A/N—It has literally been months since my last update on this story. I'm so sorry about that. I guess I won't blame you if you give it up entirely, but I hope that you'll choose to read on. I was a bit blocked, so I started some other stories, and well… Thank you if you do decide to read, and please review.

THE ROAD TRIP: CHAPTER 8

Agent Gretchen Simpson stood leaning on one side of the table and Jack O'Neill stood on the other, their glares fierce and their postures predatorial. To Agent Simpson's left, Malcolm Barrett stood looking slightly sheepish and uncomfortable. The team flanking Jack, on the other hand, looked completely unified, especially in their indignation at the comment just made by the Director of the NID's Biological Intelligence Division, mainly that the safety and status of one Cassandra Frasier was no longer their concern.

"Come again," Jack's voice was dangerously steady.

Agent Simpson smiled, but it was a smile with absolutely no warmth in it. "Colonel O'Neill, this investigation, including any and all information regarding the current whereabouts of Miss Cassandra Frasier, is not under SGC jurisdiction. It is under mine. And, while I certainly appreciate General Hammond's generosity in sending his flagship field unit all the way down here to offer their full assistance and cooperation," she continued, her tone ironic, "I'm afraid that I'm going to have to decline. You may not know this, but SG-1 has quite a reputation at the NID. And, as you may imagine based on the history there that it is not a complementary one."

Jack was about to respond, his anger palpable, but Daniel put his hand on his friend's shoulder to stop him. Daniel addressed Agent Simpson instead in his classic diplomatic style,"Obviously, we don't want to interfere in your investigation. We aren't fools. We don't want a maniacal Go'auld running around out there, and we certainly don't want Cassie to be hurt in anyway. But, as you well know, Cassandra's mother is the chief medical officer at the SGC, and as it is her child who is currently missing, she has requested our presence here."

"And, I say again, your CMO has no jurisdiction here either. It doesn't matter that her alleged child is missing. Cassandra Frasier now falls under my…" The sound of a phone ringing interrupted her. Jack scowled at both the interruption and at the words he assumed were about to escape this NID dragon's mouth.

Carter removed her phone from her pocket and looked at the caller id. O'Neill glanced in her direction and raised his eyebrow, and she responded with a shake of her head, "I've no idea, sir."

"Answer it," he responded gruffly, turning his eyes back to Simpson who was eying Carter's phone greedily. If the call was from Cassandra or John, as Jack's gut told him it would be, the tension in the room was about to escalate even more. Even now, he could see the wheels turning in that beastly woman's head as she tried to come up with some justification for confiscating the phone or intercepting the call. It was only that small glimmer of defeat in her eyes that let him know that she hadn't thought to tap their phones already—not that he was sure that she could pull that off, but he wouldn't put it past her to try.

Carter answered, "Carter," and then listened for a moment, her face's expression unreadable. Then, she turned her eyes to Jack and said, "It's Mark, sir. Family emergency. Do you mind if I step out to take it?"

"Go." He replied. Then, turned his eyes and his fury back to Simpson. Carter had used the failsafe; his suspicion about the caller was confirmed. That would be his young doppelganger on the phone, and, while Carter spoke to him, Jack O'Neill would have the pleasure of baiting and distracting the beast. "If you're about to suggest that I leave the well-being of my goddaughter and the possible survival of the planet in your oh-so-capable hands, you're sorely mistaken…" Let the diatribe begin.

Daniel and Teal'c observed with well-masked amusement as Jack began to rant. Like Jack, both men had heard the failsafe and knew that while insults were being tossed about inside the room the important work was being done out in the hallway.

SG1

Carter answered, "Carter."

"It's your brother Mark, Carter, and there's been a family emergency. Now get yourself somewhere clear," said the voice of the younger Jack O'Neill.

Sam's heart leapt in her chest—at least she had confirmation that John was alive, of course he could still be compromised, but she knew that if John was alive and well, then he would make it his responsibility to see that Cassandra would be ok. Ignoring everyone else, she repeated his words to her commanding officer, and then, with his permission and understanding, left the interrogation room to take the call. She hoped that Agent Simpson had bought it. Cell phones signals were so easy to trace. When she was in the hallway, she began, "Is she…"

"No questions, Carter," John interrupted shortly. "Payphone to cell phone, you know the drill. All three of us are ok: me and the little time bomb and T's old friend Boba Fett. I know that you're probably worried about snakes, but we haven't seen any. And, speaking of old friends, Carter, we'd love to see my big burly norse buddy when we stop by his old stomping grounds later this evening. It's short notice, I know, but maybe you can get a call in to him, fate of the universe and all that."

"What about transportation?"

"Got it covered. Oh, and Carter?"

"Yes, s… Mark?"

"Good to hear your voice."