Despite the array of weapons aimed at him, O'Neill's defiance blazed like a beacon, refusing to be extinguished.
"You can't hold me here. There are two of us. So, unless the other me has kicked the bucket..." he taunted with a grin.
Landry, a pillar of composure, faced O'Neill's provocation head-on.
"He's still breathing and alive, and we're all too familiar with the entropic cascade failure. That's why, General, you're heading to the brig this instant, and we're about to have a serious conversation with your team to sort out some things," Landry declared, nodding toward SG-1.
"Please stand up, General," Daniel urged, his weapon trained on O'Neill.
However, O'Neill remained seated.
"It would be wise to do as you're told, O'Neill," Teal'c advised sternly.
O'Neill turned to Teal'c with a smirk. "Really? And why is that?" he inquired with a hint of amusement.
Teal'c slowly leveled a zat gun at him. "Because if you do not comply with General Landry's order, I'll zat you and then carry you to the brig. I assure you it will be a most unpleasant journey," he warned firmly.
O'Neill's nervous gulp was audible as he reluctantly obeyed the order and stood up. The room was thick with tension as he was escorted out, but before he left, he cast a final glance back at Professor Todd.
"Sort this out immediately," he ordered, his tone firm, though his expression betrayed a hint of uncertainty for the first time since he had arrived.
The SGC stopped as SG-1 escorted General Jack O'Neill to the brig, even though they knew he came from an alternate reality. Clad in his impeccable dress blues, his medals glinting as he strode through the corridors, it was a sight to behold. However, another Jack O'Neill, who had remained in the control room with his wife, caught sight of this unexpected turn of events. He hadn't anticipated this move from Hank Landry or the President. Despite keeping an eye on the briefing room, knowing who would be present, his mouth fell open in disbelief as he witnessed O'Neill being escorted out by SG-1. Now, he had to find out what had happened because this wasn't in the plans he knew.
Sam noticed something amiss the moment she glanced at him. Her program ran smoothly, and they had regained control of the Stargate.
"What's wrong, Jack?" she inquired as she observed him pass a hand over his face and briefly close his eyes.
He regarded her with a peculiar expression. "I'm not sure, but I intend to find out. Don't leave this room, understand?" he said hushedly.
Sam arched an eyebrow. "You're not supposed to leave either," she reminded him.
"I need to sort something out, then I'll be back. I promise," he assured her, giving a quick kiss before leaving.
However, Sam knew him well enough to grab his arm. "Don't do anything reckless, Jack," she cautioned.
He flashed a smile.
"Of course not," he replied, though he hated deceiving the woman he loved. He hastily exited the control room and paused near the briefing room. The door wasn't entirely closed, allowing him to eavesdrop with caution. Inside, they debated the legalities of detaining the alternate O'Neill.
"You have no evidence aside from her testimony," Professor Todd reiterated.
With a sigh, Professor Black attempted to maintain composure.
"My esteemed colleague, we're dealing with a complex situation here. We have alternate realities that aren't contemplated in the United States Code at all or the UCMJ or any legal code, for that matter, a rape accusation, desertion charges, and an extradition request. Plus, your General O'Neill was recently promoted to Chief of Staff of the Air Force," he explained with a slight smile.
Daniel furrowed his brow. "What does that have to do with anything?" he queried.
Black's smile widened. "How often do you see a Chief of Staff of the Air Force accused of sexual assault?" he posed.
Both Daniel and Professor Todd fell silent. Landry then stepped in as if part of a rehearsed dance.
"It's clear this is a complicated situation. Legislation doesn't help much here, so let's focus on the practical aspects. We've regained control of the Stargate, so your leverage is gone. You're now stuck in our reality for all intents and purposes and can only leave if we permit it. However, we still face the issue of entropic cascade failure, making time critical. We need to resolve this quickly, so we propose an arrangement," Landry suggested.
Daniel cleared his throat. "What sort of arrangement?" he pressed.
Professor Black resumed negotiation. "We'll release you back to your reality if you uphold the charges against General O'Neill. Investigate the matter with the evidence we've provided," he suggested.
Professor Todd tilted her head.
"We could lie, agree, then simply return to our reality," she pointed out.
Landry nodded.
