Under Pressure

Queen
Hot Space (1982)
Under Pressure' (Queen and David Bowie)
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure - that burns a building
down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed
and torn
Why - why - why
Love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're
cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Why can't we give love that one more
chance
Why can't we give love
Cause love's such an old fashioned word
and love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

Colonel Jack O'Neill glanced up from his fishing line when he heard what he thought was the ringing of his cell phone. After three weeks of peace and quiet, the ringing of his phone was a jarring and unwelcome sound. He tried to squelch the irritation he felt at having his peaceful morning interrupted.

Bray'tac had contacted the SGC and had requested that Teal'c be allowed to join him off world on a training mission. Bray'tac felt Rya'c was in need of some quality time with his father and he wanted Teal'c to accompany him to a summit of rebel Jaffa. Teal'c, as he had promised, checked in weekly and his latest message indicated that he would be gone for at least one more week.

General Hammond had suggested that the rest of SG-1 take some of the leave they had accrued and try to relax. He requested that they keep their phones handy so they could be reached in an emergency. So far, much to Jack's amazement, there had been no calls until now.

"Damn! I knew I should have thrown that thing in the lake when I got here," he thought out loud. Putting the pole down, he walked into his cabin and picked up the offending piece of technological wonder.

"Sir, I'm sorry. But General Hammond called and wants you to return to base. And he meant yesterday."
Something in her voice caused Jack to pull back on the annoyance factor and he told her that he was closing up the cabin as they spoke and would get there as quick as he could. She acknowledged that and told him that she would see him when he got to the SGC.

While Jack was closing up his cabin he wondered what would cause Hammond to issue the 'get here yesterday' order. Normally, General Hammond worked within the reality factor. He didn't usually deal in the "How come you didn't know before I told you" manner that most military leaders were into.

"Crap!" Jack thought as he got into his truck, "I was really enjoying this. I sure hope he doesn't mind that I didn't shave while I was up here." Jack admired the beginnings of his beard and wondered how long he could get away without shaving it. The last three shave-free weeks gave him a good start on what he thought was a rakish look.

Major Samantha Carter was wondering why General Hammond was so stressed and so insistent that she and Colonel meet with him ASAP. And to make matters worse, she had an additional bother on her mind; she had been unable to reach Jonas. Because Teal'c was away visiting his son and Bra'tac, Jonas would have been left alone on the base. So, Sam offered to let Jonas stay in her guest room during their time off.

Jonas had been very good at being where he was supposed to be and always answered his cell phone. Always. Samantha chuckled at how much he loved to answer anything that resembled a telephone. But he hadn't been reachable by any means, even by Instant Messenger, for the last 3 days.

Janet noticed that Sam looked pre-occupied as she hung up the phone. "Jack is okay, isn't he?" Janet asked.

"Oh yeah. Aside from being annoyed because he was fishing and on 'vacation'," Sam made the quotation marks with her fingers, "he was okay, but puzzled."

"Yes, Janet, I am. It isn't like Jonas to not answer his phone, or at least have voice mail pick up." Sam looked at Janet, "I wonder if something has happened to him. You know, there are an awful lot of people who might be interested in learning a bit more about him. Since the incident with Adrian Conrad, I realize that Earth is no safer than many of the alien planets we visit..."

"Well, we will just have to hope for the best. He might just have forgotten to re-charge his cell phone." Janet said, trying to ease her friend's mind.

The atmosphere was tense when Jack arrived at SGC. He could feel it from the moment he stepped out of the elevator and he didn't even stop to change before he headed for the briefing room. He noted that Jonas was not at the table when the team met to be briefed by General Hammond.

George Hammond looked at the mainstay of his flagship team and marveled at how well they jelled with each other. He considered how much their relationship has changed through the years, especially after the Colonel's recent adventure with Colonel Maybourne and the Major's close encounter with Nirrti. He was not looking forward to the assignment he was about to give them. He really wondered just how much these two could take before they finally crossed the line.

"There is no easy way to start this," he began as soon as Jack took his seat. Sam was already seated at the conference table. Jack looked at Sam and she shrugged. He then focused his gaze on the general.

The silence at the table was almost palpable. Sam felt her stomach drop; she knew this couldn't be good.

George sighed, took a breath and continued. "He has been kidnapped by members of an international organization believed to be composed of rogue NID, CIA, and MI5 agents, possibly others. We were given this information about two days ago."

Jack and Sam let out a breath at the same time as if they were the same person. General Hammond's face said it all. He was worried for his man, close to scared in fact.

"If we had left Jonas at the SGC instead of allowing him to stay at my house, they wouldn't have had a chance to grab him," Sam said.

"We couldn't possibly see it coming, Major," Jack was trying to ease the guilt from her, "If they wanted, the NID could have snatched him from anywhere, even from the SGC."

When it appeared as if Jack was going to ask further questions, General Hammond raised his hand to stop him. "We will have a further briefing in about three hours. There are some other things that you two should know but I am not at liberty to discuss them right now."

Jack and Sam exchanged looks at that, and then they both shrugged, accepting that there was nothing they could do for now. They couldn't suppress a feeling that they were getting into something big. After all they had been through as teammates on SG-1 under General Hammond's command, one could not characterize their reaction to his uncharacteristically tight-lipped demeanor as one of surprise. However, concern and curiosity were coursing through both Sam and Jack. Having just exposed a group of power brokers who had been at the head of previously identified rogue NID factions, they wondered at just how big this new rogue group was and what, exactly, they were after.

O'Neill and Carter headed to the cafeteria, grabbed a Jell-O from the counter and sat down.
"So... "Jack started.

"I don't know. Unless he has some intel on where Jonas is, I don't think there is much he can talk to us about."
Sam looked down at her Jell-o and then looked up her CO. "Colonel, I am really worried."

"Me too Carter. Me too," Jack paused to eat a spoon full of Jell-o. "So tell me Carter, what exactly did Jonas do to send you fleeing to your lab?"

Jack broke out laughing and then seeing the look in her eyes and on her face - the one that said 'this isn't funny, sir' - he stopped and motioned for her to go on.

"Going to have to have a talk with that boy when he comes back," Jack said, feigning offense at his obvious misconception.

"Sir, not everyone thinks that Monty Python is the funniest thing in the world," she said, knowing full well he was putting on an act for her benefit.

"Yes sir, it is. And right now, I think that all your taste is in your mouth. Stop swiping the whipped cream off my Jell-o."

Jack grinned, removed his spoon and dipped it back in his own Jell-o. "And..." he said, wanting to move past their little Jell-o detour.

"I left him at my house with a freezer full of chunky monkey ice cream and all the Marx brothers and Abbot and Costello movies I could find to rent. I headed for the lab."

They finished their snacks in silence and returned to their offices to finish off paperwork. At the appointed time, they met at General Hammond's office. They almost didn't notice the two individuals sitting on George's left. General Hammond indicated that they should sit down as he introduced the two strangers.

"Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter, this is Agent Kennedy and Agent Sullivan. They are here to help in our search for Mr. Quinn. They will tell you the details of the mission. I have already been briefed, but the British Government and the President feel it is important for the Agents to tell you specifically what is involved. They also think it best that I not take part in that discussion. So I will leave you to it." General Hammond rose and walked to the door, pausing as he opened the door.

Jack was taken aback. It was unusual for the President to make such a request. He looked at General Hammond who only nodded and left the room, silently reassuring his officer.

"Okay Agent Kennedy, Agent Sullivan. What is it you have to say to us that could not be said in front of General Hammond?"

The MI5 agents looked first at Colonel O'Neil and then at Major Carter. Agent Kennedy began, "What we are about to tell you has been approved by your president and the British Prime Minister." Victoria stopped and tried to evaluate the two officers in front of her. "Jonas Quinn's kidnapping has more far reaching consequences than just for the Stargate Program. Somehow, information about his unique DNA has gotten into the wrong hands. There are people who believe that Mr. Quinn could provide the key to creating a genetically superior warrior. I don't suppose I have to tell you what kind of people I'm talking about or how they could use a tool like that, do I?"

Agent Sullivan picked up the next part of the conversation, "What we are about to tell you is top secret. This information, like the existence of the Stargate, is known only to those five permanent member nations of the UN Security Council. We have been authorized to use whatever means necessary to insure that the information we are about to impart goes no further than this room."

"You know the drill," Agent Sullivan continued, "I can tell you, but then I might have to kill you." Sam raised one brow and let a lazy smile form on her face as she contemplated the British agent. That 'you've got to be kidding' smile was quickly replaced by a brow furrow and serious expression as she realized Sullivan was serious.

