Jack left the General's office and went directly to Major Louis Ferretti's office. He knocked once and then entered at his friend's acknowledgement. Louis watched from behind his desk as O'Neill stalked in and sat down in the room's second chair.

"I took it to General Hammond." The senior officer stated, then sat staring at the floor by Frank's desk.

Ferretti leaned back in his chair and looked at his friend. "So, soon? You just got Martin's statement last night."

"Yea, well. I got Carter's last night too and Daniel's this morning. I thought they were enough to start with. If we beat the bushes, I figure we'll get one or two more."

The Major shook his head in disbelief. "Carter too? This guy is nuts."

"Yea, it's a good thing she wasn't armed." Jack smiled at him mirthlessly. "Or maybe not, it would have solved SGC's problem quickly and inexpensively."

Ferretti nodded. "What did Daniel have to say?"

"Well, he was embarrassed." Jack replied. "But when he found out about Carter and Martin, well I used them to get him to write his statement up too."

"Why was he embarrassed, for God's sake? He didn't do anything wrong." Ferretti looked at Jack in amazement.

"That's Daniel for you, the world falls on him and he asks what it was that he did wrong." O'Neill played with his pen. "He's a little sensitive about not being a macho type. I think he's been hit on before and doesn't want people to get the wrong idea."

The Major nodded. He'd known Jackson for over six years and was well aware of the scientist's seeming unwillingness to defend himself. The funny part was, if it was anyone else, the young man would leap to their defense without counting the cost to himself. "So what's next kee-mo-sabe?"

"Well, Tonto." Jack got up and flashed a grin at his old teamie. "You and Martin need to hang loose around here until Hammond calls to talk to you. I'm going to turn over some rocks and see if the new dog in town has peed on any more trees. I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ear to the ground too."

"Okay, I'll holler if I see any more trains coming." He grinned at O'Neill. "Colonel, we've got to stop talking like this, we'll scare the children."

"Nah, just keeps them on their toes." O'Neill waived at Ferretti as he left the office. His next stop would be the Infirmary. If there were any news in the wind, Doc Fraiser would have heard it by now.

* * *

Jack O'Neill was pissed. There was nothing more frustrating or irritating to him than his inability to take direct action against a threat. He'd been keeping his temper under firm check during this whole episode involving Lieutenant Colonel Bob Bowers but it was really beginning to grate on him. Damn it, five years ago he would have called the man out to the parking lot, taken off his rank and beaten him within an inch of his jarhead life. But things weren't so simple anymore. The days of settling these things with his fists were behind him. There was too much at stake here at the Mountain, any slip ups on his part would bring the wrath of Senator Kinsey and his ilk down on himself, General Hammond and the whole Stargate program. And he knew that this would have to be resolved soon or he, Ferretti, Teal'c or some other team leader would finally blow up and kill the son-of-a-bitch. Or get killed in the attempt.

He had no doubt that Bowers knew exactly what he was doing but the days of strong arm politics in the military, of going out behind the barracks and settling just who was the baddest dog in the yard was long gone. The future belonged to the whiz kids, the smartest man on the block, not the biggest, strongest, or the meanest. People like Bowers, and himself he admitted, were anachronisms in the military of today. His main role now was to protect and guide people like Carter, Jackson and Martin from people like himself so that they could stay focused and complete their mission. The mission to save Earth and mankind from the snakes. That was what mattered now.

* * *

Colonel O'Neill had apparently wandered into the infirmary with no goal in mind. That was the first thing that had given Major Janet Fraiser a hint that he wanted something. A man like Jack O'Neill didn't 'wander' anywhere. He always knew where he was and why he was there. She didn't know if it was a learned thing, or one that was part of his basic make up. It was the reason that he was who he was. She nodded to him as she finished treating the young man who happened to be sitting on her exam table. After she completed stitching up the Airman First Class's cut forehead; she turned him over to her nurse. Then she faced the lion that had come into her lair. "Good morning, Colonel." She smiled at him. "What can I do for you today?"

He had the good grace to look sheepish. "Oh, just a little information."

She glanced up cautiously at him through her dark eyelashes. "As you know, Sir. Even though I'm military, patient confidentiality is very high on my list of important things." She turned and led the way back to her office.

He followed her gratefully into the cubicle. "I assure you doctor, I above all people here, appreciate your stand on confidentiality." He pushed the door closed and pulled a chrome and plastic chair out of the corner and over closer to her desk.

Janet slid in behind her desk and faced him with hands clasped in front of her. "What type of information are you looking for?"

"Look, Doc. As a Colonel, General Hammond's Second In Command and as a team chief here at SGC I am also responsible for the confidentiality of my subordinates." He took a deep breath, then continued. "It has been brought to my attention that there is an individual on base committing Sexual Harassment and possibly assaulting our personnel." He watched her expression change and knew he'd gotten her attention. He continued. "The General has asked me to investigate these allegations. If I find any proof to support these charges, we will take the proper steps to correct the situation. That's what I need from you. Has there been any unusual injuries reported, or anyone saying anything to you?"

She looked over at him and leaned back in her chair. "An assault? Have I seen this person for treatment?"

He shook his head. "No, it was assault by contact, no physical injuries resulted." O'Neill frowned in thought. "But it was used as a means to coerce, and I don't like it one damn bit."

Janet looked thoughtfully at him as she considered what he said. Her patient, A1C Fredericks had asked for her not to say anything, but she hadn't actually promised him yet. "Colonel, I won't discuss anything that was told to me in confidence but there has been at least one suspicious injury today." She indicated the door. "That young man I was treating when you came in with a story about falling and hitting his head on a doorframe. If so, that doorframe had better be removed."

