"You wanted to see me sir?"

"Yes Captain, come in and close the door."

She obeyed; turning to face her superior officer, her blue eyes firmly planted in his.

She hated him, watched him like a hawk, but he had given her everything she'd wanted, she was chief of all NID scientific operations and that meant she was under his control.

"It's been a long time since you were last in the field Captain."

"Yes sir, I've not been in the field since you gave me the responsibility of research operations."

"About a year ago."

She nodded. "Yes Sir"

"Well I need you back in the field. One of our teams has learnt that the SGC has discovered a new device capable of stopping Jaffa weapon blasts."

"Yes sir, I've read the report." She held back a sigh, wishing that she had a commander who knew her well enough to know that she read the reports, all the reports, and probably knew what was going on better than he did.

"We want the device."

"It's going to be complicated Sir, SG teams are front line and the results of experiments are normally all we can get."

"I said 'I want it'. I don't want a report; I want the real thing, tangible evidence. Their mission is to protect the planet, so is ours Captain. How many results have we benefited from since the program started?"

"None Sir, only fundamental research." 'But you wouldn't know anything about that' she thought to herself, 'you never read my reports.'

"Exactly, it's time to act. We know the co-ordinates for the location of the device. You have complete freedom, take whoever and whatever you need, but bring the device back here."

"Yes Sir."

She turned and walked towards the door.

"Captain Carter."

She rolled her eyes, glad that he couldn't see her. "Yes Sir?"

"Have you heard of Colonel O'Neill?"

She turned back around. "Yes, he's the CO of SG-1, the flagship unit, ex special ops, gulf war. Once retired, came back when the program re-started. Fine officer, but, from what I've heard, a complete jackass."

"They have the same orders and mission as you. You'll have to be there first. They are very well trained Captain, be careful."

"We will Sir."

"And Captain, whatever happens, don't trust Colonel O'Neill. Appearances can be deceiving, he won't hesitate to use you to get what he wants."

She nodded. "Colonel Maybourne Sir." She turned and walked straight out of the room, half tempted to call up Colonel O'Neill and invite him to join them, just to annoy Maybourne.

She walked straight to her office, grabbing the phone and starting the preparations.

The faster she got it sorted, the sooner they would leave and the better the chance of bringing the device back.

She didn't like Maybourne, and was starting to hate what he made her do, but bringing the device back would hopefully boost her career, and maybe get rid of him from her life.

It took her less than twenty-four hours to get everything ready. They had to wait for confirmation, and it took less then 10 minutes for their agent at the SGC to give the signal.

They had a go.

----------------------------

"Ok, let's move. The device is five clicks N.NW"

The eight-man team moved towards the location, unaware that they were being spied upon.

"O'Neill, they are leaving." Teal'c said.

"Yeah, I can see that. Let them go for now." He answered. "Daniel, do you know her?"

"Yes and No. She's an astrophysicist, Captain in the Air Force. She's the person that made Gate travel possible. Extremely brilliant, I met her once or twice when I was trying to decipher the glyphs. She was recruited by the NID just before the first mission through the gate."

"They're after the device." The fourth member of Sg-1, Lt. Claire Tobias pointed out.

"This is sure O'Neill."

"Sg-5 you stay here, we'll follow them."

-----------------------------------------

An hour later the NID team had arrived at the device. They were unsuccessfully trying to remove it from the crate it was welded into, and Sam had just finished the last of her tests on it with the scientists she had brought along.

"It's in perfect working order Captain."

She nodded at the scientist, signaling for him to pack away the gear. Turning back to the device she slammed her hands on the crate. "Dammit! We have to find a way to take it out of this and fast, SG teams are going to arrive soon."

"Yes Captain, that's exactly why you're going to step away from it."

She turned to him in shock, then to one of the soldiers she had brought along for back up. "Douglas? What are you doing?"

"Move out! You guys too!" He gestured to two soldiers who responded immediately.

"They are with me to bring back the device, Colonel Maybourne wanted you to assess its state, and it's working."

"And?" She asked sarcastically.

"And now you die." She saw out of the corner of her eye as the scientists quickly hid behind one of the walls surrounding the device.

"Why?"

"We know we're under scrutiny, our methods don't satisfy everyone. You'll have been shot trying to steal alien technology. You'll become the black sheep; we'll be quiet."

"Sons of bitches."

"Nothing great comes without sacrifices Captain." He raised his gun.

She closed her eyes for a second, before opening them again, staring straight at him, somewhat relieved that she wouldn't have to do this anymore, she loved her job, but she couldn't stand cheating on her government.

--------------------------------

A voice called out from the tree line, "Hey! Hold it!"

Sg-1 moved out of the woods, guns pointed at Douglas and his mini-team.

"Colonel O'Neill, US Air Force, I want to see your hands, and I want to see them clearly, understand? Drop the guns, now!" He glanced briefly towards Captain Carter, their eyes locking for the briefest of moments before he turned back to the threat.

Douglas nodded to his companions and they opened fire.

"Take cover!" O'Neill shouted, throwing himself behind a boulder.

He hesitated a moment, before aiming his weapon at the remaining shooter, "Surrender! The gate's guarded, you can't go back."

Suddenly something caught his eye, the woman; she was still alive, crawling feebly on the floor out of the path of the bullets.

The remaining soldier dropped his gun, placing his hands quickly in the air.

Jack signaled for Teal'c to sort him out, moving quickly towards Carter as the other two members of SG-1 went to round up the scientists.

He froze as she finally collapsed, before running towards her.

Kneeling down beside her, he turned her over, relieved to find that she was still breathing.

"Captain Carter? Carter?" He sighed in relief when her eyes flickered open, a confused look on her face.

"Colonel...Colonel O'Neill?"

He nodded, "Yep, hang in there, we'll get you back to the base and sorted out in no time."

He smiled slightly, "Not any more apparently."

She nodded, and he bent to pick her up, her arms snaking around his neck as he stood.