"True, we have no guarantee you'll uphold your end, only your word. But if you're anything like the Daniel in this reality, you have known Samantha Carter well for many years. You know she wouldn't lie on a subject like this. She only revealed to us her assault after a nervous breakdown," Landry interjected, looking at Daniel.
Daniel paled. "Sam? She had a breakdown?" he echoed, visibly shaken.
Landry's expression softened.
"Yes, she did. Her time here at the beginning wasn't an easy one. She also attempted suicide. It pained her greatly to disclose what happened in your reality. So, back to the point, your General and now Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a rapist and should face charges according to military discipline. We would prosecute here if not for the risk to the well-being of our Jack - Doctor Carter's husband," he elaborated.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "She married your Jack?" he inquired.
Once more, Landry affirmed. "Indeed, they did," he confirmed.
Silence enveloped the room as the weight of the revelations sank in.
"I need to speak with Sam before any promises are made," Daniel insisted.
Landry glanced at Reynolds, who had remained in the background. "We'll need to ascertain if she's willing to speak with you," he replied.
"Please do, General. It's crucial," Daniel stressed.
Jack had heard enough and was no longer by the door when General Reynolds exited. He headed to the brig with only one thought: settling scores with the man who bore his face. As his footsteps echoed through the corridors, he hoped SG-1 wouldn't impede him. He would hate to fight them, too, but he would if necessary.
Arriving at the brig, he found O'Neill seated on the cot, his hat next to him, with Teal'c and Cameron on guard duty while Daniel was on the phone. Daniel hung up when he spotted Jack, who pointed to the smiling O'Neill. Daniel stepped forward, physically blocking Jack's path.
"Jack, what are you doing here?" he asked, concern etched in his expression.
"I have a business to discuss with that asshole over there," Jack replied, nodding toward O'Neill.
Daniel placed a hand on Jack's chest.
"Please leave, Jack. You shouldn't be near him," he implored, his eyes pleading. "The entropic cascade failure," Daniel added, trying to use all the arguments at his disposal.
Jack looked at his friend.
"I'm not trembling. And he's sitting just like a stupid mother fucker", he said, his eyes darkening.
Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Jack. Don't play dumb. You know what I mean. You can't be here!" he stressed again.
"They're planning to send him back, Daniel. He won't pay for what he did to Sam. Her suffering will go unpunished. Don't ask me that," Jack said, his voice thickening with emotion.
O'Neill watched the exchange of words in silence, an amused expression on his face.
Suddenly, Cameron interjected, "Guys, I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back," and left without looking at anyone. He had witnessed first-hand Sam's suffering when he received the distress call as her emergency contact, reigniting memories of the profound friendship he shared with another Samantha Carter. Since that moment, Cameron Mitchell had fervently advocated for the well-being of this particular Sam Carter in their reality. Learning of her rape troubled him deeply, striking at the core of his being.
Jack silently thanked him, then turned back to Daniel and Teal'c.
"He did the right thing. What about you two?" he questioned.
Teal'c holstered his zat.
"General Landry ordered us to escort the prisoner and lock him in a holding cell, and I have fulfilled that duty. I require a moment to contemplate this troubling matter. I shall be outside and close the door to avoid interruptions," he announced before leaving.
Only Jack and Daniel remained, face to face.
"He raped her, Daniel," Jack reiterated.
Daniel clenched his jaw. "And now you're going to kill him because of that?" he asked.
Jack shook his head. "I won't kill him," he asserted.
Daniel pointed a finger at Jack's chest. "Give me your word. Swear on Grace's soul," he demanded.
Jack swallowed hard. "I swear. I won't kill him, Daniel, or I'd be no better than he is," he replied.
Daniel sighed heavily and exited the room without another word or glancing back. O'Neill began to clap inside the cell, smirking.
"Bravo! What a show. I couldn't have done it better myself. You're quite the actor," he remarked.
Jack approached the cell bars.
"I'm not going to kill you," he stated, rolling up his BDU shirt sleeves.
Curious, O'Neill stood up.
"No? Why not? And who's Grace?" he inquired.
Jack hesitated. "She's our daughter," he admitted as he unlocked the cell door.
O'Neill's face paled. "You have a daughter?" he asked.
