"You left him!" Everyone, including General Hammond, jumped as O'Neill's fist hit the table. He leapt to his feet and Teal'c's sudden grip on his shoulder was probably the only thing that kept him from bounding across the table and wrapping his hands around the other man's throat.

"I'm sorry Colonel, he was dead and I had my own men to worry about." Although Major Jenson's statement was dispassionate it took every bit of self control not to flinch under the superior officer's furious gaze.

"Your own men?...Your own men! On this mission he was one of your men!" Jack's words filled the room with a sudden heavy silence and Jenson could no longer face the Colonel's angry brown eyes. Jack shook off Teal'c's hand and turned, staring out the enormous window that looked into the gateroom, his own clenched fists shoved deep into his pockets.

He had known it was a mistake to let Daniel go with SG-7. His gut instinct had been to argue against it. To insist that they find someone else or wait until their own archeologist, who was laid up in the infirmary with a case of measles, was well enough to make the trip. The ruins had been there for hundreds of years after all, what could a few more days hurt. As Daniel's commanding officer, the final decision was O'Neill's. SG-1 had three days of leave and Jack had planned to spend the time relaxing, not worrying about his best friend traipsing through a broken down castle on some planet he'd never even heard of. Lost in his own world of archeological artifacts and puzzles, Daniel had a habit of ending up in trouble but Jack had relented with strict instructions to SG-7 on the care and feeding of SGC's favorite archeologist.

A sudden shudder coursed down his spine. Call it precognitive, supernatural or as Janet referred to it, his Jackson radar going off, whatever it was, Jack had spent the previous day waiting for the phone to ring, knowing Daniel was in trouble. Waiting for the call from General Hammond ordering him to report back to Cheyenne Mountain, finally allowing himself to relax when the call didn't come; shrugging it off as nothing more than his wish to talk with his friend. To know he was safe. Jack had awakened just after three a.m. in a cold sweat, the sound of Daniel's weak voice calling his name; begging for help, still bouncing around his skull. It wasn't the same as when Daniel had been trapped on Nem's planet. He didn't repeatedly see Daniel dying but he knew, somehow he knew the linguist was in just as much, if not more trouble. The call he'd been dreading came at six forty five.

"Permission for SG-1 to go through the gate to PXJ737 and retrieve..." He found himself choking on the word 'body', an imagine of Daniel's bullet riddled body flashing before his eyes, "Daniel sir.

"I'm sorry Colonel but at the moment the MALP is showing violent storms taking place. I've left strict instructions for the data to be checked every fifteen minutes and to be notified as soon as the weather clears."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."

"Tell us what happened Major." As General Hammond folded his hands on the table in front of him, O'Neill took a deep breath and returned to his seat, staring at the Major with an impassive expression that would have rivaled Teal'c's. The only emotion visable was the fury burning in his brown eyes.

"The data provided by the UAV was right on target. The weather approximately seventy degrees during the day but cold as hell at night, dropping down to just above freezing-" The video camera had been set up for the debriefing, later each of the surviving member's account would be recorded seperately.

"Nobody gives a damn about the weather Jenson, tell us what happened!"

"That's enough Colonel." Hammond interrupted, shooting O'Neill a look that told him just who was in charge. "Continue Major."

"The castle was just over a day's walk from the gate. Dr. Jackson immediately video taped all of the writings on the wall and then set about translating what he could while we were there." Jack could picture Daniel shifting through the rubble, dusting off each rock...correction, artifact with loving care, sitting for hours on end translating the ancient pictures and symbols on the walls.

"Did you see any indications of human habitation?" It was the first time Carter had spoken.

"No Major there were no signs at all," Teal'c listened to Jenson's reply, his gaze on the young airman seated to the Major's right. Although Teal'c had discerned Hammond to be a very observant man, he wondered if Hammond had noticed the young man appeared to be doing his best not to squirm becoming more uncomfortable with each question asked of his superior. "Following procedure I ordered a night watch and we set up alarms around the camp perimeter. The night passed quietly without so much as a stray animal setting off the alarms. We broke camp just after O800 hours to return to the Stargate."

Carter glanced covertly at the others gathered around the table. Was it just her or did everyone think Jenson sounded as if he were giving a recitation on proper procedures for offworld missions. There was no emotion in his voice, his expression blank. No worry for Sergeant Blaine being treated in the infirmary, no sorrow for the dead archeologist who had been their friend and without whom the SGC might not even exist.

"We were on our way back to the Stargate yesterday when all hell broke loose. Gunfire seemed to come from all directions...machine gun fire." Jenson stopped hesitantly, giving everyone time to absorb his last words. He carefully studied each person in the room. Did they believe him? How long would they continue to question him? Were they going to blame him for the loss of two men? Relieve him of his command?

"Are you sure it was machine gun fire?"

"Yes sir. No doubt." Jenson turned his attention once more to his commanding officer. "Everyone dove for cover sir but Sergeant Blaine had already been hit."

"Where was Daniel at the time?"

"Right behind me." Jenson locked eyes with O'Neill again. "We were in single formation. Myself, Dr. Jackson, Airman Bennings here, with Sergeant Blaine bringing up the rear. I regret to report that although everyone was on alert the ambush took us completely by surprise."

"Why?"

"Excuse me sir?"

"Why were you on alert if there was no apparent sign of danger?" Carter's head snapped up at O'Neill's question. She'd been watching as he twisted the pen in his hands tightly, his only outward sign of anxiety since he'd returned to his seat. Holding her breath, she waited for Hammond to once again cut Jack off but the expected dressing down never came. Evidently the general had been thinking the same thing.

"I believe I stated there had been no indication of humans on the planet but there were several signs of indigenous wildlife."

"How convenient."

"That's enough Colonel!" Hammond snapped at the sarcastic remark.

"I understand how you feel Colonel O'Neill but there was nothing anyone, including you could have done."

Let them investigate! Damnit he'd done his duty! He'd completed the mission and brought his men back! Jenson hadn't requested Dr. Jackson accompany them. The man was a civilian pain in the ass! The major thought he'd go totally mad listening to the archeologist yammering on and on about the possible value of the translations and artifacts.

Jenson was aware of the young airman beside him. Bennings worried him. He knew what to say and even if he had his suspicions, that's all they were, suspicions. He didn't think the young man had the courage to voice them and if he did it would still be his word against a superior officer's. Blaine had taken a bullet in the chest. It was unlikely that he'd survive to say anything. So much blood! There'd been so much blood.

"I ordered everyone to stay down, returning fire only if they could see where the snipers were located. Ignoring orders Dr. Jackson suddenly broke cover, trying to reach Sergeant Blaine. By the time I worked my way to their location, he was dead sir. The ambush broke off as quickly as it started. Airman Bennings and I rigged a stretcher for Sergeant Blaine and returned to the gate ASAP."

The briefing room settled into silence when Jenson finished speaking. Each person present lost in his or her own thoughts. The remaining members of SG-1 silently mourning the loss of their friend and teammate. "Is there anything you'd like to add Airman Bennings." All eyes turned to the startled young man at Hammond's question. He glanced quickly at each person avoiding eye contact, his face suddenly seemed to lose all color. One last look at his team leader before his eyes dropped to his lap and he slowly shook his head.

"No sir." The words barely audible.

He's lieing. He's scared to death and lieing through his teeth. Before Jack could put voice to the thoughts rushing through his mind, all eyes turned to the opening door of the briefing room.

"With your permission sir, I have something to add."