He turned to see Teal'c, holding the soldier roughly by the shoulder, his arms tied behind his back.

Daniel and Lt. Tobias stood next to him, the four scientists shaking slightly, clutching their gear close to them, and looking worriedly at Captain Carter.

He lead the way back to the Gate, shaking his head before Teal'c even had a chance to offer to carry her, needing to feel her breathing against him, to know she was alive.

--------------------------------

She passes out just as they pass through the Stargate, the combination of her injuries and the trip through the gate more than her body can cope with.

He placed her down carefully onto the stretcher; his eye's flicking to Janet's shocked face.

"Doc?"

"She's NID?"

"Not any more."

She nodded, forcing herself back to reality when a machine beeps, the nurses carrying on without her.

"We need to get her to the OR immediately, try and stop the internal bleeding."

Jack watched as they wheeled her out, only turning to face General Hammond when they had disappeared out of sight.

"Colonel?"

"Three of the soldiers tried to execute her."

"And?"

"And we stopped them, he's the only survivor. Captain Carter got caught in the crossfire."

Hammond nodded. "What about the scientists?"

Jack signaled Daniel, who finished his conversation with one of the scientists and moved to stand next to him.

"They say they're more than happy to join the SGC, they only joined the NID because they didn't think they'd get the chance to study that kind of thing anywhere else, most of them were rejected from the original Stargate program."

"Take them to the infirmary, get them checked out, we'll figure out what to do after that later."

Daniel nodded, leading the way out of the Gateroom, the scientists following quickly, looking around in fear at the SF's.

Lt. Tobias moved to stand next to him, her fingers playing with her watchstrap; something that she always did when nervous, and that annoyed him to no end.

"What?"

She looked up. "Colonel?"

"What's bothering you?"

"I found out just after I got the job here, that I only got it because Captain Carter turned it down."

He looked at her, surprised. "Who told you that?"

She opened her mouth, closing it and shaking her head before thinking for a few seconds. "They didn't need to, I could tell from how they would keep going on about how amazing she was; they would have done anything to get her but she wasn't interested so they ended up with me."

He smiled slightly. "I don't think that."

She blushed, walking quickly out of the room, leaving him to follow, and laughing slightly.

---------------------------------

She woke quickly; keeping her eyes closed and her breathing steady as she assessed her surroundings.

She could hear the machines beeping steadily, voices coming from close to her bed.

"Jack seems to think she should stay here."

"Indeed, O'Neill does seem to have formed some kind of a bond with this woman."

"You don't think it's a good idea?"

"We know nothing about her except that she is NID, which makes her the enemy, and she has shown no proof otherwise."

"Ever heard of the phrase innocent until proven guilty?"

"She has already proved herself to be guilty, however there is no proof of innocence."

She heard footsteps, someone moving to join the voices she recognized as members of SG-1.

"Hey guys, what's the prognosis?"

"Janet says that she'll be fine, they repaired all the damage; will be a while before she's fit for duty but she should wake up soon."

Sam moaned slightly, making a show of forcing her eyes open, finding all three men stood around her bed.

"Hey Carter, how you feeling?"

"Sore. How am I?"

"Janet said you'll be fine."

"The scientists are fine, most of them are already busy working in our labs...The odd one or two have been problems."

"How long have I been out?"

"Couple of days."

She nodded, thinking carefully before turning to look at Colonel O'Neill. "Jones?"

He creased his forehead, "The soldier?" She nodded. "He's in the brig with a few of the less co-operative scientists, we wanted to wait and see what happened to you first."

She lay back down on the pillow, closing her eyes before slowly opening them, appearing to be exhausted.

Janet came over, spotting Sam looking tired. "Visiting time's over, my patient needs sleep."

With a lot of mumbling and groaning she manages to get them out of the infirmary, before walking quickly back to her, pulling the curtains around them to give them a degree of privacy.

"Sam?"

"Janet?" She shot back, mimicking Janet's voice.

"You're NID?"

"Not any more apparently. I get the feeling almost being executed means they're trying to get rid of me."

She shook her head. "You could have told me instead of just disappearing."

"I didn't disappear, I told you I was leaving."

Janet looked at her in despair. "You're not the woman I used to call friend."

Sam smirked, "I wouldn't have survived three years in the NID without changing."

Janet nodded, "Do you even feel anything anymore?"

"Yes," Sam's face creased into pain. "When dad died, I fell apart, it was only my job that kept me together, made me wake up in the morning; so yes, I know how to feel." She wiped away at a tear that fell, the memory of her dad lying in the hospital bed, dying, while she could do nothing to save him, haunting her.

Janet moved over, pulling her carefully into a hug. "I'm sorry Sam, it's just, you seem so different to what I remember; and the NID? What were you thinking?"

First day in Washington was awful, no one liked me, or respected me, and I was 'the girl'. I called them up that night, just after I called you, told them that I'd join. I got transferred the very next day."

"Two years too late, but I'm here."

Janet shook her head, slightly amused. "It's never to late. Oh, and General Hammond wants to talk to you, if you feel up to it."

"Of course."

-----------------------------

Jack watched as General Hammond took in their new guest, examining her with his eyes.

"So, I guess you want to know everything?" She asked, looking at all of them in turn, her voice betraying her nervousness over her calm exterior.

"Yes I would Captain, very much so."

She told them everything she had just told Janet, leaving out the phone call to her. "They blindfolded me, took me to a base somewhere. At first I was just a scientist, at least until they checked me out, made sure I wasn't a spy for anyone.

That lasted about two weeks, after that the commander told me that I'd been cleared and that the real reason I was here was to head up the science department. All I had to do was sign a secrecy form and have only a minimum of contact with the outside world. "

"They wouldn't let you out?"

"I take it that's where most of the SGC rejects and drop outs are."

"Some of them yes. At first it was only a small place, not very many people, so it was quite easy to just have them disappear. But once the Stargate program started up, we realized that we'd need a more permanent solution."

