Already immersed in the tranquility of the living room, Daniel was violently jolted from his peaceful state when Sam and Jack burst in. The sudden blare of the stereo, a stark contrast to the room's serenity, shattered the calm, leaving Daniel wide-eyed and his face a canvas of surprise and confusion, struggling to comprehend the sudden disruption.

"What the hell is going on?" Daniel asked slowly, his brow furrowing as he looked between his two friends.

Breaking the silence, Jack gestured for them to sit. Sam settled beside Daniel, and Jack positioned himself in front of them. The music, now a jarring symphony of dissonance of rock and roll, acted as a barrier to their conversation, its cacophony amplifying the tension in the room.

"I had some unsettling flashbacks at the cabin," Jack began, his voice cutting through the music. "And Sam filled me in about the ongoing investigation by General Landry and the FBI. Something's not right. We need your expertise." His words hung in the air, the room suddenly feeling more oppressive, the gravity of the situation pressing down on them like a leaden weight.

Daniel's suspicion deepened, his gaze darting from Jack to Sam and back. He remained silent, his attention entirely on Jack as he rapidly outlined his discoveries about the investigation into the White House and the President. The revelation about the companies' involvement in the Stargate program left Daniel's eyes wide, his features a mix of profound shock and disbelief, struggling to grasp the enormity of what he was hearing.

"Did you know about this?" Daniel asked Sam in a low voice, his eyes searching hers for confirmation.

"No, Daniel. We're focused on the Nexus Network—the terrorist organization linked to Jack's bombing," Sam explained, her voice filled with urgency. "General Landry said Jack and Homeworld were investigating them before the attack. Jack doesn't remember the name. I need to access Homeworld's files."

Daniel's eyes widened, his mind reeling with the implications of what he was hearing. "The White House? The President, Jack?" His voice was barely a whisper, his face a mask of profound disbelief and growing concern.

Jack nodded solemnly. "Yeah, Daniel. It looks like it goes all the way to the top."

Daniel leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. "This… this changes everything," he murmured, more to himself than to Jack and Sam.

"We need to act carefully," Jack said, his expression grave. "We can't trust anyone until we figure out who's behind this."

Sam reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Daniel's arm. "We'll figure it out together, Daniel. We always do."

Daniel nodded slowly, his mind already formulating plans and strategies. They were facing a conspiracy that reached into the highest echelons of power, and their next moves would be crucial in uncovering the truth and protecting themselves.

As the music continued to play, the trio huddled closer together, united in their resolve to unravel the tangled web of secrets and deception that threatened their lives and the security of the entire Stargate program.

"So, what are the next steps?" Daniel asked, his voice tinged with urgency and concern.

Sam cleared her throat; her expression was serious as she laid out their plan. "First, I will attempt to hack into Homeworld's files and see if there's any trace left of Jack's investigation. If I find anything, I'll download it, and we can review it together. We'll decide whether to bring General Landry into the loop depending on what we uncover," she explained carefully.

Daniel sighed heavily, a mixture of frustration and determination crossing his features.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

Jack nodded solemnly, echoing Daniel's sentiment. "Big time."

"And if you don't find anything?" Daniel pressed, his brow furrowing with worry.

Sam took a moment to compose herself before answering. "If we hit a dead end, we'll reassess to figure out what to do. In the meantime, we need to find a way to have Jack evaluated by Carolyn Lam," she said, her voice steady despite the gravity of their situation.

Daniel's confusion deepened. "SGC's doctor? Landry's daughter?" he clarified, seeking to understand the reasoning behind Sam's plan.

"Yeah," Jack confirmed with a nod.

"Why?" Daniel asked, still uncertain about their intentions.

Sam looked down at her wedding ring, a flicker of concern passing through her eyes.

"Because if the President is behind all of this, I don't trust the doctors overseeing Jack's recovery. The justification for withholding the truth from him was questionable, but the President insisted on it when we discovered that Jack didn't remember years of his life. Jack no longer retains any Ancient knowledge, as we all know. Both times he downloaded the Ancient repository into his brain, it was removed because it was too vast and complex for a human brain to sustain. There's no evidence to support the President's claim that Jack still possesses Ancient knowledge," she explained firmly.

