Chapter 6

- Major Carter…, Charlie called her out absentmindedly.

- Back to the Major, Lieutenant?, Carter answered her, amused.

- What? Oh I'm sorry, Sam. I was so concentrated it just slipped., the younger woman apologized.

- Do you have a problem?, Sam asked, coming next to her.

- Some files are missing., she answered, turning the screen of the computer for her to have a better view.

There was an open folder and Carter peered through the files displayed on the screen. She checked the parent folder, came back on the one Charlie showed her and displayed the data, the bin and went back to the folder once again, understanding the problem.

- There should be two… well now three other files in that folder. I know it, I saved them myself., Charlie affirmed, frowning.

- Okay. Get out of the SGC network now. Save everything you have access to on that drive., the major ordered her, sliding it from a drawer to her., I launch a diagnosis of the system and compare the files to the ones on the backups. We may find something.

They both typed as fast as they could to do everything necessary to confine the system and determine the extent of the leak.

- I'm done. I've launched the full diagnosis of the system. I need to report this to General Hammond., Sam muttered, very unhappy with the situation.

- I still have folders to copy. What do I do if you're not back and I'm done?, Charlie asked.

- Go have lunch while you can. We may have to work late on this. We need to have a secure network ASAP., Carter told her.

She saw her assistant wince and then repress it quickly. She had nothing to say about Charlie. She was a hard worker while on base but she was always gone by 1800, never worked at night. She couldn't blame her but she was not used to working this way. She could stay in her lab for days, barely taking time for a shower and a change of clothes and sometimes have a meal, often dragged by her colonel.

- Is there a problem?, she asked her.

- No! No, there isn't., Charlie said, ill-at-ease., I will stay here as long as it is necessary.

- Thanks. I know you have a lot of work with your PhDs. I appreciate the sacrifice of your time., Sam thanked her.

- No sacrifice. What we do here is more important than my degrees., the lieutenant eluded.

- We'll find a way to spare you some time to catch up., Carter told her., I have to go. Don't talk about this to anyone for the moment.

Carter left the lab and went to O'Neill's office. When she didn't find him there, she headed to Daniel's office and there she found him annoying the archaeologist.

- You asked me to tell you about it but you're not listening, Jack., Daniel scolded.

- It's like Ancient for me, Daniel., O'Neill replied gruffly., Well, I may even understand Ancient better than this…, he corrected, gesturing with his hand.

- Don't play dumb with me. I know you understand what I say. If you don't want to know, just don't ask., the archaeologist told him, impatiently., At least, the other O'Neill listens to me when she asks something., he shot at him snidely.

- Well, maybe you're more her type than mine., Jack quipped with a smirk.

- I'm not… we're not…, Daniel stammered, blushing

- Need someone to save you?, Sam asked to both of them, her mood lifting a little at seeing this familiar quarrel.

- Yes!, both men chorused.

- Sir, will you come with me, please?, she invited me.

- Argh… I don't know. I think I'm going out of my league if I follow you., he grumbled.

- Oh no, you aren't, never. We'll be completely in your field of competence., she acknowledged with a smirk.

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, questioningly. She felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach when she noticed her words could be understood in two different ways and then saw him shove his hands in his pockets, probably pondering if he should stay or go… or something else.

- Way to speak to a man, Carter., he teased her, deciding to go with her.

- I'm not sure. You may not appreciate it so much in a few minutes, sir., she said once out of Daniel's office.

- Now, you've got me hooked., he told her.

For a brief moment, they exchanged a look that conveyed some feelings they were trying not to act on then looked away from each other and stayed that way, surrounded by silence, until they arrived in front of Hammond's office.

- I should have called before., she mumbled, seeing the closed door.

She leaned on the opposite wall, resting her head against the concrete.

- Someone's having a hard day? Some doohickey doesn't do what it should?, he asked her, trying to ease her mind from what was bothering her.