"You killed them." Daniel gasped at Jack's statement, looking at him in shock. "Most of the people who left the Stargate program have been 'killed' or committed 'suicide', we always assumed it was government ensuring the secrecy of the SGC."

"Some of them yes, it's always been a battle between us and them over who gets to potentials first. We've lost a lot of good people to the government, they would have helped a lot."

" 'We'?"

Hammond nodded in understanding; "It is quite easy to be drawn into that."

Sam looked down at her hands, playing nervously with her fingers. "Can I stay here?" She asked in almost a whisper.

Hammond looked at the members of SG-1 before back to her. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

She looked up, her expression one of fear and desperation. "If I go out there they'll kill me. I have nothing, no home, no money, and no job. The NID was my life, my bank accounts are monitored and run by the NID, I lived on the base, I don't know anyone either. Please, I have no where else."

Jack watched as she broke down, sobbing quietly into her hands. "General, she's right. If we throw her out they'll kill her. And she is the one that created the dialing computer so could probably update it for us, hell she probably knows more about the Stargate then the rest of the scientists on this base put together."

"If I do Colonel, she will be your personal responsibility, anything, and I mean anything, and it wouldn’t just be her ass on the line."

"Yes Sir."

Hammond left, Daniel giving Jack a wary look before leaving with Teal'c.

"You're willing to put your job on the line for me? Why?"

"Because...well I have no idea why, but I won't let them kill you."

"I already owe you my life, I want to repay that somehow."

"Don't let me down then."

She smiled slightly. "I won't, I promise."

-----------------------------------

He looked down at the file, re-reading it over and over, trying to spot any indication that she hadn't just be a victim of her own need to succeed.

She had a perfect track record, top of her classes in the academy, no problems, nothing; 'apart from the fact she joined the NID' his brain reminded him.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair. There was nothing, not a single reason why she was a threat, yet the fact she had been NID meant that Hammond wasn't even willing to give her a chance.

He'd had both Teal'c and Daniel trying to talk him out of it, but there was something about Captain Carter, something that made him trust her, he just wished he knew what it was.

A knocking on the door shocked him from his thoughts, and he looked up to see her leaning heavily against the doorframe.

"Hey."

"Should you be out of bed?"

She smiled, "Probably not."

He signaled for her to take a seat and she quickly collapsed into the chair, moaning slightly in pain.

"How did you get around the Doc?"

"She was busy with someone, Siler I think his name was, and the nurses were looking at pictures of something so I sneaked out."

"They'll come looking for you."

She sighed, "And you'll be in trouble already, I should go."

He shook his head. "I'll just tell them I ordered you here, wanted to review some reports."

She leaned over the desk slightly. "My personal file?"

He shrugged. "It's a report."

"Find anything interesting?"

"Nothing to explain why such a goody two shoes would join the NID."

"What if she thought she was serving her country?"

He nodded slightly, but she could tell he didn't believe her.

"You must have done some... lets say less than perfect things whilst you were Special Forces."

He leaned closer to her, his eyes angry. "That was different, I was serving my country."

She mimicked his pose exactly. "And I thought I was serving mine." She leaned back, changing her posture to one of respect. "By the time I figured out the truth I'd also figured out that they'd kill me if I tried to leave. You can't just hand in your resignation and walk out the door, the best you can hope for is to be killed in action."

He nodded, finding himself respecting her, although she did seem to find it a little too easy to talk back.

She leaned forward, taking a deep breath. "Carter?"

"I'm fine, the meds are just wearing off."

He stood up, moving around to help her out of the chair, "Time to get you back to the infirmary."

"Yes Sir."

--------------------------------------

She typed away quickly on the laptop, alternating between the report she was supposed to be writing up on NID scientific advances and trying to hack into the SGC database. Wanting to find out as much as possible about what this place was actually like, needing to know that it wasn't just another place full of talk like the NID, or if they actually had gained devices, technology, artifacts from peaceful exploration ...which Maybourne had said was impossible.

She quickly brought back up the report, typing away furiously as Colonel O'Neill entered the infirmary, giving her a friendly smile as he walked over.

"Carter."

"Colonel." She returned as a way of greeting, smiling slightly, and looking up from the report.

"They actually gave you one of them?"

"Doctor Fraiser felt that it would be easier for me to type rather than write, it's not connected to the SGC mainframe, and I don't have a password anyway."

He shook his head, amused. "I wasn't suggesting anything, they just don't have many of them, I'm rather impressed Hammond was willing to give up one so easily."

"I'm typing up everything the NID learnt from their experiments."

"Ah," he grinned at her, and she tilted her head, looking at him in confusion. "You said 'their', it's just nice not to hear you sound like a brainwashed NID soldier."

"Is that what you think I am?"

"No!" He sighed, sitting down on the chair next to her bed. "There have been long meetings, and I mean really long meetings over what to do with you. Basically no one's sure whether they can trust you; there have even been suggestions that the shooting was a set up to get you into the base. Not that anyone really believes that, at the moment the most popular theory is that you're brainwashed, they want to get people in to try and deprogram you."

"If it'll help, I'll do whatever I need to, to show that I'm here of my own free will, because I want to be, and that I'm not a spy."

"I believe you, it's just that not everyone does."

She nodded, turning back to the screen, unsure of what to say.

"When do you get out of this place?"

"Doctor Fraiser said that I should be able to walk around tomorrow, assuming that someone is with me at all times, officially to make sure I'm ok, unofficially to spy on me, and I have to spend the next few nights here."

"In that case, would you like to have lunch?"

"Colonel?"

"Commissary food isn't that bad. The infirmary stuff is just the leftovers, there they have real food, well as real as it's going to get around here."

She smiled, "That'd be nice, thank you Colonel."

He smiled back, lingering a moment longer than was probably appropriate before leaving.

Janet walked straight over, and Sam could tell from the look on her face that she'd heard everything.

"Don't start Janet, please."

"I was going to say that lunch sounds like a great idea, especially with the Colonel. He is highly respected around here, so it should stop some of the distrust."