Daniel nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Sam's words. This debate over Jack's ability to retain part of the Ancient knowledge permanently had been a source of disagreement when it was decided to tell Jack that he was still in 2004 and hadn't recovered his memories. Everyone was shocked by President Miles Scott's insistence that the Ancient knowledge was there and had to be preserved. Sam and Daniel had argued that the Asgard had removed it both times, but the President continued to insist, saying he had solid evidence to back up his claims but refusing to name them because he was the President, and in the end, his word was final.

They had faced similar challenges, where the truth was often obscured or twisted for political gain.

"We need to proceed cautiously," Daniel remarked, his tone grave. "We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Sam and Jack exchanged a determined glance, silently reaffirming their commitment to uncovering the truth and protecting Jack from further manipulation. The stakes were higher than ever, and their alliance would be tested as they navigated the murky waters of conspiracy and deception within the highest levels of government.

As the music continued playing in the background, underscoring the intensity of their conversation, they began strategizing their next moves. Each step would bring them closer to the answers they sought and deeper into a web of intrigue that threatened everything they held dear.

"I'll start with the Homeworld files then," Sam announced as she got up.

Jack and Daniel nodded in silence, the music still covering their conversation. Sam left the living room and headed to the office, where she began using her hacking skills to access the information they needed.

While Sam focused on her task, Jack and Daniel exchanged solemn looks, their voices lowered to ensure their conversation couldn't be overheard. Jack spoke first, his tone severe and urgent.

"There's something else, Daniel. Something I haven't told Sam, and I don't want her to know," Jack began, his gaze fixed on Daniel, seeking understanding and agreement.

Daniel swallowed, sensing the gravity of Jack's words. "Jack..." he started, but Jack interrupted, his expression determined.

"It's for her protection. I can't risk it after the bomb. If the President wants me dead, he might try again, and he'll come after her, too. I need her to be safe," Jack explained, his voice tinged with concern for Sam's safety.

Daniel nodded slowly, processing Jack's words. "Okay. What do you want to do?" he asked, ready to assist his friend in any way necessary.

"Sam told me about Cameron and Vala, the other SG-1 members besides Teal'c. I don't remember them, but Sam trusts them. Do you trust them?" Jack inquired, seeking Daniel's assessment of their former teammates.

Daniel nodded without hesitation. "I do, with my life," he affirmed, knowing the loyalty and reliability of their team members from past missions.

Jack took a deep breath, his following words weighed down by the weight of their situation.

"Very well. Please find a way to discreetly let them know what's going on. And devise a plan to get Sam out of here, off Earth if necessary, if things go south. I need to know that she's safe, Daniel," Jack said, his voice resolute with determination to protect Sam at all costs.

Daniel placed a reassuring hand on Jack's arm, meeting his gaze earnestly.

"Jack, I understand your concern, but Sam will never accept leaving you. She's been by your side since you were hit. She left Atlantis the moment Landry informed her about your attack. She won't leave you," Daniel asserted, knowing Sam's unwavering loyalty and love.

Jack swallowed hard, his resolve unwavering despite the difficulty of his request. "She will. Even if it's against her will," he insisted firmly. "I'd rather have her alive and furious with me than dead."

Daniel paled at the seriousness of Jack's words. "What the hell are you suggesting, Jack?" he asked, his voice betraying shock and concern.

Jack looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Take whatever measures you need to ensure her safety. Sedate her, zat her, whatever it takes. Don't tell me. Just keep her safe," Jack said, his voice trembling with the weight of his request.

Daniel stood abruptly, a mixture of emotions swirling inside him.

"Jesus, Jack! You don't know what you're asking me to do," he said, his voice strained with the gravity of the situation.

Jack met Daniel's gaze evenly.