- You won't like what I will tell you both., she warned him, her clouded gaze coming on him.

The door was opened and Hammond's secretary got out. O'Neill got forward and knocked on his CO's door.

- Sir, can we come in? Carter has something to tell us., he asked.

Hammond didn't answer him but waved them in. Carter closed the door behind her and came to stand in front of the General.

- So what's the matter, Major?, Hammond asked her, setting his pen down on his desk.

He knew she would probably talk about the missing artifacts since she had brought O'Neill with her to his office and wondered if another one had gone missing.

- We discovered another problem and it is related to the missing artifacts., she told him, keeping her feelings at bay.

- What is it?, the General questioned her, showing both people the chairs., What did you two discover?

- I plead not guilty., O'Neill quipped, looking straight to his 2IC.

- Lieutenant O'Neill showed me a folder a few minutes ago. She told me two files were missing and as I was checking what kind of problem there could be, another one disappeared right in front of my eyes. I think the one or ones who stole the items are also messing with our network. I've launched a complete diagnosis of the system to compare it with our backups and I've asked Lieutenant O'Neill to log out of the network and save what she had to a hard drive., she explained, feeling the strain gaining her shoulders.

- What makes you think the two things are linked?, General Hammond asked, trying to assess the situation objectively.

- The missing files are related to artifacts. I think they're trying to erase their existence from our system or maybe prepare their next thefts., she argued.

- We need to secure the system, Sir. I think that should be Carter's priority until it's done. With Teal'c, we're gonna follow this new lead to find the one who's messing with the SGC., O'Neill intervened.

Hammond considered both of them while thinking their ideas through and nodded.

- You do that and keep the whole thing low key. I don't need the news to spread among the staff., he ordered them.

- Sir, what can I say to lieutenant O'Neill? She was the one who discovered the leak this morning., Sam asked.

- You can brief her. I take it under my responsibility. She will be able to help and cover you while you're doing your job when you won't need her help on that matter., he told her.

- Thank you, Sir., she said, getting on her feet as the Colonel did it, understanding the meeting was over.

They left his office and went back to the elevators, keeping silence until they were in the car.

- Daniel was trying to convince me to go back to P9G-7695. I should have said yes right away., O'Neill sighed.

- You love pestering him too much, sir., she quipped., It probably would have been a better idea though.

- Well at least, you will have some help. It won't delay you so much., he tried to show her the bright side.

- Yes, this is a good thing. I will able to work on it 24/7., she approved even if she would have preferred to spend time on artifacts rather than repairing their network.

- Should I program some visits to your lab to get you fed?, he questioned her, en eyebrow raised.

- Only if you need some distraction, Sir. I can do that alone., she answered getting out of the lift.

- According to my experience, I don't think so, Carter. So… see you soon., he told her, the doors closing on him.

She laughed lightly before heading to her lab. She was stopped on her way by a technician, only a few feet away from it.

- I can't tonight. I know. I told you this could happen. I'm stuck at work… Yeah… double it so. We'll settle this later. Yeah… and remember everything will be over after that., she overheard coming from her lab.

This was Charlie's voice. It was impatient, strained and angry but, as she came in, the young lieutenant seemed perfectly fine, slipping her phone in her pocket stealthily.

- Everything's alright?, she asked her.

- Yes, it is, Sam. I've finished copying the files on the hard drive. Your analysis is still going on but should be done soon., Charlie told her with a perfunctory smile.

- Fine. I have something to tell you., Sam told her, closing the door behind her.

She took the time to explain to her everything and what she had to do to help her. Charlie just nodded at the end and they began working, analyzing the results of the diagnosis, listing the missing files, trying to estimate the range of days during which they might have been erased.

- Ladies…, O'Neill called them out a few hours later., it's time to get out of here and grab something to eat., he told them, making them check their watches.

- You find them, Jack?, Daniel said, arriving., Both of them good. So you coming? Because he won't let it down until we've all had something to eat.

