs) But hey, at least there's some of the Major Carter we know left in her.
Teal'c: What are you implying? She is the same Major Carter now as she was a month ago.
Wade: Well when Captain Rogers came forward she took full responsibility.
Teal'c: (raises an eyebrow and thinks for a moment) Well perhaps that only shows her conscience is clear.
Wade: I'm afraid that's not exactly a common view. (doors open) See you later Teal'c.
Scene change- Daniel, Teal'c and Jack eating their dinner in the mess hall.
O'Neill: Get anything off Carter?
Teal'c: She was most verbally adamant that she did it.
Daniel: Verbally?
Teal'c: She was trying to convince me of the matter, but it appeared as if she was trying to convince herself also. She had to think before answering many of my inquires which suggests-
Daniel: That she's making it up. Like what we've been saying.
Teal'c: Indeed.
O'Neill: How is she holding up though?
Teal'c: She does not appear distraught however I do not doubt that she is miserable. Did you come into contact with Captain Rogers?
O'Neill: No, he had to help transfer some crap to Area 51 which is a little too convenient for my liking.
Daniel: Yeah especially as it was something SG3 picked up.
Teal'c: I spoke with Major Wade earlier today.
O'Neill: What did he want?
Teal'c: Nothing, he offered his assistance on our investigations but I declined his offer.
O'Neill: Good.
Daniel: Janet mentioned to me today that Wade paid her a visit.
Teal'c: Indeed, he has minor injuries from a wrestling match with Ferretti.
O'Neill: (chokes on food amused) What?! As in my Ferreti?
Teal'c: Indeed.
O'Neill: Teal'c, Daniel's a better wrestler than Ferretti how the hell would he have beaten Wade up.
Daniel: (sarcastically) Thanks Jack.
O'Neill: How bad did he look?
Teal'c: He had a black eye, and several bruises and scratches on the skin that was visible to me. I did find it quite strange that Major Ferretti would take a simple match so far.
O'Neill: Ferretti never would, as soon as one of us would get out of breath he'd offer to take a break- he'd never beat someone up like that.
Daniel: (after a little pause of thinking) Teal'c, did Wade look like he'd been in a fight?
Teal'c: I have also concluded to what you are thinking Daniel Jackson, I have not approached discussing the idea yet.
O'Neill: (confused) Thinking what?-Approaching what?
Daniel: It might be far fetched so just between us, what if Wade got his injuries off Sam.
O'Neill: What you think Carter went over and beat the crap out of him? She would never do that.
Daniel: No as in, I don't know. From what Teal'c is saying Wade has been in a fight, Sam has obviously been beaten pretty badly and she's lying to us about it. What if we've been right all along about Wade I mean it does make sense. It was under his instruction that Captain Rogers be there when transporting the technology found on P3X 564. Maybe Wade approached, well more like attacked, Sam once she was released and she defended herself against him.
O'Neill: Daniel as much as I hate the guy why on earth would be attack Carter?!
Daniel: I have no idea.
Teal'c: His injuries are most certainly within Major Carter's capabilities.
Daniel: She would have done it in self defence.
O'Neill: He's dead if this theory turns out to be true. Why don't we go talk to Carter.
Daniel: One of us should stay to be able to talk to Captain Rogers as soon as he's back.
Teal'c: I will remain.
O'Neill: Thanks T. (Daniel and Jack exit)
Scene change- Jack and Daniel are visiting Sam.
Daniel: How you doing?
Carter: As good as I can be in this situation.
O'Neill: Get many visitors?
Carter: Not as many now as I'm no longer innocent. I'm sorry to have let you down like this sir, I know you all trusted me and-
O'Neill: (fed up) Oh cut the crap Carter.
Carter: Sir-
O'Neill: No 'sirs', I know you didn't do it. Anyways I didn't come here to hear your story of how you felt guilty for someone else taking the blame for something you did NOT do, we wanna know what happened to your face and well- the rest of you.
Carter: I already told you sir.
O'Neill: Carter cut me some slack, with you I can only cope with a certain amount of lies at a time you know. It's just me and Daniel in this room, you don't have to keep up your act.