"I know exactly what I'm asking, Daniel. I'm asking you to protect her. To keep her safe, as we did on countless missions with SG-1. We always protected her when necessary, the same way she protected us. That's what I'm asking you to do now. In case I can't," Jack emphasized, his voice raw with emotion. "I'm trusting my wife's life into your hands," he added.

Daniel ran both hands through his hair, feeling the weight of responsibility and loyalty to his friend and former teammate.

"Shit! Shit! Okay, I'll do it. But she's going to kill us. Slowly and painfully. I hope you realize that," Daniel warned, knowing that the consequences of their actions would profoundly affect their relationship with Sam.

Jack managed a small, weary smile despite the seriousness of their conversation.

"I do. But I can live with that," he said quietly, steeling himself for the difficult path ahead.

As the music continued playing in the background, underscoring the tension in the room, Jack and Daniel stood united in their determination to protect Sam from the looming threats surrounding them. They knew their bond and shared history would guide them through the challenges ahead, no matter the personal cost. Both hoped things would never go that far.

After their tense discussion in the living room and Jack's clandestine request to Daniel, Jack quietly approached Sam in the office. There, she was intensely focused on hacking into Homeworld's files. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked to retrieve any remaining pieces of Jack's investigation.

"Any luck?" Jack asked softly as he came closer, careful not to startle her.

Sam bit her lower lip, a sign of her deep concentration. She glanced briefly at Jack before returning her focus to the screen. "They tried to erase it, but some fragments are left. I'm piecing them together," she replied, calm and determined.

Jack nodded silently, respecting the gravity of her task. He quietly sat on the couch nearby, observing her with admiration and concern. For over an hour, the only sound in the room was the rhythmic tapping of Sam's keyboard as she diligently worked. Jack watched her brow furrow in concentration, her fingers dancing across the keys with practiced precision.

As the minutes ticked by, Jack's mind wandered. He admired her dedication, unwavering focus, and ability to tune out everything else when she was in the zone—one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place. The tapping of the keyboard continued, a steady, reassuring rhythm. Jack knew better than to interrupt her flow, understanding that this was her process, her way of making sense of the complex problems she was tackling. He felt helpless, wishing he could do more to support her, but knowing that his presence alone was enough for now.

Finally, Sam paused, her fingers hovering over the keys as she reviewed her work. She let out a small sigh, not of frustration but satisfaction. She turned to Jack, a tired but triumphant smile on her face.

"It's done," she said softly.

She turned the screen towards Jack, who leaned in to read what she had uncovered. It wasn't much, but it was enough—names of companies under investigation, payments linked to the President—a starting point for a genuine investigation.

"What do you want to do?" Sam asked, her eyes searching Jack's face for direction.

Jack pondered for a moment, weighing their options carefully. "I think we should go to bed. I miss you," he said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

Sam looked at him incredulously, a hint of amusement in her eyes. After everything she had shown him, he wanted to go to bed. She must be too tired to think correctly or missing something.

"What?" she asked in a low voice as he pulled her gently out of the chair.

"Play along," Jack whispered in her ear, his tone severe yet tinged with a hint of mischief.

Sam blushed slightly but nodded in understanding. Definitely too tired and missing his clues. "Oh, okay," she murmured as they made their way to their bedroom, Jack closing the door behind them.

Jack couldn't shake the nagging feeling of potential surveillance inside the room. Even though he hadn't found any physical bugs, the possibility of hidden monitoring devices or alien technology was still a concern. He gently pushed Sam onto the bed, a playful smile on his face.

"Really?" Sam asked with a mixture of surprise and amusement as Jack hovered over her.

"I miss you, honey," Jack said, his smile widening as he tried to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst their heightened circumstances.

Sam chuckled softly, playing along as she settled against the pillows. Jack lay beside her, resting his head on her belly, enjoying the comfort of their closeness.

"I miss you too," Sam whispered, her fingers lightly tracing patterns in his hair.

Jack's playful demeanor shifted slightly as he addressed their task. "We need to print everything you've found and have a talk with Landry," he said between kisses, his lips brushing against hers.