"Maybe you could give us a little more less sensitive information before you get to that part, huh?" Jack said quietly.

"I will," Agent Sullivan answered. "There are a few things that have to be settled before we can continue, though."

Looking directly at Jack, "You, Colonel O'Neill, have no option but to co-operate with us. Your Special Ops background is uniquely suited for this and your President wants you in on this." Then shifting his gaze to Sam, "However, you, Major Carter, have a choice. For you this mission is strictly voluntary. After I give you some particulars as to the part you will play, you will be able to walk out of this room. It will be as though we never had this conversation, as though we were never here."

Sam nodded and looked at Jack. His gaze was hard and focused. "Go on," was all he said.

"Mr. Quinn is in England - Manchester, to be precise. We have a general idea where and although we could grab him now, we prefer to expose the whole organization and put an end to it forever. This will require undercover work for all four of us. Major Carter will need to play your fiancé, which means that she will have to act as if she is your fiancée. It means that if you two have to go beyond your regulations, you have full and complete authority to do so. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded and swallowed, "The regulations concerning fraternization would be ignored."

Victoria paused again, "This is your chance to back out, Major Carter. If you cannot see yourself behaving in a romantic manner toward Colonel O'Neill, then walk out the door. You will have to be believable in your role and in your interactions with your CO. We are very serious about the fact that you will not be able to back out. It would be your life to do so."

Jack's face tightened. He didn't want his Major in this mission, but it was not his call. As much as he wanted her out of this, it was her decision and hers alone. And knowing her, he dreaded her answer.

"Good," both Agents nodded in satisfaction. Sam's expertise could be put to use in the mission.

Agents Kennedy and Sullivan left them in the office. They knew that the two officers needed to sort out some issues.

"Sir," Sam said before Jack could utter a word, sensing he had been about to object to her participation in this venture. Jack looked at her. "You trust me, don't you?" She asked with her eyes set on his. She would not let him talk her out of this.

Jack smiled at that. He remembered the last time she'd asked him that. It was a fuzzy memory as he had been cold, tired, and suffering from oxygen deprivation. Still, those words had made him focus on what he'd needed to do in order for Jacob to transport Teal'c and him out of the doomed retrofitted death glider and into Jacob's cargo ship. They had saved his life and Teal'c's.

"Well, I trust you too," she stated. "I know that you won't take advantage of the situation."

Six years of life threatening missions, emotional confessions and solid teamwork counted for something, at least for Major Carter, and Colonel O'Neil accepted her point. He slumped back to his chair and conceded. She trusted him and he trusted her too. He just hoped that their friendship and trust would survive this mission. The mission asked a lot of both of them. But they were a good team and he wouldn't deny that having her by his side would make the assignment more appealing than it sounded. He'd just had to have a little more faith in her ... and himself.

Jack smiled at her, telling her silently that he saw her point. He then went to the door and called the two British Agents back. "The fraternization rule is why you asked Hammond to leave, isn't it?" Jack asked when they had returned to the office.

Agent Kennedy nodded, "Your president didn't want him in on the conversation, fearing that if he knew for certain what you were told and rumors or whatever persisted, his command would be in jeopardy. No matter what General Hammond may suspect, your military's don't ask, don't tell can sometimes be an advantage. General Hammond is needed here at the SGC. You need to consider this as a temporary reassignment with different parameters from the normal day-to-day operations of your military. Any actions you take in support of this mission will have no bearing on your status as members of SG-1."

Agent Kennedy opened her attaché case and handed Jack and Sam a file folder. "These are going to be your identities."

"Quite decent of you to have an already grown a beard Colonel, that will make disguising you that much easier," quipped Agent Sullivan. Then, looking at Sam, "However, Major? Have you ever fancied being a red head?"
Sam looked up, "Excuse me?"

"Well you are quite known to these people. We need to do a slight make over in order to make you less recognizable."

Agent Kennedy handed Sam a contact lens case, "Don't look so surprised, Major. These are green contact lens. No correction, simply a color change. They're the latest in continuous wear lens technology. You can safely wear them night and day for up to a month."

"Right then, " Agent Kennedy started, "you will see in your folder that we chose identities suited to your backgrounds."

Looking at Sam Carter, Agent Kennedy continued, "Your name is Amanda Ryan. You are a Physics Instructor for the Undergraduates at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, or better known as UMIST...obviously, an American exchange faculty member. You will notice from the computer-generated photo that you are a red-headed, green-eyed female. You fancy a slightly bohemian style, which is why your hair is braided. This is totally out of character for your present identity, but perfect for Amanda Ryan. Friends call you Mandy. You are engaged and are planning to married in Scotland, in a castle, sometime in the nebulous future. I am sure you can handle that part."

Next, she turned her attention to Jack. "Colonel O'Neill, it is really helpful that you have a good start on your beard. We are going to ask that you consider changing it to a Van dyke and dye your hair and your beard. Your cover is Assistant hockey coach for the Manchester hockey team, called the Manchester Storm. They are in the Northwest's Super League Ice Hockey Division. You are accompanying your fiancé. Your name is Richard Smith. Your friends call you Rick."

"Please review your files carefully. Major Carter, physics is physics, and I know that you are one of the leaders in the world of Astrophysics, but please try to learn about the University and its mission statement. I suppose I don't have to really explain, but if someone asks you questions about the University, you need to sound as if you have an idea of what it is about."

"Colonel O'Neill, your knowledge of hockey is quite legendary around here. Read up on the Storm, the players, the statistics, and their record. I'm sure you know the important things. The nicknames of the players are also provided. If they talk about the LW Ryan Stewart, you need to be able to give his nickname and his statistics."

Jack read silently for a few minutes and then looked up at the agents. "How are we going to be transported? You know, Major Carter and I will be missed."

"Yes, we know" Agent Kennedy acknowledged. "Your General Hammond contacted a group of individuals known as the 'Tok'ra'...is that correct David?" She looked at Agent Sullivan who nodded. "You will be going to visit your teammate, Teal'c, and from there you will 'gate over to the Tok'ra home world. They will have the gate pre-programmed and they will help with your disguise. Once your make-over is complete, you will return with the Tok'ra in disguise and then leave Cheyenne Mountain as Richard Smith and Amanda Ryan."

Agent Sullivan picked up the narration, "If things work out well, Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill will be thought to be with Teal'c and Dr. Amanda Ryan and her fiancé Mr. Richard Smith will be flying to Manchester England. No one will suspect a thing."

Victoria Kennedy added one more piece of information. "David and I will be Mandy's co-workers at the University. I will be teaching Calculus and David will be teaching Chemistry. A Kira Frasier of the CIA will be your liaison. She will be working in the Dean's Office as a secretary."

"Kira Frasier, as in Janet Frasier's sister?" Sam asked. She had a vague idea that Kira was involved in government stuff, but Janet hadn't offer much information and Sam hadn't ask.

"Yes, yes she is. Her sister is not to be told." Sam nodded, the warning of earlier still hanging in the air.
Agent Kennedy continued instructing Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. They were told that Agent Frasier would be meeting them at the airport and taking them to their flat. It wouldn't be quite what they were used to in the States, but it was the equivalent of what the other visiting faculty members would be living in and it was walking distance to the University. Colonel O'Neill was told how to use the Metro and that there would be a car available for their use.

"Remember," Agent Sullivan said cheekily, "we drive on the right side of the road."

With that they were dismissed to pack what they would take for a week's visit with Teal'c, along with regular SGC ordinance. They had been instructed to meet in the Gate room in 2 hours.

At the appointed time General Hammond met with his team and wished them luck. Patting Jack on the back and giving Sam a smile, he saw them off on their "visit" to Teal'c.

The two agents from MI5 saluted Hammond and then left for the Airport. They had a lot to do before Mandy and Rick arrived.

"Open the Iris,'' Hammond ordered and wasn't surprised to see Jacob and an entourage of Tok'ra enter.
What surprised him was that he honestly did not recognize Jack and Sam. They came in hooded cloaks and their faces were obscured. George led them to his office and was glad that he had ordered his security camera to be turned off. When the two extra Tok'ra uncovered he looked right at Jack and Sam and could not believe his eyes.

Major Carter was totally unrecognizable. As a blond she was stunning, as a redhead - there were no words to describe her. Her hair had been dyed red and with the extensions, it reached her waist. Her eyes were a moss green and she wore a long skirt with swirling jewel colors and a purple top. Her ears were adorned with large hoop earrings in silver and she wore dark and striking makeup.