- It's my responsibility as your CO to make sure you take care of yourselves and I know the both of you. You're so engrossed in what you're doing that you don't even think of sleeping and eating.

At that moment, a growl was heard and all heads turned to the youngest one of them all. O'Neill just rolled his eyes out of exasperation.

- Oh for crying out loud! Told you I earned a fifty percent more annoyance. You don't take after them. Take after me, Lieutenant., he told Charlie who looked sheepish.

- Well, be careful of what you say, Jack. She could be as sarcastic as you are., Daniel quipped.

- If she does, she hid it pretty well so far., Sam said, hiding a smirk.

- What about… commissary?, Charlotte just told, blushing from being the subject of their little talk.

- At least, you won't say it's a genetic inheritance…, the colonel muttered.

- Maybe it's just the name… with two Ls, you know., the younger man blurted out.

- Daniel, will you just shut up for God's sake!, Jack ordered him, casting him an annoyed glance.

This just gave the ambiance for the dinner they quickly shared together, Teal'c meeting them at the mess. Half and hour later, the five of them were back in their offices and working again on their tasks. By the end of the next day, the network was secured again, they had narrowed the span of time during which it had been corrupted and they had been able to restore eighty percent of the lost files.

- Go home now, Charly., Sam told her.

- If you need me, I can stay., the lieutenant told her, albeit reluctantly.

- No, go. I will finish this and go rest in my quarters. Stay here if you want but go to sleep., Carter insisted.

- Okay, Sam. See you tomorrow then., Charlotte saluted her.

She went out of the lab, almost running, and, a few minutes later, was signing out of the base. Sam worked an hour more and then left her lab, needing some overdue rest. She just passed by O'Neill's office to give him the results of their work, knowing it could help him find the culprit. She smiled when she saw him playing with his yo-yo, the door ajar, while bantering with Teal'c… well trying to make the jaffa answer to his teasing… to no avail. She knocked on the door and came in when invited.

- Colonel, I just wanted to give you the report on our findings., she told him, holding the file out to him.

- So, when did this all begin?, he asked her, straight to the point.

- A little after the first thefts, four weeks, I think., she answered.

He opened a file and looked through it. She leaned and peered through it seeing a list of names. They had narrowed the potential thieves to a list of twenty people out of the three hundred or so working full time at the SGC.

- You keep her on the list… even with General Hammond's words?, she asked him, reading Charlie's name on the list.

- I think it's safer to not compromise his position. When we have enough proof, we'll erase her name from the list., he told her, shrugging., D'you want me to do it now?, he asked her.

She knew he would do so if she asked him but there were things that unsettled her, nothing obvious but disturbing enough to maintain her doubts. She thought it through and decided his reasons were good enough she didn't need to explain hers.

- No, Sir. You're right. It's just a matter of time before everything gets clear., she answered him, a faint smile on her lips.

- Ok. So now get your six out of the base and have some rest, Carter. I still have work to do because of you., he scolded her with a playful glint in his eyes.

- I'm sorry, Sir., she quipped.

- You're a very bad liar, Major. We will have to work on your lying skills., he told her.

- I can't wait to do so, Sir. Now, I'll gladly go home for the night., she answered him mischievously.

- See! I don't believe one word!, he called out to her.

- That is what you ordered her to do, O'Neill. Do you not believe she will obey you?, Teal'c asked calmly.

- She will., the colonel answered right away.

The Jaffa looked at him for a moment before leaning slightly his head.

- So you know you do not tell the truth… or were you unaware of this fact?, he asked him.

- D'oh… This is irony, Teal'c!, Jack claimed., We'll get to this in a couple of years.

He shuffled the documents Carter had brought to him and checked the list they had, erasing one name. That still left nineteen suspects. He sighed and decided to call it a night too.