"I hear a but coming."

"But you're both Military. The NID may not have cared about things like that, but you're back in the real world now, which means you're back to having to follow the rules."

"Janet, nothing is going on, he's just the only person here that didn't automatically assume I was bad."

"I'm sorry, it was just a shock to see you again, and then to find out you were NID...I guess I didn't react too well."

"I probably wouldn't have reacted very well if I was in your position." She smiled slightly, glad when Janet smiled back.

"You could join us for lunch, make sure that I'm eating foods that will help my recovery."

Sam's eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Yep, and I might just take you up on that offer. It'll be nice to socialize for once. But that means you need rest."

"Yes Ma'am."

Sam quickly saved the report, closing everything down and handing the laptop over to Janet before lying down, closing her eyes and waiting for sleep to come.

----------------------------------

Sam held her breath has she walked into the commissary, the Colonel's presence next to her providing some comfort, but she was anxious about what people's reactions would be.

Jack placed his hand carefully on her shoulder, pushing gently to make her walk to the table where the rest of Sg-1 and Janet were sat, his stomach complaining that he was not eating yet.

She carefully sat down next to Janet, looking down at the table, feeling everyone's gaze on her back.

"How are you feeling?"

She smiled slightly, "I'm ok."

Colonel O'Neill grabbed a bowl of fruit loops and some blue jello, the Doc mentioning that it was something Carter liked.

He placed the jello down in front of her, grinning at her surprised look.

"Thank you."

She shoveled a spoonful into her mouth greedily, keeping her eyes downcast so that she wouldn't have to meet any intrigued...or hateful eyes.

"Jack, I managed to translate that writing."

"And?"

"It talks about the civilization, they were really advanced, and I found a reference to something that translates as 'the kingdom of four', which means that it was probably from the time when the alliance was still active, they may even been related to one of the four races."

"Daniel Jackson, does it refer to the vial at all?"

Jack grinned, amused that Teal'c had become annoyed with Daniel earlier than he had, he'd been too busy watching Carter eating her jello, how she was listening intently to Daniel without appearing so.

"What? Oh, yeah. It's on one of the later pages; it refers to an instruction manual, known only as the 'tablet'. It was supposed to stay with the vial at all times, explain what it is and how to use it, and also warnings, but we only found the vial, which makes no sense."

"Is it possible that you missed the tablet?" Janet asked, pointing her fork at Daniel.

"No! I searched the whole area, three times. I spotted the mention of the tablet when I was translating some of it on the planet, but it was nowhere to be found. I just don't understand how it could have disappeared."

Tobias flicked through the pages of the report, absently eating an apple. "What if someone took the tablet, to prevent anyone from using the vial?"

"But that makes no sense. There is a passage that warns of the dangers of using whatever it is. The vial can be used without the tablet, we just don't know what it is, or what it is supposed to be used for."

"Daniel Jackson, could that not be a reason for destroying the tablet? The vial cannot be used now without the tablet, so is safe."

"So why not just destroy the vial?" Jack looked from one to the other, each returning with a blank look.

They nodded, her theory making sense.

"So, what happened to them?" Janet asked.

Daniel shrugged. "It doesn't say, the writings stop after the whatever is in the vial was completed; the room was set up as a memorial to the scientists that lost their lives during it's creation, the writings their legacy."

"Maybe it's a weapon." Groans and eye rolls greeted Jack's comment. "What? If scientists were killed creating it then it must be powerful."

"You always think it's a weapon Jack."

Tobias placed the translation back onto the table, "If it was a weapon, they'd have taken it with them to where ever they went."

"What if it was some sort of biological weapon? If there had been accidents then that would result in deaths. They might have left the vial there if they had to evacuate, to destroy the enemy." Janet paused, suddenly realizing that she had actually agreed with Colonel O'Neill.

"Have any tests been done on it?" Sam asked, looking from the file to Daniel, silently asking permission to read it.

He nodded, and she grabbed it as Tobias spoke up. "We've been waiting for Daniel's translation, didn't want to open it in case it was something dangerous."

Sam laughed slightly.

"What?"

"The NID had no reservations. If people died then it was unfortunate, but they weren't going to bother waiting for a translation. The only times they did translations was when there was nothing to test on."

"So, what do we do now?" Daniel reached across, grabbing a piece of fruit from Teal'c’s plate.

Tobias shook her head, "I have no idea, I don't think there is any way we can safely open that vial without knowing what is inside."

"You don't need to." They all looked at Sam, and she shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. "There will be traces of the substance on the outside of it, no matter how careful they were. Or if that doesn't work, you can take a piece of the plug, as that will have some of the substance on it, just make sure you don't take too much off so that you break the seal."

Sam nodded, "And if it goes wrong I'm the one that gets injured." They all looked uncomfortable, so she smiled slightly, "I understand, I'm the outsider, you have no reason to trust me, and it's unfair if she gets hurt testing out one of my ideas."

Daniel nodded, collecting together all the sheets of paper that had spilled across the table in the course of the discussion. "I'm going to go and translate the final piece of the wall, see if it gives us anything new on the civilization."

"If he's injured himself already it won't be his only problem."

They laughed, Janet warning Sam not to over do herself before leaving, muttering about not getting a break.

Sam looked at the three remaining people, Colonel O'Neill, who was still busily eating his fruit loops, completely absorbed in his task; Tobias, scanning through a report, muttering quietly to herself and making notes with a pencil. She looked finally towards Teal'c, meeting his gaze, a chill running down her spine at what she saw hidden behind his bright eyes.

Thinking hard, she tried to piece together the little Goa'uld she could speak, wanting to try and connect.

The table went silent, Teal'c raising an eyebrow as O'Neill and Tobias looked at her in confusion.

Jack looked at her, hearing his name. "Hey! Speak English for crying out loud, not all of us speak Goa'uld."

"Sorry Sir."

Tobias looked vaguely amused, her understanding of Goa'uld too limited to understand what was being said, but O'Neill's confusion was worth every foreign word. "We should probably get started on the experiment. Captain Carter?"