Colonel O'Neill now had black hair, a black van dyke beard and wore tinted aviator glasses. His outfit was almost as outlandish as his Major's.

George could only stare. Finally, he stated, "Good job, Son. I hardly recognize you." Hammond informed his team that their suitcases where in an orange VW beetle. He handed "Rick" the keys and told them to be careful.
The cameras recorded two SGC employees playfully walking to the elevator. The man kept trying to pull on the woman's braids and she kept aiming her foot for his shin. For all to see they appeared to be very comfortable teasing each other and acting like they were connected.

The cameras recorded the man opening the car door for the woman, tweaking her nose and giving her braid a slight pull while she attempted to hit his hand away, laughing. The guard at the gate waved them through and Jack and Sam were off to the airport and then to Manchester, via New York.

Although they went through security like every other passenger, the CIA operatives carefully noted their trip and saw to it that everything went smoothly. On the airplane Sam fell asleep on Jack's shoulder and this time, Jack put his arm around her in order to make her more comfortable. After a while, he too fell asleep. For all the world, they looked like any other couple, even if the couple in question didn't quite feel comfortable.

Manchester Airport
Jack and Sam got out their passports for "Rick and Mandy" and chatted about nothing while waiting for their turn at customs. It appeared to Jack that they got a very casual once over and that they were cleared very quickly, but he didn't want to press his luck by making a comment. As they walked out to gather their luggage they noted a petite brunette holding a sign with Rick and Mandy's names on it.

Jack walked over and introduced himself to a young woman who introduced herself as Karen Frost. She told them, as they gathered up their luggage and walked to the car, that she was the Physics Department Dean's secretary and that Dr. Sloane had asked that she pick them up. Once in the car, Karen Frost revealed herself to be Kira Frasier.

Jack sat in the front and Sam sat in the back during the ride to their flat. The drive was spent mostly talking about everything and nothing. When Jack tried to pry some information about the mission from 'Karen', she abruptly changed the subject. O'Neill was capable of taking a hint, especially those delivered with the finesse of a sledgehammer.

Kira took them to their apartment, which was located near the University and city center. It was a single room luxury flat, fully furnished and equipped with a modern kitchen. Once at their flat Kira surreptitiously scanned the room for bugs and after she pronounced it clean, she told them that she was now able to answer their questions.

"Yes he is...for now anyway. Our observers have told us that they haven't done anything to him yet. They are waiting for someone, but no one knows whom yet."

"Yes we do and it is as complicated as it is convoluted. We have an informer in our midst and we need to find him to shut them down. That is where you come in." Kira told them whom they suspected and described Jack's position in the charade. "You cannot let on that you know Colonel, not for an instant. This man has to trust you implicitly. I hope that you acquire a taste for drinking your beer warm, 'Rick'. You will be spending a large amount of time with him."

Jack nodded as he looked around the room. "What is it you expect 'Mandy' to do?" Jack asked.

"She needs to be able to monitor if anything is missing from the physics lab. Or if any unusual experiments are going on."

"Well I suppose so. If they knew as much about Goa'uld technology as Major Carter does. Not to mention that she knows the Goa'uld exist and is able to sense them. Also, Major Carter has some experience with Naquadah and its uses. That is what makes her so ideal."

Seeing Jack's look at Sam when Kira made the statement about sensing a Goa'uld, Kira held up her hand. "Don't ask! And I won't tell! It is better that you do not know how we know. I am sure that Victoria and David gave you the run down. By the way, they are the royal couple -they go by Charles Smyth and Camilla Jones at the University."

"So, where do we go to get a good meal around here?" Jack asked, patting his stomach.

That brought a smothered laugh from Sam and a glare from Jack, but soon the three decided to unpack their clothes, head out toward the city center and then out to eat. Kira left their flat at about 11 PM. Jet lag combined with the adrenalin of the mission kept them up until about 2 AM, when they realized that if they didn't get with the current time zone, there would be hell to pay in a few days. They couldn't afford to be exhausted and so headed to the bedroom. Once there they stopped and just looked at each other as realization started to dawn.

No, I don't think so," Sam interrupted. "We have no idea if anyone is spying on us or listening. Even though the place was swept once, we did leave it for a while."

"So, you're ok with ..." Jack couldn't complete the sentence. He felt his cheeks redden. He also noticed Sam's redden as well.

"Well S..."she started and then corrected herself, "it isn't like we haven't slept in close proximity before you know."

It was a simple statement loaded with so much and he knew it. Jack nodded and said that they would give it a try. His palms were sweaty and his stomach felt like it was going to touch his shoes. Judging by the look he saw on Sam's face, he wasn't alone.

"But, if at any time during the night you want me to move, you *will* tell me...right?"

Sam nodded. "I have dibs on the window side and first use of the bathroom." Then she added, "Would you mind coming to bed in the dark?"

Jack went into the living room and turned on the telly. Not too much was on ... reruns of old American TV shows. "MacGyver...sure could use him now," he thought. After about 15 minutes he heard Sam call out. He then went to do his nighttime ritual and finally, climbed into bed.

"Yeah...sure," he said...but he didn't sound too convinced. "We can do anything." The overrated statement came out lightly even though the implication was magnificent. They *can* do anything ...

They started out the night back-to-back...tense, restless, and unsure. However six years of teamwork and trust, combined with their exhaustion, allowed them to sleep and somewhere during the night they relaxed into each other's space. Familiarity may breed contempt, but it also breeds comfort. They had, after all, gone to sleep before with sounds of each other's breathing and the body remembers what the mind would prefer it didn't.
Jack woke first and gingerly moved out of the bed and looked at the sleeping redhead. Funny how he still recognized her with the long, red and braided hair. The results of close work, watching each other's back, and hiding behind walls that neither wanted but needed would war within them this month.

He went into the kitchen and looked around for the coffee they had purchased the night before. Jack seemed to feel that he did everything this morning on autopilot, because he couldn't remember making the coffee or the eggs that were sitting in front of him.

An hour after he woke, Sam made her appearance and sniffed appreciatively at the coffee.

"Maybe," Sam looked as if she was going to say something, but the phone rang before she could.
Jack grabbed it and found that it was Kira on the other end.

"Define reasonable," Jack answered. "The fact that it is 7 AM and we are up and talking civilly is an amazing feat. We finally went to bed at 2 AM. Luckily, we're used to almost no sleep."

"Well, it was good that you at least tried to sleep. If you had been working on Colorado time I think you would be going to bed at lunch time."

"Well, we need 'Mandy' to meet with Dr. Sloane at 10 AM and you need to go to the Storm's arena to meet with the Owner, Coach and your team. That is set up for lunch - 12 Noon."

At 9:30 Jack drove Sam to the University (with some difficulties at first, driving on the left side of the road) and dropped her off. When the car had finally reached its destination, he stopped. But she didn't make any move to get out of the car. She was contemplating something.

"Sam?" Jack woke her up from her reverie, "do you want me to come around and open the door?" even in a time like this, he could not resist teasing her.

Sam blinked, looked at him, shook her head and then, almost as if she was afraid she would change her mind and bolt from the car, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Jack blinked, smiled and tugged at a braid.

Sam smiled and got out of the car. She really needed to talk to him about the 'kiddo' thing. It wasn't that she didn't like it, but it would be very strange for an outsider to hear him called his fiancé that. He wasn't that old and she wasn't that young.

He watched the swing of her hips as she walked away. She always had an air of confidence in the way she walked, it showed her independence and strong personality - just the way he liked her. The sight was more entertaining than usual as she decided to put on a shorter skirt than her usual dress blue uniform skirt today. After a few minutes of appreciation that he dedicated to her skirt, he put the car in gear and drove to the arena.

The man that he had to check out was the assistant trainer. Jack read some of his biography. He was a certified trainer, did some university time, actually graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine - which made him question why he was just the assistant trainer.

"Steve Sommers...sounds like an American." Jack mused, "I wonder if we can connect on other things than the hockey team?"

Sam's thoughts were about the same. The woman she needed to check out was named Jaime Austin. "American, graduated from MIT, high honors," Sam read. "What would have made her do this type of work?" And then she stopped and smiled, "yeah, listen to the pot calling the kettle black."

Upon arriving in Dr. Sloane's office at the appointed time, Sam got her first glimpse of Jaime Austin. Agent Victoria Kennedy was also there. They were getting to know each other better, and Sam was quite fond of her and her husband. She knew that Jack liked them too as the four of them were on the first name basis now. They called them Sam and Jack, and Jack and she called them Vicky and David.

She caught the look on Vicky's face when she saw her looking at Jaime. "Oh boy!" Sam thought, "this is going to be fun."