Sam's mind began to refocus on their mission. "Oh, right," she replied, her voice a blend of affection and determination.

Jack's hands traced along Sam's t-shirt, moving it up as he kissed her belly, eliciting a playful protest from her.

"Jack, stop," she giggled, trying to maintain some semblance of seriousness.

"Why? Don't you like it?" Jack teased, his playful demeanor contrasting with the seriousness of their conversation moments before.

"It tickles," Sam managed to say amidst her laughter.

Despite their initial banter, the weight of their situation began to settle back in. Jack's kisses turned more earnest as he moved up to kiss her mouth, their passion momentarily consuming them both. His lips then found her neck, and his voice muffled against her skin as he continued to speak.

"We need to keep the feds out of this," Jack murmured, his hands deftly unbuttoning her pants.

Sam's eyes widened in surprise at his boldness, a mixture of arousal and concern flashing across her face.

"Jack..." she started, her breath catching as his hands moved further down.

"And I really like this," Jack confessed with a mischievous grin, his fingers exploring her purposefully.

Sam grabbed his head gently, meeting his gaze with desire and amusement. "I can see that," she replied breathlessly.

As Jack's touch intensified, eliciting a moan from Sam, he asked softly, "Want more?"

Sam's eyes locked with his, her heart pounding with a combination of desire and the urgency of their mission.

"Yes," she managed to whisper, giving in to the moment despite the gravity of their circumstances.

Jack's hands continued exploring, his touch growing firmer as he sensed Sam's need.

"More," Sam breathed as she arched her body towards him. Her hands found their way under his shirt, and her nails grazed lightly across his skin.

Jack's breath hitched at the sensation but managed a sly grin. "You're full of surprises, Colonel," he said, his voice low and husky.

"Only for you, General," she whispered back, a teasing note in her voice despite the moment's intensity.

The world outside their room was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but inside, they found a sanctuary in each other. Jack's hands roamed with renewed vigor, and Sam's responses were a symphony of desire and need.

"Don't stop—" Sam started, her voice trailing as Jack's fingers found a susceptible spot.

"I won't," Jack said.

Every touch and kiss reminded them of what they fought for and stood to lose. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the outside world momentarily forgotten. Jack's lips found her neck, and Sam shivered in response, her grip on him tightening.

Their mission was critical, but so was this connection, reaffirming what they meant to each other. As their movements became more urgent, driven by an unspoken promise of safety and love, the gravity of their circumstances only fueled their passion.

Finally, as they lay intertwined, catching their breath, Sam looked into Jack's eyes and saw the same resolve mirrored in his gaze.

"We'll keep the feds out of this," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering flush of their shared moment. "But we need to move quickly."

Jack nodded, pressing a final, lingering kiss to her lips. "Agreed. But never forget, Sam, we're in this together."

After indulging in more time in bed than initially planned, Jack suggested they take a shower together. The warm water cascaded over them, providing a soothing backdrop as Jack gently lathered shampoo into Sam's hair, a task he had grown fond of since her hair was longer.

"So, did you like my plan?" Jack asked, his voice laced with playfulness as he massaged her scalp.

Sam sighed contentedly, the sensation of Jack's hands in her hair relaxing her. "Which one? Speaking with Landry or having sex while speaking about Landry?" she teased, pushing him lightly against the tiles of the shower.

Jack chuckled, his grin widening. "Both," he admitted, rinsing the shampoo from her hair with careful strokes.

"I'd prefer to keep General Landry out of our sexual life," Sam quipped, her hands moving playfully over his chest.

Jack laughed softly. "I think it turned you on," he teased, enjoying the banter.

Sam blushed deeply, her hands freezing on his chest. "Jesus Christ, Jack! It did not. Don't ever say that again, or I won't be able to look the man in the face," she retorted, swallowing hard.

Jack's laughter filled the shower stall. "Alright, we'll leave Landry out of it," he agreed with a playful grin.