Driving back home, he had to stop at the same crossroad than a few evenings before. When the light changed for green, he changed his turn signal to right and parked his truck along the sidewalk. For a while, he just stayed there looking at the buildings on the other side of the road, trying to remember from which one the lieutenant, Charlotte he forced himself to pronounce in his head, had gone out. Finally, he got out and crossed the road. He walked along the block and checked the different entries to see the names or if anything seemed amiss but, even when he walked back to his truck, nothing struck him out. So he just jumped back into his vehicle and drove home.

The situation annoyed him all evening even though he was watching reruns of the Simpsons and enjoying it. Nineteen people… It was still a large number but not that large and maybe they could find a way to hasten the ending of the investigation. They had to do that. He could see how badly Carter had taken that virtual blow. She felt responsible for the situation as she was the one who had designed the network from zero. She had framed it but also implemented the safety nets that were supposed to protect it from any intrusion. Hell, she was so dedicated to her work that she took any failure as if it was her own doing. He sighed thinking how such a quality could turn sourly as a flaw…

- Here you are., he called out to Sam the next morning, peering into her lab., You will have to learn what obey means, Major., he scolded.

- Why?, she asked, frowning.

- I know you didn't get home last night. You stayed here, didn't you?, he said.

She blushed slightly and averted his gaze. He just sighed lightly while shaking his head disapprovingly but said nothing more.

- Where's that assistant of yours?, he asked her.

- She's at the gym. Do you need her?, she asked him back curiously.

- No, I don't need her. I need you., he told her, looking at her.

When he saw her blush lightly again and bite her bottom lip, he thought back to what he just said and embarrassment overtook him.

- Well, I need to talk to you… alone… about a professional matter., he precised, rolling on the balls of his feet.

- I'm all ears, sir., Carter said, hardly keeping a neutral tone.

- Okay… just…, he stammered, closing the door to prevent anyone from overhearing them., I think we need to move the investigation to the second stage.

- The second stage, Sir? You mean, asking someone else to intervene?, she questioned, not really sure Hammond would back that.

- No, no, there's no way someone else puts their nose in this problem. I mean we drew a narrow list of nineteen people. It's not a lot of people if we think of it so we could concentrate on them. Approaching them, making friends and so on. What do you think of it?, he asked her.

- I already have a close eye on one of them., she told him with a crooked smile.

- Do you have any reason to believe she's the one we're looking for?, he questioned her, narrowing his eyes.

Sam sighed and passed her fingers through her blond hair nervously. She had hoped he would take it as a joke but apparently he didn't.

- I… I don't know, Sir. On the logical side, I would say no. She was the one who told me about the network hacking. If she was guilty, she should have said nothing, right? But, on the other side, they are things that don't fit in. As an evening when she left a half hour before me but finally left the compound after me, the way she acts sometimes, some phone talks I eavesdropped accidentaly from time to time… I just don't know where I stand with her., she explained to him, frustrated.

- I know I wasn't really thrilled when she arrived., he admitted, meeting an amused look nonetheless filled with understanding that had him smile., It was for personal reasons and it took me a certain time to get over them but even now, I feel there's something wrong about her, something she hides from us and doesn't want us to discover. Last night, I even stopped on my way home because I wanted to check a place I saw her get out of a few days ago., he admitted willingly.

- So you think something is off with her? I've been working with her for weeks now. I can't believe I didn't see through her until now., she muttered, angry with herself.

- And maybe there was nothing to see, Carter. Maybe we're just making wrong assumptions. But we will get to the bottom line. What about another team's night? Four opinions are better than just two… event if they're the best., he winked at her, trying to lighten her mood.

- Talking with her in a private place may help to lower her barriers. I doubt she will refuse your invitation twice., Carter acknowledged.

- Do we still have this wonderful meeting about P9… didn't they tell us what the name of their planet was?, he asked her, sounding annoyed.

Sam smiled, feeling a whole lot better after having shared her doubts and knowing she was not the only one who was suspicious down there.

- No, they didn't, Sir. And I'm not sure Daniel asked it. And yes, we still have that meeting where Daniel and I will try to convince you we should go back., she affirmed with a big bright smile.