"Dr. Ryan! How good to meet you at last. We have heard so many good things about you and are so thrilled to have you join us here at UMIST."

Shaking Dr. Sloane's hand, Sam replied that it was an honor and she was looking forward to it. Dr. Sloane then introduced Sam to Jaime. "Dr. Ryan, I would like for you to meet Dr. Jaime Austin. You should feel quite at home with her. She is also an American."

The women shook hands, but Sam felt like she was shaking a dead fish. The woman gave her what was probably the limpest handshake she had ever encountered. Sam also noticed that her smile did not quite meet her eyes. Her eyes were a light blue, almost to the point of being what is called ice blue. Her hair was black and that with the fair coloring of her skin make Sam wonder where they dug her up - literally.

"How nice to meet you Dr. Ryan," Jaime said. Sam caught that the lack of accent. It was as if she wiped away all traces of where she was from.

"Nice to meet you too, Dr. Austin. But please, call me Amanda," Sam answered back, thinking that pigs would fly before she'd let Austin call her Mandy. Even though it wasn't her real name.

"And of course, I mustn't forget our Math Department. This is Dr. Camilla Jones." Vicky and Sam shook hands.
Dr. Sloane smiled, very pleased with himself. "I cannot tell you how very pleased I am to have you and Dr. Ryan, Jaime. Dr. Ryan comes to us with a Doctorate in Theoretical Astrophysics. What she is doing teaching with that background, I can't imagine, but I am so pleased that she remained in academia."

Sam went pink and looked at the floor during this and managed a slight look at Vicky. Vicky signaled for them to talk later and after a few more minutes of small talk, Vicky and Jamie took their leave and left Sam to talk about her classes and responsibilities with Dr. Sloane.

The meeting took quite some time and by the time Sam caught up with Vicky it was lunchtime. The two managed to get a table far away from the rest of crowd and began to talk.

"Oh! Sorry!" Vicky said apologetically. "that is our slang for argumentative bitch."

"That woman is something else," Vicky started. "Don't get me wrong. I have been known to be a bit of a bitch too, you know. But that woman, just goes beyond." Sam didn't know what to say, so she just waited for Vicky to resume her venting. "Well, I have to tell you, I don't like her. I didn't like her from the first time I met her. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, I can tell you."

"Oh no!" Vicky said strongly. "Before I even knew what she was up to, she had my back up something fierce," Vicky sighed. "Well there is no help for it. I had best warn you. She puts the moves on anything in trousers. I'd keep an eye on your Jack if I were you."

Vicky raised her hand when she saw that Sam was going to say something. "Listen, you can fool a lot of people Samantha, but you can't fool me or David. We've been doing this for a very long time. I don't much care how you two feel or don't feel about each other. It is really none of my business, you know? But I have always felt that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. And her getting to Jack maybe something we need and you will have to be able to face it if she does. I mean little miss cucumber. You understand?"

Sam looked perplexed at first, but then she nodded. It was actually a relief to have it out in the open, as open as a covert mission could be. But the fact that Vicky didn't seem to disagree about this new 'old' discovery was very much appreciated. "So how long have you known she was up to no good."

"Not for very long, mind, she is very good. But she slipped. They all do. I can't get into what happened, but I can tell you that it was a big mistake. She'll pay for it too, I imagine."

It was a good thing that Vicky stopped talking when she did, a shadow warned them someone was coming and it was Jaime.

"No Jaime, Mandy and I were just talking about her fiancé and the wedding they would like to have in Scotland."

Jaime caught the fact that Camilla called her Mandy instead of Amanda, but she didn't seem to care, she smiled and nodded. "Your fiancé is here with you in Manchester?"

"Well, Rick was coming with me and he has a lot of experience with the minor league and junior league hockey teams in the states. They needed a coach and they hired him."

"Really?" Jaime looked thoughtful. "Well then Amanda, we will be seeing a lot of each other. My husband, Steve Sommers, is the Assistant Trainer for the Storm."

"Really!" Sam said, feigning surprise while keeping her face neutral and composed. "Well, then we will just have to get together."

Jaime raised an eyebrow and didn't notice any change in Sam's expression and nodded. "Well, I will have to let Steve know. Maybe we can try for this weekend, after the game?"

At the Storm Ice Arena, Jack was meeting Dr. Steve Sommers. Jack was puzzled as to why he was Assistant Trainer. However, if he was Assistant Coach and here behind the door, maybe Steve was too. He wondered how Sam's meeting with Dr. Sloane and Dr. Austin went.

His went well, all things considered. The guys on the team told Jack that Steve was a 'regular bloke'. Jack took that to mean nice guy. And on the surface he was, friendly, kind, considerate, a regular Boy Scout - but something about him made the hair, on the back of Jack's neck stand up. He wasn't quite sure what it was, but throughout lunch and the short meeting afterwards, Jack watched.

That evening Sam and Jack compared notes and awaited a visit from Kira, Vicky and David to go over what was known and what to prepare for. Sam was not happy about having to invite Jaime and Steve over. Especially after what Vicky told her about Jaime and her sexual habits. Not that Sam had anything to say about who or what Jack did, it still bothered, immensely.

What also bothered her was that she was not able to discuss that part with Jack. Vicky had said that Jack's reactions to Jaime would have to be totally natural and unbiased. It was entirely possible that Steve might put the moves on Sam, depending on how well or badly he and Jack got along. If Sam declined, it wouldn't mean as much as if Jack declined. Sam was unable to wrap her brain around that statement, but took it for what it was worth, a warning and nothing more.

At dinner that night Vicky, Kira and David brought Jack and Sam up to speed. Jonas was still unhurt. He was being held in a warehouse district that had flats on the upper floors. They could not be sure, but the men guarding Jonas were, at most, what Jack would have called Rent-a-cops. They had no weapons, or at least none that were visible to those staking out the place. It appeared they felt fairly confident that no one could get to him. The others were fairly non-descriptive operatives. Steve and Jaime had been seen entering and leaving the warehouse as much as 3 times a week. Jaime had also been working well into the night in her lab. Equipment had gone missing and purchase orders had been generated to order certain items, but other items had been delivered. Some of the delivered equipment was going to the warehouse.

Jack wondered why an MD in Sports Medicine was working as an assistant trainer. David suspected it was to keep a low profile. His resume did not list his medical background or degree. Jaime and Steve's marriage license was real. They were really married, but they had some strange relationship issues. When pressed, David declined to elaborate. Jack noticed the distaste on all three faces and looked at Sam. As she had been warned, she managed to keep her face neutral, but couldn't hide the concern. "We have a game Saturday afternoon. I think that we need to invite them over afterwards," Jack began.

"That would probably be a good thing," David agreed. "The faster you get them into your good graces, the better."

"Do you think that is a good idea?" Kira questioned. "I mean, that would make us so buddy-buddy really fast."
"I don't think that we want them to be our best friends right away," Sam put in. "Jaime already gives me the creeps. I don't think that I can be so out and out friendly that fast."

Vicky looked thoughtful and then looked at David. "Very well. We will all be here on Saturday. Vicky and I can nip over to the market and purchase the ingredients. The 'girls'," he looked at Vicky who glared at him for that word. "Can make dinner together and I'll go to the game and wait for Jack and Steven."

"That just might work," Jack said. "I was hoping that maybe Sam could be at the game."

Sam smiled and shook her head. "Oh no! I remember the last time I went to a game with you guys, no thanks."

"What?" Jack asked in mock defense. He knew that the last time they went to an Avalanche game, a game actually broke out in the middle of the fight. The fight did not limit itself to the ice.

"Ok," he agreed. "We will be over after the game. Maybe the three of us will go out for a few beers afterwards."

They all laughed and finished dinner. Because of Sam's last comment David and Jack cleared the table and offered to wash and dry the dishes. Sam's eyebrows rose at that, but they just laughed and headed into the kitchen.

"I'd keep a good eye on the floor if I were you Sam," Kira commented. "Men. Kitchen. Water. Not a good combination."

The ladies laughed and were soon joined the men. Later that night after everyone had gone, Sam and Jack were preparing to get a good night's sleep.

"Yes, it was," Jack sounded thoughtful, standing near the edge of the bed, gazing down at her as she shifted around to find a comfortable position.

"Jack! There is absolutely nothing normal about this. And if I didn't trust "us" so much, I would be sleeping on the couch, the floor, in the bathtub."

Sam nodded, "There has been so much that we have had to hide. We've been doing this for years. I know you always have my best interests at heart."