"I'm not here to discuss my daughter. I'm here to talk about what you did to my wife, you son of a bitch," Jack growled, slamming the door shut and locking them inside.
O'Neill raised an eyebrow. "Wife? Wait, don't tell me... She married you?" he jeered.
Jack's punch caught O'Neill off guard, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"I promised I wouldn't kill you, but I never said in what condition I'd leave you," Jack declared, delivering a powerful kick to O'Neill while he was down.
What ensued was one of the ugliest fights Jack had ever engaged in because he was fighting against himself. Fueled by rage, he was blinded to everything except his desire for vengeance. He only stopped when Teal'c's strong arms pulled him away from the unconscious and bloodied O'Neill lying on the floor.
"That is enough. Your confrontation is over, my friend. All debts are settled in blood. Your wife's honor has been vindicated. Now, you require medical attention," Teal'c stated as he dragged an almost unconscious Jack out of the brig.
As Jack began to lose consciousness, Daniel's concerned blue eyes were the last thing he saw.
Sam was taken aback by Daniel's request to speak with her. It was a surprise, but she agreed. They had been friends since she joined SG-1, and the years and her assignments after leaving SG-1 hadn't changed that. Daniel was waiting in General Reynolds' office with an SG-2 member posted at the door.
"Daniel," Sam greeted as she entered.
"Hi, Sam," he replied.
She hesitated near the door while he leaned against Reynolds' desk.
"Well, this is awkward," Sam remarked after moments of total silence.
Daniel sighed in agreement.
"Yes, very much so. Before anything else, Sam, let me tell you that I had no idea what happened, just that you disappeared. General Landry just briefed us on what happened. Is it true, Sam? Did he..." Daniel trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Sam met his gaze directly.
"Rape me, Daniel? You can say the word. Yes, he did. He dragged me to his house and raped me there. He also beat me because I tried to fight him off," she confirmed.
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"Fuck, I'm sorry, Sam. Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you report him?" he asked, frustration evident in his voice.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Sam managed a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Report the Head of Homeworld Security, Daniel? A three-star general? Seriously? Haven't you learned anything about the military after all these years?" she retorted, sitting on the arm of a nearby chair.
"You were a well-respected known Colonel, Sam. Your career was exemplary. They would have listened to you," Daniel argued.
Sam nodded in acknowledgment.
"Yes, they would have because they're required to by law. But then the process would be stalled, my exemplary career would be over, and he would probably be promoted for taking advantage of me," she said bitterly. "Jokes and not-so-complementary remarks would be made about me among them, promotions would stop altogether, and I would eventually have to leave the Air Force," she concluded.
She had spent countless hours debating alone in her house whether pressing charges against him was worth it. She wanted justice, but that didn't mean she would get it. If she were lucky enough to get the case to trial, she would have to convince the judge or jury beyond a reasonable doubt that O'Neill was guilty. She knew that was unlikely. They always protected each other, and he was the Head of Homeworld Security and one of the President's favorites.
Sam had been in the military long enough to understand the process. She had seen it happen with her father and knew how the system worked. She would have to testify, relive the nightmare repeatedly, face accusations from his lawyer, have her entire life exposed and discussed among strangers, and likely imply she had slept with him willingly. She would probably be assaulted differently during the trial. While the path for women in the military was improving, there was still a long way to go. And she wasn't suited for the role of a martyr.
Daniel looked down, struggling to comprehend the situation.
"How did things go that far?" he wondered aloud.
Sam shrugged helplessly.
"I can't answer that, Daniel. Only he can. He isn't the man I thought he was. He's a rapist," she declared firmly.
Daniel lifted his gaze to meet Sam's eyes. "Are you happy here?" he inquired.
Sam's smile, this time, held more warmth.
"Yes, Daniel, I am. I've found a man who truly loves me. I have a daughter who fills my heart, and I know the meaning of happiness for the first time. So yes, I'm very happy here. It took me a while, but I got there," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion.
Daniel returned her smile.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Sam. You deserve all the happiness in the world," he said sincerely.
The other Daniel interrupted their conversation, wearing a concerned expression. "Sam, sorry to interrupt...um… Can you please come with me?" he requested.
Sam stood up immediately, her concern evident. "What's wrong?" she asked.
The other Daniel nodded, and Sam turned to her Daniel.