Sam smiled, slowly climbing to her feet, following Lt. Tobias out of the commissary, O'Neill following close behind.

--------------------------------

They worked quickly, easily settling into a comfortable partnership, their mutual love of science and abilities making the work progress quickly.

Jack had wandered in and out, checking up on them every half an hour or so, lasting at most five minutes before the technical jargon sent him racing back to his office.

They found no sample on the outside of the vial, so carefully sliced off a piece of the plug, Tobias watching from a safe distance as Sam slowly and gently pulled the slice out, sighing in relief when nothing appeared to happen.

They set up an experiment, placing the vial carefully back into storage before attempting anything.

"Carter, Tobias, how's it going?"

They both looked up at the Colonel; Tobias signaling with her head that Sam should take care of him this time.

"We've done the preliminary experiments, we're just starting on the first actual one now. We're going to test the sample to see if...."

"Ah! Carter, as long as everything is ok, and you have everything you need I don't need to know what is going on."

"Actually Sir there is something we, well I wouldn't mind looking at."

"Carter?"

"I was wondering if it would be possible for me to see some of the reports, so that I have a better understanding of what may affect the results."

"I'm going to have to stay with you while you have it, Hammond hasn't cleared you yet, assuming that I'm willing to let you see it."

"I just need one of the reports from the original mission, if that's ok Colonel?"

He nodded, "Tobias? You going to be ok for a few minutes?"

"Yes Sir."

They slowly walked out, making it half way down the corridor before a loud bang came from the lab they'd just left, followed by a cloud of smoke.

Turning around, he called into the smoke "Tobias?"

Sam put her hand on his shoulder, "If she was stood right next to the device...."

"We can't just leave her."

Sam looked from him to the corridor and then back to him, a plan forming.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

She kicked him in the leg, and he let out a yelp as his knee buckled, reaching out for her as she slipped past, running towards the lab.

He coughed, the smoke becoming thicker, before limping back, keeping his eyes on the barely visible door to the lab, willing her to come back out.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, turned to find Daniel, arm over his face to try and block some of the smoke. "Jack, we need to get off this level."

"No! They're still in there."

"Who?"

"Tobias was in the lab when it exploded, Carter went back for her."

Daniel shook his head. "They've got people getting kited up now, they'll stop the fire, find them."

Jack nodded his head, accepting Daniel's arm as they made their way to the stairs, just reaching the door when they heard a shout from behind.

"Colonel, I've got her, she's hurt badly though, Colonel?"

Daniel shoved Jack through the door, into the less polluted stairwell before moving back, helping Sam carry Tobias towards safety.

They placed her down carefully onto the landing, her face and hands badly burnt.

Sam collapsed next to her, coughing badly.

"That was a very stupid thing to do Captain."

"Yes sir."

=========================================

He looked up as Teal'c almost ran down the stairs to them, pausing at the step above them.

"O'Neill I am relieved that you are un-injured."

"I'll be fine, Tobias needs help though."

Teal'c nodded, carefully and easily lifting Tobias into his arms before running back up the stairs towards safety and help.

Sam pulled herself to her feet, still coughing badly.

"Are you going to be ok Carter?"

"Yes sir, but we should evacuate here before they send in people."

He tried to stand, finding that his knee wasn't feeling very co-operative, and almost fell over until Daniel caught him.

He helped him up the stairs, Sam following close behind, trying to focus on the step in front of her rather than the urge to pass out.

Reaching safety, they watched as Janet worked on Tobias, wheeling her away to the infirmary as a team was sent down to stop the fire.

A nurse moved over to Sam, steering her off towards the infirmary, needing to check her out. "I'm fine, how is she? It's all my fault, I should have been doing that experiment."

Jack limped over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, it was an accident, I'm just thankful that you weren't hurt too."

She nodded, letting the nurse lead her away, Jack following close behind, wanting to get his knee checked out and to keep an eye on her.

Daniel moved to stand next to Teal'c, who was watching Sam intently. "What are you thinking?"

"Daniel Jackson?"

"You got that look, the one that means you're thinking something that no one else has even considered."

"I believe Captain Carter is using O'Neill."

Daniel looked at him in shock. "That's definitely something I haven't considered, why?"

"She is meant to be a soldier, a scientist, yet on the planet she didn't move out of the way until after she had been hit, ensuring that O'Neill would rescue her, he wouldn't be willing to let her die.

In the infirmary she played innocent, appeared kind, and told us what we wanted to hear without giving anything away. We found out exactly how the NID had used her, yet she never mentioned a name, a location, anything that we could use to bring them down. "

Daniel nodded, catching on to his train of thought. "If you're right, we never noticed it because she told us so much so we all assumed it was useful. Then at lunch she manipulated the conversation, made suggestions, and made sure that someone else suggested she worked on the vial, so that she would look innocent. She probably has the tablet, or at least knows what was on it; otherwise she would have asked more questions, been more suspicious. The only reason she wanted to do the tests was to confirm that it was the right vial. "

"Indeed. This she figured out from the preliminary tests that were completed, but she could not risk the SGC finding out what the vial is, so she destroyed the laboratory."

"But what about Tobias? Why did she leave Tobias in the lab but then go back for her after?"

"O'Neill would have attempted to rescue her, Captain Carter would not have been able to stop him, so she made herself appear more of a hero in his eyes by risking her life to save Lieutenant Tobias."

"Yeah, this all makes sense Teal'c, but it's so unlikely, I can't honestly believe that she would be so desperate to get the vial that she would risk her life, do all this, just for it."

"We have no clue as to what is in that vial, she does. And whatever it is must be worth the risk. If you do not believe my words, find your own proof."

"Teal'c, would you not tell anyone your suspicions until I've checked it out for myself? If you're wrong, you could destroy her completely, and not just her career."

He raised an eyebrow. "If I am correct, then much damage could have been caused by the time you have 'checked it out'."