Jack smiled at her in that way she'd seen on only a few occasions...that smile that tried to hide the thoughts and desires she knew were doing battle inside his head. The same thoughts and desires that battled in her head; thoughts of duty and responsibility warring with intense attraction, deep affection, inestimable respect, love, yearning and the desire to progress to an intimately familiar relationship.

"And because my whole being feels safe with you, I think that we can share the same space and be safe," she continued.

"Your whole being?" Jack continued to look at her. He knew what she was talking about. It was something, they never talked about. It was like that 'elephant in the living room' therapists talked about. He then remembered the therapist that Sara recommended telling them that after Charlie died. Then, needing to lighten the moment, for both of them, he shifted back to his favorite line of defense...humor, or at least his vain attempt at it.
"Yeah, see...that's the trouble...my *whole* being is here...no broken ribs, no broken leg... no pain to distract me...no time loop to erase my impulses..." he trailed off as he turned to sit on the edge of the bed, his back to her.

"What?" she asked, more than a little curious about the last part of that statement.

"Nothing..." he took a deep breath and rolled back the covers as he lay down, hoping to find a way to relax very soon. He pulled the covers up and put his arms behind his head. Deciding a change of subject was warranted he brought the conversation back on track. "So...I need to be at the arena for an 8:00 team meeting. I get to sleep in tomorrow...6 am practice the next day."

With that, she dropped the conversation and they both fell asleep a little easier, a little faster this night. Just as they had the first night, they drifted towards each other. Not for any reason except comfort. They had been in tight spots before where they depended on the other, this was no different. The comfort of being together in a cocoon of trust and caring gave them the rest for the strength they would need.

They awoke the next morning and got into the routine they would keep for the time they were in Manchester. Sam found the classroom almost liberating. She had often wondered if she could truly be happy in a classroom, but she found the hours she spent with the students exhilarating. She spent lunchtime with Vicky and David. Often Kira would stop by and chat. Sam saw very little of Jaime, but she did feel, sometimes, like she was being watched.

Jack also enjoyed his time with the hockey team. The guys were razzing him about his fiancée - they didn't believe that such an ugly old man could actually be engaged to that fancy bird they'd heard about.

That Friday night found Jack and Sam in each other's arms at bedtime. That time of day was rapidly becoming a true comfort for them. They talked about their jobs and then they talked about looking for Jonas.

"To what?" Jack asked. Wanting to say, ' To let go of you? Not have you in my arms at night?' He shook his head to clear it from the forbidden thought, "You are not getting what I mean, Sam. I want to be able to find Jonas before they do something to him."

"Sam," he said quietly. "I won't deny it. I like the way we are now, when I am allowed to touch you and not be concerned about who is looking. And I'll keep this in my memory forever. But no matter how much I want to take this further, I won't. Because then, we couldn't go back to SG-1. And we need to focus on our mission." He paused a while, before whispering, "I'm sorry."

Sam brushed Jack's cowlick with her hand and nodded her understanding and laid her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes, she rolled back to his side. They laid like that, side by side, in silence.

Could they both afford memories like this? Was this why he had been ready to tell her not to do this? Probably. But she felt that they were both tougher than their emotions and they would need to be for a long time. Would this experience help them or hurt them in the long run? She had no answers and judging from O'Neill's breathing, he had none either.

Saturday turned into a busy day for them. Jack needed to be up and out early because of the game that night and Vicky and Kira came over to help Sam clean the flat for the party. Sam voiced some concern over Steve and Jaime and Vicky and Kira did their best to try and reduce her anxiety. Both women noticed the strain Sam was under, being in an intimate situation with her CO and worrying over the possible interest Jaime may have in Jack.

"You two have to trust each other's integrity. Integrity under pressure is probably one of the greatest strengths of your team and of the two of you," Vicky stated. "You have never been curious about why we wanted both you and Jack on this mission?"

"We needed to have two people that could and have depended on each other in extreme circumstances," Vicky told her. "You two have proven that men and women can be a team under extreme pressures and not crack with the intimacy."

Kira added, "The fact is that your entire team is still alive at this point, despite the kind of work that you've been doing is an indication that you're both doing a great job. SG-1 is known as the best team in the SGC and you both play a part in it. Don't forget that."

She considered their response. She did often wonder how they had survived the past year. Daniel had gone and Jonas had slowly made his mark in the team, the team that had gone through so much. It had brought them closer together and made them different from the others. She couldn't deny that she and Jack had been walking that thin line since their first meeting in the briefing room. And yet, they still adhered to the behavior that was expected of them as USAF officers and continued to put their responsibilities and duties above any personal desires or wishes. Maybe there was something to the expression of 'grace, under pressure'.

Saturday was a hectic one for the Smith-Ryan household. Jack was out of the flat at 6 AM. Sam wondered at him. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and breezily said, "Later Babe", and was gone.

She shook her head and checked her list of household chores and shopping for their guests that night. Kira and Vicky had volunteered to go to the supermarket and David was going to provide the beer. "And he is welcome to it," Sam thought when she marked the list.

Her stomach went into knots every time she thought about Jaime and Steve coming to the flat. David hinted around that Steve was as much a player as Jaime. Sam could not imagine a relationship like that, but she was not naïve enough to deny that those types of relationships existed. "Well Samantha," she said to herself. "Denial is not just a river in Egypt."

Seeing that she had everything she needed in list order, Sam decided to head to her office at UMIST. There was a purchase order that she just didn't quite understand and she wanted to look it over again. "What a first week!" she thought as she got into the car. "Well, maybe it will be over soon." Not really wondering why she was wishing the time away, Sam put the car into gear and headed to campus.

Jack had a busy morning and afternoon until game time. By the time game time started, his stomach was threatening to pack and go back to the states. Sam in the meantime kept looking through the various paperwork at the school and what she saw puzzled her more and more. She kept looking around to make sure no one was there when she did this. She wasn't sure she could keep her surprise and concern from being noted.

Jack could feel his blood pressure rising. He was trying to keep his mind on the mission as much as he was the game. "But then," he rationalized, "at this moment, the mission is the game." He could not have been more right. Steve had been scrutinizing every move he made since before the game started.

Midway through the second period, Jack lost his cool. The referees had, in his humble opinion, been partial to the opponent and when Maltby was called for icing, Jack lost it. It had been apparent, from Jack's perspective, that Longstaff had crossed the red line before Maltby, but the referee did not see it Jack's way. He came unglued on the referee and received a warning.

Not more than 30 seconds later, Maltby slammed an opposing player into the boards and his stick got tangled with the other players stick. He was called for high-sticking and a brawl erupted. The player was sent to the penalty box for 1 minute. Jack bit his tongue and Steve noticed.

That was the moment that Steve relaxed around Jack. "Hey there, Rick," Steve said, slapping Jack on the back. "Don't like to lose, do ya?"

"Aw, for cryin' out loud," Jack said, turning to face Steve. "I haven't seen game called this poorly in years." Jack slammed a fist up against the plexiglass wall for emphasis.

"And why is Allard waiting so long to change lines? It's obvious this line up isn't working."

"Well, cheer up, ol' boy. There's only one more period to go. Perhaps you should bring it up with Allard at the break," Steve said, still smiling in a way that made Jack's left brow raise.

It turned out Allard didn't like being second-guessed. Steve had known that, Jack suspected. So, when Allard chewed him out for losing his temper on the ice and for questioning his strategy, Jack just stood by and took it. He figured this was Steve's attempt at hazing and he hoped he passed the test.

It must have worked, because, while Allard was shooting daggers at Jack throughout the third period, Steve was becoming chummier. Jack continued to hold his tongue throughout the period and he did not lose his cool again. In the end, the Storm won by a goal, but Allard had also changed the line-up and had changed line with greater frequency during that period.

That night after the game Sam and Jack welcomed Jaime and Steve into their flat and proceeded to have their small dinner party. In order to not look any different from any other couple in "love", Jack and Sam allowed themselves a little more liberty in their interactions with each other. Sam allowed Jack to pull her on his lap and Jack allowed himself to let her stay there. With occasional touches and pecks on her cheek, they managed to portray themselves as a couple that actually 'loved' each other, not that it was hard to do. The entire evening was spent adding to the list of things they would need 'to leave in the room'.

Going over some of the aspects of the game, the questionable calls, the questionable goals, the questionable vision of the referees, the evening managed to pass quickly and it appeared as if they managed to do what they'd intended to do. There is proof in the pudding, so they say. Even Jack's little joke about 'alias Smyth and Jones' when David and Vicky were introduced, drew a chuckle from the American couple and an explanation for the British one.