- Okay… I guess I will grunt and try to tell you how useless it is for us SG-1 to go back there but in the end, I will just surrender to your brilliant arguments., he sighed helplessly.

- It's so sweet… sorry, rational, Sir. I couldn't hope less from you., she praised him mischievously, a hand on her heart.

- You smart-ass… I don't know why you thought I would come to like you as I get to know you., he grumbled falsely outraged.

She just smiled at him while going into the lift to go down to the briefing room level. As they went down, their mood grew more serious.

- I will send the invitation after the briefing., he told her before the doors opened.

- We should tell the guys about our plan. Otherwise, Daniel could try to intervene if we're too harsh with her. They've spent some time together over meals and coffees. He doesn't have our reservations about her., she warned her CO.

- I'll do it later today., he promised her and she nodded.

The meeting went well. O'Neill grumbled, asked for another team to go back to P9G whatever, played dumb as the three scientists made their point, well, after he got over the fact Charlie was here to present the soil analyses, and finally he agreed begrudgingly to do it, seeing Hammond scowling at him.

- Well, that went well. We should celebrate!, he said after the general dismissed them., Team night this evening at my place. The five of us will spend some time together before we gate off-world to P9G whatsoever early next week.

He cast a glance sideways to his left where lieutenant O'Neill was standing and saw her turn paler. His expression didn't shift and he turned towards Daniel to see if he agreed before doing the same with Teal'c and Major Carter.

- Lieutenant, can we count you in?, he asked.

- Well, sir. I'm… I'm sorry but I can't., she stuttered, looking down, visibly taken aback.

- I'm really going to wonder if you have something against me, you know., he teased her, observing carefully her reaction.

She briefly looked up at him panicked before diverting her glance.

- I have nothing against you, Sir. I just… can't., she whispered.

- Lieutenant O'Neill, come to my office, please., Hammond summoned her with a forceful voice.

It put an end to the conversation as Charlie went away and closed the door behind her, Carter and O'Neill exchanging a quick glance. They saw her stand in front of Hammond's desk, listening attentively, and then they left the briefing room as there was no reason for them to stay there.

- Guys, come to my office please., he asked Daniel and Teal'c when they came into the elevator.

Half an hour later, O'Neill was alone after Daniel and Teal'c had left him, knowing about his suspicions. As Sam had warned him, the younger man didn't believe Charlie could be a rogue agent and O'Neill wondered if it was just wishful thinking or a little crush he could have for the young woman. Sha're died a year ago after all. Maybe he was ready to start another chapter of his life. He was thinking about it and the whole situation when he heard a knock on his door. He came to open and was surprised to find younger O'Neill on his doorstep.

- Sir… I don't want to bother you…, she began, fiddling with her fingers.

- Just spit it out, Lieutenant., he told her.

- Well… if your invitation still stands, I would be very glad to accept it., she said to him, looking up nervously.

He had to keep his feelings at bay: she looked so uncertain right now that it shook him a little.

- I thought you couldn't come…, he answered.

- I've managed to… get rid of my obligations, Sir., she replied, waiting anxiously for his answer, his stare betraying nothing of his thoughts.

- Cool…, he suddenly let out, smiling., Ask Carter for the address and everything you need to know., he told her, cheerily., I'm glad you can make it., he added in a hurry to lift his doubts… or confirm them.

- So am I, sir. I have to go. Major Carter is probably waiting for me to help preparing your travel and I have a lot of reading to do., she excused herself before making a step backwards., Thanks, sir, for tonight. You don't know what it means to me to be let in in your group., she told him sincerely before going.

He looked at her retreating form, thinking that indeed if she was the rogue agent, it was a good sign that her cover was working. He closed the door and called Carter to let her know about the latest news and she told him back that the lieutenant had just been granted a higher clearance. They hanged up on that and waited patiently for the team night to arrive.