"I'll go see her now, find out, as long as Jack is with her she can't risk doing anything too much, in case she loses his trust."

Teal'c nodded, leaving Daniel stood in the corridor, trying to work out whether he could believe Sam was not what she claimed.

------------------------------------

Jack escorted Sam out of the infirmary, both of them having been checked out and given almost clean bills of health.

"Are you sure you're ok."

"Yes Colonel, it's just a cough, they said I'll fine in a few days. How about you?"

"Leg's fine, bit sore."

"I'm really sorry about that, I just didn't want you to risk your life to save her, or me, I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

He smiled. "I know what you mean, I feel really bad, but when the two of you were in that lab, you were the one I was most worried about. I was really worried about Tobias, but there was something...I can't really explain it."

She paused, checking that the corridor was empty before speaking. "I think I'm falling for you."

His eyes opened in shock, pulling her towards the closest storage closest. Slamming the door shut he turned to face her.

"Are you serious?"

She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry, I know it's stupid, but I can't help it. I'll understand if you don't want to know me any more."

He placed his finger on her lips, shutting her up. "That's the last thing I want to do."

He brought his lips to hers, and it started as a chaste kiss, quickly turning into something more until she finally pulled away, breathing hard.

"Are you sure?"

He grinned, "Definitely, what do you want to do about this?"

She grinned back, placing her lips next to his ear, "Probably exactly the same as what you want", before kissing him again.

--------------------------------------

Daniel wandered around the base, trying to think about what Teal'c had said, what he could say to her, trying to find any sign of her assumed deceit. Eventually ending up in the infirmary, he checked up on Claire, finding her asleep in one of the beds.

Janet walked up behind him, standing close to him. "She's going to be ok."

"That's good. Have you seen Captain Carter?"

"She left the infirmary about half an hour ago with Colonel O'Neill, they're both fine."

"Any idea where they went?"

She shook her head. "No idea, they were chatting though, so I 'm guessing maybe his office."

"Ok, thanks." He smiled at her, wandering out of the infirmary, completely oblivious to the worried gaze she sent in his direction.

He walked quickly to Jack's office, finding them sat on chairs, chatting animatedly.

"Hey Danny."

"Jack. " He glanced at Sam, who was sat, relaxing into a chair, smiling slightly.

"Danny, would you do me a favour?"

"Depends what it is."

"Look after Carter for a few minutes, I need to drop this report off to Hammond."

"Sure."

They both looked surprised at how easily he had accepted, but Jack just smiled, winking at her before leaving, Daniel sitting down on the chair next to her.

"How are you doing?"

She looked down at her hands. "I'm ok, a lot luckier than Tobias."

"Yeah, I don't understand how it could happen though, she's normally so careful."

"The substance in the vial could have been explosive."

"No, that can't be the reason."

"Why not?"

She looked confused, almost surprised that he'd asked. "None of the other tests had the same problem, we would have spotted earlier if it had been explosive. There must have been a problem with the machinery, faulty wiring or something."

Daniel nodded, not pointing out that the test had been to see whether it was a weapon or not, knowing that he had his proof.

"I wish I knew why they'd left it there, if it's not a weapon then what reason could they have for leaving it there." He ran his fingers through his hair, making himself appear really stressed. "If I'd found that out then she wouldn't be lying there, covered in burns."

"I guess if it's not a weapon then it could be something useful, something they wanted explorers to find. Something that tells people about them."

"A time capsule?"

She shrugs, her face unreadable. "Maybe."

He looks at her, aware of how easily she had manipulated the conversation, scaring himself by admitting that Teal'c may be right about her.

He looked down at his hands, unwilling to confront her about it yet, and also slightly worried about what she would do if he did.

"I guess we'll never find out, they won't let us complete the tests until they figure out what happened, and most of the equipment's probably been destroyed, not to mention Lt. Tobias, it's hopeless."

'How convenient for you' Daniel thought, resisting the urge to say it out loud. "I'm, sure that Claire will be fine, as for the experiments, a slight break won't hurt, it'll give us more chance to figure out what happened to the civilization."

She nodded, her face the picture of innocence and he couldn't help but have doubts, although he knew she had proved her guilt repeatedly in the conversation he didn't want to have to explain it to Jack, he could already see the connection they had.

Jack chose that moment to stroll back in, giving Sam a grin before collapsing behind his desk.

"Thanks Space Monkey."

Daniel nodded, hearing the dismissal in his name, walking silently out of the office, knowing that he needed to speak to Teal'c.

--------------------------------

Jack noticed the look she gave Daniel as he left; a mix between confusion and something he couldn't place.

"What's up?"

"Huh?"

"Did Daniel say something?"

"No, but there was something about the way he was talking to me, I can't place my finger on what, it was almost as if he was expecting me to admit I blew up the lab." She looks straight at him, tears in her eyes. "I didn't, I just don't understand why you seem to be the only one that hasn't judged me already."

He moved over, placing his hands gently on hers. "I believe in you, I believe that you aren't evil, that you only did what you had to, to survive. And that you want to be here."

"I want to be with you."

He wiped away at a tear that fell, leaving his hand on her cheek for a moment before moving it. "I'm here for you."

-------------------------------------

Daniel found Teal'c in his quarters, meditating by candlelight.

"Hey Teal'c, sorry to bother you but I need a word."

He nodded, and Daniel walked in, closing the door behind him and sitting opposite Teal'c on the floor.

"You have your proof Daniel Jackson?"

He sighed, "Yes, I think I do. But there's a bigger problem."

"What is that problem?"

"I think Jack's in love with her."

Daniel almost laughed as Teal'c's eyebrow rose higher than ever, but the seriousness of the situation stopped him.

"Do you believe she returns these feelings?"

"Regardless of her feelings, O'Neill will not easily believe our suspicions if he truly feels for her."

"I know."

They looked at each other in silence, the candlelight reflecting off their faces, both knowing what they were going to have to do.

"We're going to have to set her up aren't we?"