As the evening began to wind down, Steve said that he and Jaime were going to a pub and wondered if anyone else wanted to join them. Sam, Kira and Vicky begged off, but David and Jack indicated they were up for it. David and Jack went in one car, but Steve and Jaime each drove their own and headed to the nearest pub.

"Well, that went well," David began. "But I'll tell you if that woman looked at you any harder, I think you would have holes in you."

Jack nodded, "Thank goodness Sam has a good grip on her emotions, that could have been an amazing cat fight."

"Oh yes," was all David had to say. He wanted desperately to warn Jack about Jaime. He'd had first hand experience, but they all agreed that Jack needed to be left in the dark. David and Sam had argued against it, but they were overruled.

When they arrived at the bar, Jack was distressed when Jaime's not so subtle flirting continued. He kept looking at Steve, expecting him to say or do something, but all Steve did was smile. Jack also noticed that David was really uneasy and wanted to ask him if he was ready to go.

Jack looked at Steve when the other man was looking elsewhere and noticed that he was as aggressively flirting with the another woman in the bar, as Jaime was with him.

"Swingers ... great!" Jack thought and sighed when Steve, who had walked over to a woman at the bar, returned with her in tow.

Jack's eyebrows went up and he looked at Steve, but could only nod. Steve whispered something into the ear of the woman, who laughingly went off to the front door. David's only comment to Steve was "Who looks at the mantelpiece when poking at the fire, right Steve."

Jack looked and Steve translated, "All cats are gray in the dark Jack. Jaime and I have an understanding. Enjoy your night." And he walked off.

Jack just looked and couldn't believe what he saw and heard. Jaime chose that moment to come back and sit on Jack's lap.

She had rubbed her bottom suggestively on his lap and he turned red and looked to David for help. David shrugged and said rather abruptly, that he needs to go and left. Jack started to feel a little angry, but then remembered that he was supposed to investigate this woman as well as her husband and tried to play along.
"Hey, we have time, sit on the chair, girl. We have plenty of time for that later."

"You're older than Amanda and you two are only engaged. No ring. No wedding plans. Fiancée? I don't think so."
"What makes you think I'm the one who is reluctant?"

They stayed and made small talk for another hour and then Jaime announced that she wanted to go home and finish what they started. Jack shrugged, paid their tab and they went to the car. Jaime kept trying to grab at him and it was making him more and more uncomfortable.

When they got into the car, she grabbed his head and gave him what she had thought was a passionate kiss. Jack thought she was trying to swallow him. Jack managed, with great difficulty, to drive them to Jaime's flat. He wondered if Jaime knew that Steve would not be home and whether she cared.

She cajoled him into walking her to the door and then inside where she threw herself at him again. Jack tried to play his part and kissed her back and then they indulged in some major necking. He was hoping that it wouldn't get as far has she had wanted to take it.

Thankfully, her being as drunk as she was, he was able to keep things from progressing past the intense necking. While she was trying to intrigue him, she was also talking. Jack listened. After a while, she fell asleep and Jack placed a blanket on her, made sure the door locked after him and went home.

Sam heard the door slam when he came home and waited for him to walk into the bedroom. The look on his face told her he was disturbed and angry. "Oh no, he is going to explode," she thought.

He went into the bathroom and Sam could have sworn that he used enough hot water to deplete their supply for the next month. He came out of the bathroom pink with one towel around his waist and another rubbing his head. The fact that he didn't appear embarrassed about the towel, or even self-conscious indicated to Sam how very disturbed he was.

He lay down next to her still rubbing his head. "That woman is a pig," he said. "I think I would prefer another round with Nirrti or Hathor to spending another night with Jaime Austin."

She licked her lips and tried to keep her voice even. He was very close to yelling right now. "Kira, Vicky and David warned me about her."

"David and I argued with them to tell you, but they felt that it was important that you be accessible to her and without prejudice."

"Accessible without prejudice?" Jack looked at her. "Don't move." He walked over to his chest of drawers and grabbed some things and went into the bathroom. He came out a few minutes later in his pajamas and sat on the bed and put his arms on either side of her. "Explain."

"I will, when you sit down next to me, and not lean over me like this. I can't think when you do that."

Jack, for a moment, had the perverse thought that he really wanted to make her really feel uncomfortable, but did as she asked. He knew that Sam didn't do subterfuge well and that she most probably did express her concern to the others.

"And they felt that if she liked you and you played along naturally, she would talk to you."

Sam's blue eyes widened at the look on his face. "I'm sorry Jack. I didn't want you to have to go through something like that, but she is the weak link in this chain. And if she wanted to indulge in some pillow talk, well, maybe she would let something slip."

He then proceeded to tell her what Jaime had said. "Two weeks, she said. Two weeks and she and Steve would be rolling in it and they could go somewhere no one would find them. She doesn't know who it is that will be bankrolling them, but they're going to obtain a great deal of money."

"Well, I think that 3 AM is a little early. I think it can wait another two hours and then we can call David."
Sam put her hand on Jack's face. "I'm sorry Jack. Really."

The unshed tears in her eyes showed Jack that she was sorry, but he was still pretty angry.

"I am going to the living room to read for a while," he said. Seeing her face, he softened. "I'm not angry anymore and I'm certainly not angry with or at you, Sam. But I am too keyed up to sleep and I don't trust what this restlessness may lead to, if I stay here." Kissing her on the top of her head, he left.

Sam laid back down and let the tears finally fall. She had underestimated how difficult this job could be. She wondered how Vicky, David and Kira did it. She wondered how Jack was managing to do it. She knew that this was something she would never do again. The emotional toll was to high a price to pay.

Bright and early Jack made the call to David. The most admirable thing about the phone call was that it wasn't at 5 AM as Jack had been tempted to do. He had not slept all night, but he waited to make the call until 8 AM. His language left nothing to the imagination and every now and again he heard a male voice tell him, yet again, "I'm sorry mate, really."

After about 15 minutes, Jack finally settled down and told David what he did learn.

"Well, there is that then," David said, hoping that Jack wouldn't explode again. However, if nothing else, Jack O'Neill was a professional and talked with David about the dynamics behind the rescue that would take place on the day the exchange was to take place.

"Whatever you do," David emphasized, "do not let on about anything that happened last night. Especially not about anything Jaime may or may not have said."

"Jack!" David said his name with emphasis, "I'm serious. Nothing Happened! She was drunk, she fell asleep. Stick to that story. If she was that drunk, she may not remember. Don't help her by saying anything."

"She kept mentioning a letter with the details and appeared worried that she didn't know where she left it."

David rang off and Jack turned around to see a contrite Sam standing in the doorway, watching him. Jack saw the look on her face and held out his arms.

He stroked the back of her head and for a long minute didn't say anything. Then he took her chin in his hand. "I know that. I'm sorry that I didn't overrule you." Dropping a kiss on her cheek he went and sat down. "I'm sorry, Sam, that your were put in that position. I really wish that I had told them that you were not doing this assignment."

He held up his hand. "I've done covert stuff before and I should have protected you from this."

Jack sat back and indicated for Sam to sit down. "Sam, tell me how you felt when you knew what I was walking into?"

She was about to use Sir, but she took one look at his face and changed it to "...Jack."

"Exactly that. You can hide your feelings quite well as Major Carter. However, Samantha Carter doesn't have that type of subterfuge. And before you lecture me on what you can or cannot do, I've worked with you for 6 years. I think I understand you pretty well."

"You, don't understand me at all," Sam stated and left the room. Jack followed her.

"Well, don't let me stop you. I can yell over the shower. I've had plenty of practice."

Sam stood in front of the door to the bathroom and held her robe in front of her. Jack then walked over to her and put his arms on either side of her. Leaning in close enough to kiss her, he just stared at her. Sam attempted to brazen him out and looked him in the eyes, daring him to do something. But she lost the contest and looked down at the floor.

Jack noticed her slight tremble and pulled back. "What do you think would have happened, if it was anyone else but me?"

"I'm sorry Sam," he finally said, "I just wanted you to understand that this is tougher than what we have been through."

Rubbing the back of his head he continued, "Jaime is sly like a fox. Not extremely bright, but very sneaky. I wish that I wouldn't have to have you look through her things at the University, but you are the only one who can."

"Because the letter you and I talked about, may be in among her papers. As I told you last night, she couldn't remember what she had done with it and worrying over it was foremost on her mind. It's a good bet that it's among her papers at the University."

"Sam, you are, always have been and always will be useful. I'm sorry you got the impression that I think you're not. And particularly in this case, yeah, you're useful."