"Goodbye, Daniel. I don't think we'll see each other again, but it was good to see you one last time," she said, holding his hand fondly before following the other Daniel out of the room.
Despite Sam's several requests, Daniel refused to tell her what had happened, only saying they needed to go to the infirmary. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Jack had gone after the other O'Neill. Sam's heart was practically in her throat as she moved through the corridors.
As Sam arrived at the infirmary, she found her husband lying on one of the medical beds, his face contorted in pain. The injuries sustained by Jack after the fight with the other O'Neill were evident even from a distance. Teal'c was silently watching by the end of the bed.
"Jesus Christ," Sam whispered as she approached the bed.
His left eye was swollen shut, a deep purple bruise forming around it, evidence of a powerful punch landing directly on his eye socket. Blood trickled from a cut on his left eyebrow, a result of the impact. The skin around his cheekbones was red and swollen, indicating bruising from repeated blows.
A bandage was wrapped around his head, covering a gash where he must have received a particularly harsh blow.
His left arm hung at an odd angle, likely a fracture from trying to block a strike. It was wrapped in a makeshift sling to immobilize it and alleviate pain. Sam noticed his knuckles were bruised and scraped, suggesting he fought well despite his injuries.
It was evident that Jack took quite a beating, but his determination was apparent even in his weakened state. As Sam approached, she could see the grimace of pain on his face and the resolve in his eyes.
"Oh, shit," Jack cursed under his breath when he spotted Sam approaching his bed.
Carolyn Lam, appearing again, caught sight of Sam and couldn't resist a wry comment.
"Doctor Carter. I'm so glad you're here. Maybe you can make some sense of your husband, who not only likes to occupy the beds of my infirmary but also tried to send other people here, too," she remarked, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation as she continued to tend to Jack's injuries.
Sam remained silent, watching the CMO work while discreetly scanning the infirmary for the other O'Neill.
Carolyn noticed Sam's searching looks and quickly addressed them.
"Oh, he's not here. I sent another doctor and two nurses to take care of him. After what happened, I couldn't risk having the two of them in my infirmary. Even if the other one is almost half dead," she said with a reproving glance at Jack.
Sam couldn't help but cover her mouth, her expression a mixture of concern and disbelief.
"Jack, you promised," she chided softly, locking eyes with her husband.
He avoided her gaze, wincing in pain as Carolyn prepared to address his arm.
"I have the X-ray, General, and you're in luck. It's not broken, just dislocated. So, this is going to hurt," Carolyn warned, her tone matter-of-fact as she prepared to relocate his shoulder, nodding for Teal'c's assistance.
Jack clenched his teeth and closed his eye tightly, sweat forming on his forehead as he braced for the pain.
"Done," Carolyn announced once the procedure was over, her voice conveying relief.
She then checked his IV and adjusted the medication accordingly. The rest of his wounds were taken care of, and the room remained in tense silence. As Carolyn finished the last stitch, she looked at the bruised man lying on the bed.
"You should start to feel better in moments. The pain meds are already kicking in," she reassured him before adding, "Try to rest," and leaving them alone.
Sam slowly sat in the chair next to Jack's bed, her concern palpable as she reached out to gently grab his swollen and bruised hand.
"What the hell happened, Jack?" Sam's voice cut through the tension in the room, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Jack remained silent, his gaze shifting uncomfortably away from hers. Sam turned to Teal'c, seeking some clarity.
"It's not my place to tell you, Samantha Carter," Teal'c stated solemnly. "He did what he felt was his right to do as your husband and life partner. And he alone will tell you what he has done."
With a respectful nod, Teal'c exited the room, leaving Sam and Jack alone in their fraught silence.
Sam bit her lip, frustration, and concern etched into her features.
"Why am I even asking? Just one look at you, and I can imagine exactly what happened. You lied to me, Jack," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and disappointment.
Jack felt the effects of the medication starting to numb his senses, his good eye beginning to droop with drowsiness. He didn't fight it, not because he was physically incapable, but because he couldn't bear to face Sam's accusation. She was correct; he had lied to her. As the pain meds began to take hold, Jack let himself drift into their comforting embrace, temporarily escaping the weight of his guilt and the need to explain himself to the woman he loved. He blacked out.