"Indeed. I do believe it may be the only way to get proof. Although we should inform General Hammond of our suspicions in case we do not succeed."

"You mean in case she works out it's a set up and tries to kill us."

Teal'c only stared at him, and he nodded, knowing that no further words were needed.

------------------------------

Sam walked quietly into the infirmary, needing to know that Jack wasn't the only friend she had here.

"Hey Janet."

"Sam, hey, let me just finish up here, you can wait in my office if you want."

She smiled, "Thanks."

Walking into the office, she flicked through files, looking at all the certificates and photographs on the wall.

She sat down quickly as she heard Janet approach, making herself comfortable as she walked through the door, closing it behind her before sitting at her desk.

"So, what's up?"

"How's Tobias?"

"Nothing life threatening, she may have a few scars though."

Sam nodded, trying to think how to phrase what she wanted to ask. "Do you...do you trust me?"

"What?"

"I know, it's a stupid question, but I feel like there is no one on the base I can trust. I just wanted to know whether you trusted me."

Janet looked at her, suddenly suspicious of where the conversation might be heading, knowing from past experience that being asked whether you trust someone normally means they did something wrong.

"Have you done something?"

"What?" Sam stood up, pacing up and down the office. "Why does everyone assume I'm guilty, isn't anyone willing to give me a second chance."

Janet put her hands up, scared by Sam's sudden change in mood. "I'm sorry, I just...normally when someone asks me whether I trust them it means they want me to cover for them for something."

Sam placed her hands on Janet's desk, leaning in close. "I take it that's a no then."

---------------------------------

They walked in silence to General Hammond's office, neither one liking that they were having to go over their leader’s head, but knowing that there was no way Jack would believe them.

Daniel knocked quickly on the door, not wanting to do it but knowing that if he had to, he was going to do it as quickly as possible.

"Enter."

They walked in; Hammond's smile disappearing as soon as he saw their faces.

"Gentlemen?"

"General, we need to talk to you about something, confidentially."

He nodded, signaling for them to sit.

Teal'c closed the door behind them, choosing to remain standing while Daniel collapsed into a chair.

"What's the problem?"

"Well General, we believe...well Teal'c spotted it first and told me and I went to see for myself and I think he may be right..."

"We believe that Captain Carter may be using the SGC to acquire the vial."

Hammond nodded, surprised that he wasn't more shocked by what they said. "What does Colonel O'Neill make of this?"

"We haven't told him general. We wanted to come straight to you, we don't think Jack would believe us, not without proof."

"We wish to prove Captain Carter's guilt before we go to O'Neill, it would be a most unwise course of action otherwise."

"What exactly is the problem?"

Daniel looked down at his hands, and even Teal'c looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Doctor Jackson?"

"We think.. .this is only a thought though, we have no proof, that they may be in a relationship, or wanting to; basically General, we think they may be in love."

Hammond sighed, resisting the urge to bang his head on the desk. "How are you going to get proof?"

"Yes. If, and I stress if she does turn out to be guilty, we will have to inform Colonel O'Neill, as I did place him in charge of her. Oh, and has anyone seen Doctor Fraiser?"

"No, why, what happened?"

"She seems to have disappeared, no one can find her, but she hasn't left base. She is probably just asleep somewhere, but if you see her, tell her that the test results have come back, whatever that means."

"Yes Sir."

-------------------------------------

Daniel found her in the commissary, enjoying some blue jello with Colonel O'Neill.

Taking a deep breath, he walked up to them, keeping his hands in his pockets to stop them from shaking.

"Hey guys."

"Daniel! Hey, come join us."

"Thanks Jack but I can't. Oh, General Hammond is looking for you, something about a report and cake crumbs."

Jack sighed, climbing to his feet. "Sorry Carter, looks like I'll have to be going. Danny would you..."

"I'll look after her. Actually I need your help with something if you don't mind."

She nodded, finishing her jello off quickly. "Sure."

They walked in silence down to one of the storage rooms for artifacts, Daniel walking in after her, quickly checking to see if Teal'c had silently followed them.

Teal'c nodded at him, moving to guard the door, ensuring that no one would enter or leave, as they had to know that it was Sam who had taken the vial.

Daniel walked into the middle of the room, smiling kindly at her.

"So, what's the problem?"

"I need to find a device," He handed her a picture of it, "it should be in one of these two rooms, you check this one I'll look in the next."

She nodded, looking intently at the picture as he walked into the adjoining room, ensuring that he closed the door behind him.

Waiting what he believed to be a reasonable amount of time, he picked up the device, moving to open the door. "I found it."

"Good."

He walked in, finding her climbing to her feet, apparently searching the shelves on the other side of the room to where the vial had been kept.

Walking out of the room together, he glanced behind them, spotting Teal'c slipping silently into the room as they left the level, checking to see if the vial had been taken.

They met up with an annoyed looking Jack back at the commissary.

"Hammond banned me from eating while writing reports, said the crumbs were causing problems while filing."

------------------------------

Daniel smiled, leaving them to chat as he walked off with the device, dumping it in the first available lab before almost running to General Hammond's office.

He opened the door, finding Teal'c already inside, their faces him telling him all he needed to know. "She took it didn't she."

"Indeed, it does appear we have our proof."

Hammond picked up the phone, "Hello, please contact Colonel O'Neill and tell him to come to my office straight away...alone." He put the phone down, sighing. "This isn't going to go down well."

-----------------------------

Jack thanked the airman, turning to face Sam. "Guess I have to go back to the General, can't imagine what I've done know."

She laughed. "I can't wait to hear about it." She could see the silent question in his eyes. "I'll go see Janet, check on Tobias."

He nodded, "Ok, see you in a few."

He walked off and she headed towards the infirmary, changing direction at the end of the corridor and taking the long route to Hammond's office, suspicious as to what he was being called for.

She slowly walked through the briefing room, keeping out of view of the people inside the office, Jack's shouting and the looks on the other member's of SG-1, hell even General Hammond's face all yelled out traitor, and she ran, knowing that it was her they would be after.