"Okay, I will have Kira let me into her office and I will look through her things."

Pulling her into a quick hug Jack told her to be careful and left her to shower.

Upon her arrival at the University, Sam went straight to Kira's office. She minced no words in recounting Jack's information about the letter that may or may not be in Jaime's office.

"Well, I can let you in," Kira sighed. "She isn't here right now, but I don't know when she is due to come in."
"Then we have to hurry."

"No problem," Jack said. His stomach was starting to feel like a stone in his belly.

"No, actually, she fell asleep on the way home and I sorta had to carry her in," Jack said in his well-practiced, non-committal manner. "I hope that I locked the door okay behind me. It felt like it was locked when I left."

Steve gave Jack a searching look when he said that, but as Jack managed to keep his face neutral, Steve dropped that line of questioning and started talking about some of the players. Inwardly, Jack breathed a sigh of relief as he asked and answered questions about the team.

It took Sam and Kira the better part of a week and a half to go through Jaime's desk, file cabinets and safe. Sam had made it through several piles of paper and half of the filing cabinet before she found the letter she was looking for. It was attached to a letter confirming delivery of some equipment she ordered.

Sam's eyes widened momentarily when she read the letter. The letter not only confirmed what Jaime had told Jack while she was drunk, but provided dates, time, place and most importantly, identified who was coming. Unfortunately, her focus on the letter as a bit too intent and Sam didn't notice Jaime coming around the corner while she was looking at the letter. Jaime noticed the letter in Sam's hand and noted the momentary shock on Sam's face. It was a momentary slip. Sam quickly reminded herself where she was and what she should be doing, but it was too late.

"Damn," Jaime cursed and ducked around the corner as Sam and the letter left her office. Jaime went into her office and pulled out her cell phone and hurriedly made a call. "Amanda is not who she says she is," Jaime added when she gave her information.

"Then, " said the unknown voice on the other end, "he may not be as well. We have to move tonight."

Jaime attempted to call him, but because of the heavy practice that day, she was unable to reach him until after 5:00.

It was pure luck on Jack's part, but extreme luck for Sam. Three men attempted to grab her just as she reached the door to her flat. Sam was, thankfully alert as she approached the entrance to the flat. She heard and smelled something unusual just as a man grabbed her from behind and attempted to cover her mouth and nose with a chloroform soaked cloth. Sam was able to raise both arms up in time to block the advance of the cloth.

A second man came at her from the front and she waited until he was close enough to knee him in the groin. The foot attached to that knee then came down hard on the foot of the man still struggling to smother her with the cloth which caused him to loose his grip slightly. She was then able to elbow him fiercely in the ribs with her left arm.

Though the cloth had never completely covered her airways, the fumes were starting to get to her. It was then that Jack happened to come home. He saw the struggle as he headed down the hall and yelled as he began to run toward those attacking Sam.

His yell combined with the sounds of Sam's struggle had brought several curious neighbors out into the hall and Jack yelled for someone to call the police. He ducked a blow from a third aggressor as Sam spun out of the grip of the man who had grabbed her. She slammed backward, hard, into the wall, her balance being affected by the fumes from the cloth. Jack had floored his first attacker and had begun toward the second when all three decided it was time to give up on their assignment and fled.

Sam slid down the wall as blackness threatened to engulf her. Jack assured those neighbors who had come to see if they could assist him that he now had the situation well in hand. He thanked them as he knelt next to Sam and reached out to help her get back to her feet. Her woozy smile went a long way toward easing the neighbors' anxiety and in a few minutes, Jack was able to get the two of them into their flat, alone.

Sam appeared to be regaining her lucidity as he helped her to sit on the small sofa in the living room area. Jack, on the other hand, was a mess and he knew he was a mess. It was enough to convince him that he'd had enough.

"When your head clears, start packing," he ordered curtly. "I'm calling David to let him know what happened. You're leaving on the first available flight."

"Excuse me, Major?" Jack said, pulling the rank card and hoping that would diffuse her obvious annoyance with his request.

"Don't 'Excuse me, Major', me," Sam answered with some heat. "This operation is not over and there is no way, I am leaving, Colonel," she said, throwing his rank back at him.

Sam, feeling less woozy, headed to the bedroom. Jack followed, mentally kicking himself since his use of her rank had had the opposite effect.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, the anger and the fear still in his voice.

Sam considered him for a moment. "You could try that...but I won't follow it. If I recall correctly," she continued, her head definitely clearing from the adrenaline now coursing through her system, "we are supposed to be *playing* an engaged couple. I can tell you right now that if I were really engaged to you, you would not be ordering me around. You could try, but I wouldn't have to obey. There would be no ranks, no chain of command, just two people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, working together as equals, partners."

Jack reached out and grabbed Sam's arms, unsure of what he intended, but driven more by his desires and less by his logic. "And what, in your interpretation, should an engaged partner do if he knows his *equal* is in danger? Ignore it? Or do everything in his power to protect that person he wants to spend the rest of his life with?"

"That partner can take care of herself. Who are you to decide that this mission is over? This could have happened to anyone of us."

"Yes, but they made you and if I hadn't come along..." he let that statement hang, unwilling to think of how to finish it. "And now the mission is in jeopardy."

"Maybe..." she said, still angry, at him, at the situation, at the fact that he'd had to come to her rescue again. "I got the letter and given what had just happened, we have to move tonight...unless you intend to ask the bad guys to wait until I leave before you rescue Jonas." Then she took a step back and narrowed her eyes as she questioned, "Would you be ordering your partner off if some other woman had posed as your fiancée?"

Jack grabbed her arm as Sam turned away from him again. Instead she was swung back to face him and as she did so, she brought her hand up as if she was going to slap him. Jack grabbed that arm too and pulled her to him.

Somehow that just loosened the restraint the two of them had on their emotions. Anger and fear combined to release the long held desires the two had been flirting with and keeping at bay. One minute they were angrily opposing each other and the next Jack was kissing her. When or how the fear and the anger had changed into desire was a question neither wanted to ask or answer. Jack was aware that Sam was kissing back and she was aware of that fact as well. They pulled apart almost by design - rage, fear, desire, all the passionate emotions going through their minds, their eyes, and their souls.

Whether she would have willing stepped back into his arms, had he pulled on her hand, remained unanswered because the shrill ring of the telephone interrupted the moment. Turning their attention to the insistent ringing, Jack answered the phone.

Jack turned to look back at Sam and noticed that she had gone into the bathroom. He could hear the water from the shower. "Sure," he responded, "how about we make it thirty minutes...give Mandy and me a chance to tidy up?"

Less than thirty minutes later, Jack and Sam were ready and waiting when David and Vicky showed up. They didn't have the chance to talk about the 'moment', and in a way, they are grateful. It bought them time, to think and compose their emotions.

Once in David and Vicky's car, Sam told them the whole story about the botched kidnap attempt. Vicky was on a phone to someone as Sam produced the letter. Things moved quickly after that.

Thirty minutes after Jack and Sam were picked up they arrived at the warehouse where Jonas was being held. They were met there by an officer from Scotland Yard and from the Manchester Police Department. Aside from Sam, Jack, David and Vicky, the officer from Scotland Yard and the officer from the police department, there were six other agents from MI5. While Jack and Sam were changing into their uniforms and obtaining their weapons, one of the other MI5 agents briefed them on what they knew.

The agent nodded. He pulled out a blueprint from the car and placed it on the hood of the car. "The Warehouse has a large open area with four offices on the first floor. The second floor has been re-modeled into a large residential apartment. It has five bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room and office area."

He pointed to the various areas on the blueprint. "We have a stroke of luck going for us. Mr. Quinn is here." He pointed to a bedroom on a corner of the building, which was not boxed in by any buildings or structures on any of the sides. The windows were closed, but the shades were not drawn.

"They must have him heavily sedated to not worry about keeping the shades closed."

"Yes, but it also keeps their way clear, because they can see everything," Jack pointed out.

"Damn it!" Vicky cursed, "I knew it." David gave her a sharp look. "It just makes sense," Vicky added. "He is a new recruit...used to work on the IRA ops. He acted as a Double Agent. He must have turned."

"Or he was already turned," David added. He shook his head. "There are renegade groups even in the IRA. Not to mention some of the English groups that adds insult to injury. These renegades, make it so tough to keep the peace."

Jack noted how disgusted David was. "I can relate," he thought, remembering Maybourne and Simmons.
"Well, Mr. McDonald was captured before he had a chance to warn his crew. There are eight of them: Steve Sommers, Jaime Austin and six others."

"That's it? Eight" Jack asked, a bit surprised. "Have you identified the others?"