Daniel: We're doing everything we can to help you know.
Carter: I know and I appreciate your help but (eyes tear up) there's nothing you can do.
O'Neill: Teal'c saw Wade earlier, says he's pretty beaten up.
Carter: Oh really, what happened?
Daniel: Wrestling match gone wrong apparently. But you know what Teal'c said to us?
Carter: What?
Daniel: His injuries were within your capabilities.
Carter: (defensive) What are you implying Daniel?
O'Neill: That perhaps you didn't fall down some stairs and that something happened between you and Wade.
Carter: Sir that's-
O'Neill: (Frustrated) Stop it! I don't know why out of everyone you're choosing to lie to you're lying to us! We're a team Carter whether you like it or not, would you just be honest with us!
Carter: (argumentative) I thought out of everyone you'd understand sir.
O'Neill: What?
Carter: (change of atmosphere to more tense) Well it's not like you haven't lied to SG1 before is it?
O'Neill: Excuse me?
Carter: Well for starters, that time where you completely deceived while on a secret mission on behalf of the general?
O'Neill: Wow Carter, really? That was like two years ago for crying out loud! (Pauses) Um Daniel, could you give us a minute.
Daniel: Um… Sam, you gonna be okay?
Carter: Yeah, my CO obviously wants to drill something into me without a witness present.
O'Neill: (annoyed and shocked at Carter's tone) Daniel just get the hell out! (Daniel exits waving his arms around as if to sarcastically surrender) Carter care to explain yourself?
Carter: I'm just doing what you've done.
O'Neill: So you're admitting you're lying, there's a start. (she rolls her eyes) So why you doing this, your way of getting back at me? Well you're two years too late.
Carter: (laughs) Yes sir, I'm doing this to get back at you. I'm throwing away my entire career, let alone LIFE, to get back at you?!
O'Neill: Look you're not exactly in the best place, I mean there was the whole Adrian Conrad thing a couple weeks ago, then Kyran, you being accused of being the snitch, and now you confessing to it. A lot is on your plate so I'm trying, really trying, to understand. But unless you're honest it's going to take time, time we don't have.
Carter: Sir, this is my only option you have to trust me.
O'Neill: No you have to trust me.
Carter: (emotional, raising her voice to be firm but her voice is shaky) You know what it's like to keep something to yourself, to hide it from the people that you care about. Although I doubt hiding your undercover mission effected you much, I'm sure you can imagine what it's like for me to lie to everyone around me, especially those I care about.
O'Neill: I don't know why you're bringing this up. I did what I had to do, I was ordered not to tell you and yeah that sucked. I said things and did things I didn't want, but it was to protect you all. But unless your lying is a direct order from Hammond then you feeling bad about this is on you because nobody has told you to do this.
Carter: I didn't wake up this morning and decide this is what I wanted to do.
O'Neill: Yeah exactly, so what happened? (she doesn't answer) Carter, did Wade approach you after you left the base? (Continues just staring at him) Carter?
Carter: (whisper) Yes sir.
O'Neill: (walks up to the bars so they're a meter apart) And did he hurt you? (she doesn't respond) Carter please, did he do that to you?
Carter: It's my word against his.
O'Neill: What happened?
Carter: (whimper) I can't say.
O'Neill: Why? You're protected, I'll make sure he's allowed no where near you. But then you'd never put yourself in this position to protect yourself, who are you protecting?
Carter: I can't say
O'Neill: Is it Rogers?
Carter: Sir-
O'Neill: Carter I'm not having you go through a court martial for something you did not do. It's gotten to the point where too many people are hurting you to get their own way, if I had it my way you'd be under my watch and Kyran, Wade and anybody else wouldn't see the light of day again. Hell, if I had it my way, you'd… (Steps forward, they're as close as they can be and they're staring at each other) You'd… (he gives a smile while both staring into each other's eyes enchantingly)
Carter: (suggestive) Be out of this cell?
O'Neill: (a small chuckle still looking at each other) Yeah, something like that. (both give a subtle smile)