Sam sighed dramatically. "You and your stupid jokes," she muttered affectionately, though a mischievous glint danced in her eyes.

But being married to him had taught her some things along the way, and Sam was not one to let Jack have the last word. In a swift move, she took advantage of his position against the shower tiles and kissed him fiercely, catching him off guard. Her hands slid down his waist, her touch igniting a wave of desire between them.

Jack momentarily pinned, one hand occupied with the shower head and the other pressed against the stall's glass. He couldn't help but surrender to Sam's relentless assault, his body responding eagerly to her passionate advances. Their intimate moment in the shower escalated quickly, the heat of their passion rising as their kiss deepened.

Someone would listen to very adult content if they were under surveillance. But at that moment, Jack and Sam were consumed by each other, their connection a brief respite from the dangerous game they were playing with the powers that be. As the water continued to flow and their desire intensified, they found solace again in each other's arms, determined to find moments of joy amidst the chaos of their circumstances.

After their passionate shower, Jack and Sam emerged feeling refreshed and focused. They quickly dried off and changed into fresh clothes, their minds already strategizing their next moves. Jack wrapped a towel around his waist while Sam put on a comfortable t-shirt and pants.

"So, what's the plan for lunch?" Sam asked, her voice low as she ran a hand through her damp hair.

Jack nodded thoughtfully as he also dressed. "I think I will share with Daniel the recipe I found for that pie and figure out how to cook it. Maybe we can invite General Landry for… dinner. He might appreciate it," he replied, using a simple but effective code.

Sam nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of urgency. "I'll print out the recipe so you can share it with Daniel and discuss the next steps," she said, already moving toward the office to retrieve the documents.

Jack followed her, his mind racing with possibilities. "Let's call Landry. And invite him for dinner," Jack suggested.

Sam returned with a stack of printed papers on the living room coffee table. "Here's what we have so far," she said, her eyes scanning the documents briefly.

Daniel entered the room and immediately noticed the severe atmosphere. "What's going on?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Jack took charge. "Hi, Daniel. Remember that I was looking for a recipe for a pie from my grandmother?" he began, gesturing toward the documents. "I found it, but I will need your help, Daniel, since Sam doesn't cook. And we are going to invite General Landry to dinner," Jack continued, his voice steady with determination.

Daniel glanced at the papers, his brow furrowing as he processed the implications and the unmistakable coded message. "Oh, right. The pie. Sure, I'll help," he remarked quietly, his mind already working through the implications.

Sam nodded, her gaze steady. "I would love to help, but I don't cook. I just found the recipe. And it's not complete. But you can understand most of it," she added, tone echoing Jack's urgency.

Sam dialed General Landry's number, her fingers tapping on the screen as she waited for the call to connect. After a moment, Landry answered.

"General Landry, Jack, and I are back and would like to invite you for dinner. Tonight," Sam said softly but firmly, her gaze flicking to Jack and Daniel as they waited expectantly.

Landry's response was quick and decisive. "I'm glad to hear that, Colonel. And I appreciate the invitation. What time do you want me there?" he asked.

Sam made a wild guess.

"1900, Sir?" she said.

"Very well," he said before ending the call.

Sam looked at Jack and Daniel. "He accepted," she informed them, a sense of relief washing over her that they were finally taking concrete steps forward.

They had a quick lunch of sandwiches and then gathered around the table, the weight of their discovery settling in. They discussed their strategy, ensuring they were prepared to present their findings clearly and convincingly.

Daniel looked at Jack and Sam with admiration and concern. "Are we sure we want to go down this path? This could have serious repercussions," he cautioned, knowing the risks involved.

Jack nodded, his jaw set with determination. "We have to. The truth needs to come out," he replied firmly, his eyes meeting Sam's and Daniel's with unwavering resolve.

The hours passed, and the tension in the room increased.

Together, they waited for General Landry, knowing that the decisions made in the next few hours could change everything. They were ready to confront the truth and face whatever consequences it might bring, united in their mission to uncover the depths of the conspiracy they had stumbled upon.