-----------------------

"General, I can't believe you agree with this."

"We proved it Jack, we gave her an opening to steal the vial and she did."

"It could have been missing before."

"It was not O'Neill, I checked myself before they entered the room."

Jack sighed, collapsing into the chair. "What now?"

"We have to take her in, find out what she knows and why she is after that vial."

"The scientists from her team have already been rounded up, they're being kept in a guarded room for now, at least until we know whether they are involved."

"If she is NID then she'll try and leave the base now she has what she wants."

"There are guards posted at the exits, if she tries to escape they'll catch her."

"She'll know that...she'll go for the Stargate."

"Jack, you can't honestly think she'd be that crazy."

"It's her only option. General you'll have to evacuate the level, if she's desperate enough..."

"Understood. She must be stopped, using whatever force necessary, she knows too much, we can't let her escape."

They nodded, Jack storming out of the office, leaving Daniel and Teal'c to share a glance before heading off in different directions.

-------------------------------------

He opened the doors to his quarters, not surprised to find her huddled in the corner.

"Carter?"

"I'm sorry."

He moved closer, bending down so that he was eye level with her. "We figured it out, but I guess you know that from the fact you're hiding in here."

"It all went wrong."

"What did?"

She looked him straight in the eye, the tears pouring silently down her cheeks. "I was never supposed to fall in love with you."

He gasped, fighting back his own tears as he pulled her into a hug, her head resting against his shoulder. "I love you too."

She moved her head, kissing him briefly on the cheek, at the same time pulling the knife out of her sleeve.

"I'm sorry." She stuck the blade into his back, leaving it in place as she moved away; her tear filled eyes meeting his shocked ones.

"Sam?"

She turned away, taking a faltering breath to try and stem the tears before walking to him, pulling his access card out of his pocket and leaving the room, wiping the blood from her hands onto her trousers.

----------------------

Teal'c headed straight for the armory, stocking up on weapons before heading towards the labs, searching all the places he knew she had been too.

Daniel meanwhile headed towards Janet's quarters, knowing that she was still missing; the knot in his stomach telling him that it might have something to do with Sam.

He opened the door quietly, scanning the dark room with his eyes before switching on the light, finding it empty.

Walking towards the bathroom he pulled the door open, falling backwards as a body fell on top of his.

He shoved the body aside, gasping when Janet's blank eyes stared into his.

// "I take it that's a no then."

Janet sighed, "Can we not talk about this here?"

"Where then?"

She stood up, walking silently out of her office, Sam following close behind.

They reached Janet's quarters together, having met no one along the way. She let them in, in silence, waiting until Sam was inside before closing the door behind her.

"Sam, I used to trust you, you were one of my closest friends. But it's been a long time, you were NID, and you're not the same person I knew, so I don't think I can trust you at the moment."

Sam moved up close, backing Janet against the wall.

"I'm no longer your friend?"

"You can't be my friend if I don't trust you."

Sam's hands grabbed her neck, squeezing tighter and tighter as Janet tried unsuccessfully to struggle against her.

Sam froze as her body went limp, removing her hands and watching in horror as Janet's body slumped down to the floor.

Panicking she dragged her into the bathroom, slamming the door shut, rushing out of the room, jogging down the still empty corridor, trying to get as far away as possible. //

Daniel sobbed quietly, holding Janet's body in his arms.

-----------------------------

Teal'c sighed in frustration, he had found no sign of Captain Carter or the other members of SG-1.

He set off towards Colonel O'Neill's quarters, the closest to where he was, finding the door unlocked.

Pushing it open, he aimed the zat through the door, rushing in when he saw O'Neill lying on the floor, a knife in his back.

He checked the wound, finding it not too deep, so pulled the blade out, causing O'Neill to cry out.

"O'Neill?"

"Teal'c?"

"Indeed."

Jack rolled over, using Teal'c as a support to pull himself to his feet. "She stabbed me."

"It appears so."

Jack moved over to his desk, pulling out the gun he kept hidden in the drawer. "I take it you've not found her yet?"

"No, you are the first person I have seen."

He leaned on the desk, breathing through the pain until it became manageable. "She'll be heading towards the Gate Room. "

"General Hammond sealed it off, she will be unable to get through."

"She took my access card."

Teal'c nodded, allowing O'Neill to go first, knowing that stopping Captain Carter was something he would have to alone, Teal'c was following only in case he failed.

----------------

Sam hid as another group of soldiers went past; apparently General Hammond had decided to guard the Gate Room in case she tried to do what she was trying to do.

Holding the zat she had 'borrowed' off a lonely airman, she entered the control room, quickly zatting the people inside.

Moving to the computer she quickly hacked into the system, typing in the password that was required to start up the program she had written back in the infirmary.

Satisfied that they would be unable to stop her by shutting down the Gate, she waited until the guards passed before moving into the Gate Room, getting half way up the ramp before a voice called out to her.

"You're not even going to say goodbye?"

She turned around in shock, seeing Jack stood at the bottom of the ramp, gun pointed at her. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Yeah, I guessed. Apparently you need to work on your stabbing skills."

She laughed, "Or maybe it's hard to kill someone you care about."

He shook his head. "You never cared, you used me. You saw an easy target and took advantage of it."

She stepped back, closer to the Gate. "I cared, I honestly did. It could have ended well, all I wanted was the vial, no one had to die."

He stared at her, "Who died?"

She shook her head, looking over her shoulder to the Gate. "I have to go."

"What's in the vial?"

She grinned, pulling out the vial. "Knowledge, it's a virus, it will give you all the knowledge of the civilization, assuming you know how to use it of course."

She threw it over her shoulder, into the Stargate, taking another step closer to it.

"One more step and I'll shoot."

"You won't. You're not that person anymore, you've gone soft."

She fell, her hand almost touching the puddle, and he ran towards her, rolling her over just in time to hear her last words.

"Thank you."

Fin

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