"According to McDonald, and I'm fairly convinced the information we obtained from him is accurate," the MI5 agent responded with a coldness that caused Sam to shiver, "this is a small operation. Makes sense, if you think about it...less loose ends, only takes a few with the right planning. Anyway, McDonald claims there are two CIA, two MI5, and two British scientists here. He also identified two NID agents whose names have been sent to your President. They will most likely not be a problem by the time you return. It seems they have taken several tissue and blood samples from Mr. Quinn. He is, for the most part, physically unharmed. He has been kept sedated. It seems they had gotten what they needed from him and were hoping to sell him to an interested party rather than dispose of him or risk keeping him much longer."

Sam shuddered involuntarily as she recalled her own heavily sedated captivity. She remembered how frustrated she had been, how scared she had been and how awful she had felt as the drugs were being flushed out of her system. Her heart went out to Jonas for what he had been through already and for what was to come after they got him out.

"We have to move fast now," David said, looking toward Sam. "The letter provides us with a lead to go after who they were planning to sell to...but since they know you have the letter, they're preparing to relocate as we speak."

"Where are they located?" Jack asked and though the others might not detect it, Sam could hear the angry edge to his voice. She knew he was remembering a similar episode that had been perpetrated by Adrian Conrad and not many more than six others.

The rescue itself took no time at all after that. Each member of the rescue squad knew their jobs and took their positions. It was almost a cakewalk after that. The two NID agents in the room with Jonas never knew what hit them. Jack and Sam blew into the room and took them out before they had a chance to register their presence.

Jack went over to the restrained Jonas who opened two very blurry eyes and smiled at them.

"Hey, Jonas," Sam answered him as she came up behind the Colonel, turned away from the duo, watching their backs.

Jack wasted no time in releasing Jonas from his restraints. He then hefted Jonas over his shoulder to carry him out.

Once outside, Jonas was placed into a waiting van and the trio was driven back to the flat. There a doctor attached to MI5 completed a physical assessment of Jonas. The doctor pronounced him fit, but warned that the drugs would take time to clear out of his system. He started an IV of Narcan and said that when the bag was done Jonas should be able to wake up without any problems. He mentioned that Jonas might feel a bit sleepy, but that he should be physically fine in a day or two.

Sam and Jack thanked the Doctor and saw him to the door. Kira arrived to begin helping with the wrap up. She volunteered to keep watch on Jonas as David and Vicky arrived to debrief with Sam and Jack.

David and Vicky stayed a while longer and talked with them about the plan to slip them out of England tomorrow. Both Jack and Sam were sorry to have to cut and run on their 'jobs', but Vicky assured them, that there would be no problems or hard feelings. Something in what she said made them realize that some of the people they worked with this past month, were more than what they seemed.

They would be leaving on a US Military Transport and taken, eventually, to Falcon Air Force Base. From there, they would be met by General Jacob Carter and escorted, as Dr. Ryan and Mr. Smith to the SGC. General Carter and General Hammond had already arranged for them to be escorted again through the gate as members of the Tok'ra and then they would be coming back with Teal'c, as Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. Jonas would just go back to the base, seemingly returning from his stay at Major Carter's house. That would also give Janet and the SGC doctors a chance to give him a thorough examination.

Jack wondered how they would change their appearance back, but figured that it would be better not to ask. David and Vicky assured them that they would be at the Air Force base to see them off and that they were sorry to see them go. A real friendship had been established, and each wondered how they would manage to stay in touch, without giving the game away. The four also knew that these rogue groups were not totally crushed, but had a severe setback given to them.

Jonas, luckily was not worse for wear after his ordeal. Sam peeked in on Jonas, who was lying in the spare bedroom of the flat. She chuckled to herself as she found Kira, sitting in the chair next to the bed, leaning forward, her arms folded under her head very near his IV attached hand. Sam couldn't blame her for catching a little shut-eye. Jonas had been out since the doctor left and watching someone sleep was pretty boring. Sam went into the living room to sit next to Jack.

He pulled her feet on his lap as she unconsciously snuggled against him. They had enjoyed the moments of quiet they'd had this past month, and on some level, they were aware that these moments had to stop. For both their sakes, it needed to stop now. But there was a reluctance to stop. After a few minutes of sitting quietly, they turned to each other, almost at once, almost as one. One minute they were looking at each other and the next they were kissing each other. As the kissing intensified they found themselves lying on the sofa, Jack on top of her, each feeling the other's need.

Jack's lips momentarily left Sam's and he buried his face in her hair. He liked the smell of her shampoo. It was as light and airy as she was intense and it felt like silk in his hands. In fact her skin felt like satin to him. Sam was just as intent in her feeling and smelling of Jack. His weight on her felt almost familiar and comfortable.
Jack went back to the business of kissing her and he felt as if he was sinking into her. Sam adjusted herself to allow Jack more comfortable access to her. They weren't Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter at that moment, but Amanda Ryan and Richard Smith. It wasn't the USAF officers on the sofa, but Amanda and Rick. It was their sanctuary, their escape from reality, their break from the everlasting tension.

How much longer they would have continued or how much further they would have taken things were questions neither wanted to ask or answer. Fortunately, they didn't have to as a groggy Jonas made an appearance in the living room. Luckily for the occupants of the sofa, it was noisy one. Sam and Jack managed to break apart and be on opposite ends of the sofa before Jonas was able to realize who was in the room with him. Seconds later, Kira followed him out.

"Jonas?" Sam got up and walked to him, eyeing Kira and reassuring her with a smile. "Are you alright?"

"Hey, come here," Jack went over and walked Jonas to the sofa. "Sit. We'll get you something to eat."

"I'm on it, Sir," Sam said quickly. Guilty. Sad. She noted Jack's expression at the 'Sir'. All she could do was look apologetically at him, her heart in her eyes.

He nodded at her. It wasn't the acknowledgement of the Sir that he nodded at. It was the need and the love and the loss that was in her eyes, and at the same time, reflected in his. "You do that Major."

Sam turned her attention to Kira, who immediately began apologizing for falling asleep.

"Don't worry about it, Kira. Why don't you go into the bathroom and see if you can find a bandaid. I think he is still bleeding from where he removed the IV."

Kira nodded and complied. A few minutes later, she had returned to the living room and was patching up Jonas' hand with a bandage. Jack supplied the introductions and a few minutes later, Kira left the trio, assuring them she would see them before the left.

After Sam settled Jonas down with some soup and a sandwich, she announced that she was off to bed. They had to close out some things tomorrow and then catch a flight back to the States.

Jack nodded and quickly said that he would stay with Jonas. "I am going to provide you with a comedic treat tonight, my man."

He turned on the television and found what he was looking for. "A Monty Python Flying Circus Marathon. It is time you learned what real comedy is."

Sam's eyes crossed as she left the room and tried not to laugh out loud. Jonas only looked befuddled and took a bite of his sandwich.

Sam turned to look at Jack before she went into the bathroom. She took her fingers and touched them to her lips. Jack understood and winked at her and then turned his attention to Jonas and the television.

The next morning Sam awoke to find both Jonas and Jack asleep in the living room. Jack settled into the recliner and Jonas on the sofa.

Within the hour Vicky and David had them at the RAF base that would have the transport plane to take them home.

The next moment Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, and Teal'c came down the ramp. Jonas had arrived back on base a few days earlier and had taken up residence in his quarters again. He'd spent plenty of time in the infirmary since returning. The desire to ask Dr. Fraiser about her sister had nearly driven him nuts, but, knowing the circumstances surrounding how they'd met, he knew he couldn't ask...yet.

"Welcome home SG-1. I take it you had a pleasant visit with Teal'c and his family and friends."

"Well, head to the briefing room," Hammond said. "We have another mission that will need to be done today."

O'Neill and Carter saluted and nodded and then the three of them turned to go to the briefing room.
General Hammond breathed a sigh of relief. Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter didn't look any worse for wear after this mission. He was also relived that Agents Kennedy and Sullivan had taken the time to assure him, privately, that his officers maintained their integrity under extreme pressure. He understood what that meant. On one level he had every trust in his officers, but on another, well, he didn't even want to consider that he had those thoughts.

Watching his officers as they greeted their fourth teammate and took their seats at the briefing room table, brought him to another thought about O'Neill. In fact, it was O'Neill's face that he was thinking about. What was it? Hammond thought for a minute, smiled and then said, "Colonel O'Neill?"

Jack saluted, smiled and turned back to his teammates, who were trying not to laugh. General Hammond smiled, nodded and sat at the table with his reunited team.

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