Jack turned to look at the closed door that separated her office from the exam room. "Door frame hum." He turned to see her expressionless face. "Dangerous doorframes are a pet peeve of mine. I think I'll ask him about it...later today." He nodded. "Thanks Doc, I owe you one."

She looked at him grimly and nodded. When O'Neill left the office he noticed the young man was no longer there.

* * *

Teal'c was not happy. One couldn't tell it by looking at him but he knew that something was amiss with his team. Majorcarter and Danieljackson were both remaining in their respective offices entirely too much. Normally, they were both easy to locate by their voices echoing through the hallways of the SGC. But the last few days had remained ominously quiet. They both seemed to be avoiding the dining facility and the gymnasium. O'Neill was also uncharacteristically taciturn. The Jaffa knew that he had been busy with some unusual paperwork and closeted in his office. There had also been rumors of unscheduled visits to General Hammond's office. He could sense that something was, as O'Neill would say, up. It involved his teammates and friends; and Teal'c was determined to discover what it was.

As he approached O'Neill's office the door was open and he could see his team leader hunched over his desk doing paperwork. The Jaffa stood in the doorway, waiting to be invited in. After a few seconds, the Colonel noticed him and waived him to enter.

"What's up, Teal'c?" Jack greeted his friend, as he laid down his paperwork and indicated his extra chair.

"I have in fact come here to ask you that question, O'Neill." The big man sat down in the 'guest chair'. "I have noticed that both Majorcarter and Danieljackson have spent much time in their offices and avoiding gathering places. I would like to know why."

The Colonel shifted in his chair and played with the black plastic pen he was holding. "You're right on, Teal'c. They have been." He grimaced in thought, his emotions playing across his features. "There is an individual on the base that has 'approached' them in an unpleasant personal manner. They are staying in their offices to avoid him." The gray haired officer looked up at his team member.

"Are they afraid of this person?" The big warrior had tensed at this information.

"I'm not sure that afraid of is a good term." Jack sighed. "They are avoiding him to prevent the unpleasantness from reoccurring."

"That is why you and General Hammond have been meeting alone in his office?"

"Yes. That's why." O'Neill nodded. "I'm waiting for another person to give me information that I will also take to the General and we will then take steps to remove him and prevent this from happening again to anyone else."

"Cannot you and I take these steps?" Teal'c asked him.

"Yea, well, we could." Jack smiled at his friend. "But...what you and I would do might not be a 'good' thing. We might get too emotional and do something we'd regret later."

Teal'c thought a moment. "I would not regret protecting our teammates."

"No." Jack smiled dangerously. "No, I wouldn't either. But General Hammond wouldn't like it if we accidentally permanently damaged anyone here." He shook his head regretfully. "It causes too much paperwork."

The big man looked suspiciously at O'Neill. "Paperwork?"

"Yea, you know...paperwork." The Colonel waived his hands over his paper-covered desk. He could tell his teammate didn't 'get' it. "Look, Teal'c. If we were to injure or kill him, it would cause an investigation...questions. That would lead to information being spread around, some uncomfortable questions that Hammond, you and I would have to answer. It's just better to let things take their course." He thought for a minute. "But, it wouldn't hurt if you watched Carter and Daniel. You know, kept an eye on them; kept them out of harms way."

Teal'c knew that O'Neill was right. The Taur'i had their ways. And though they may seem to be circuitous to him, he had agreed to abide by their rules while he remained here. "I will guard them, O'Neill. No further harm shall come to them here."

The Colonel nodded, fiddling with his writing utensil. "I'd like that, Teal'c. That way I can concentrate on this stuff." He indicated the documents. "Just don't let them know, we know, okay?"

Teal'c seeing where this was leading nodded. "I will not, O'Neill. I will merely be...'lonely' this week."

"Good idea. I'll try to be more 'lonely' too." Jack smiled at his team member. "We'll both be lonely. They can't stand us being lonely."

"Very well, O'Neill. I will go be 'lonely' now."

"Okay." Jack smiled as Teal'c left his office. "Have fun annoying the kids."

Then he bent back over his paperwork.

* * *

Bowers was wondering what was going on. He hadn't heard nor seen McNeill, and he knew that something should have been coming at him by now. Course you couldn't all ways tell about some people. Maybe he was too old or stupid to figure it out. Maybe that boy hadn't told him about what had happened. Bowers thought for sure after that stinking Ferretti had seen what had happened in the john that he would have reported him. Course all that Eye'talian had done after he put his moves on that cute little second lieuy of his was 'talk' to him. Didn't even tell the General what was going on. Now that Major Carter, she had enough spunk that he had thought she was fixing to try to take him on her own. That had almost been a mistake, but she hadn't said anything either evidently.

Well, he justa keep on pushing. He'd find out who the bull was soon enough.

* * *

The next day found O'Neill down at the mechanics shop. This is where the equipment that they used off planet was maintained. It was staffed primarily by enlisted personnel and he really didn't get down here often enough. He knew Daniel and Carter were in and out, checking on their specialized equipment and working with the mechanics to ensure their availability and calibration. MSgt Seiler, the NCOIC, saw him as he walked in the door.

"Can I help you Colonel O'Neill?" The tall bespectacled NCO came forward.

"Yea, I'm looking for an A1C Fredericks. Is he here?" Jack looked around at the various pieces of equipment. He noticed a UAV with burn marks scorching it's tail fins. He remembered how the aircraft had gotten that mark from their last mission.

"Yes, Sir, I think he's over by the FRED." Seiler motioned to another area where the motorized sled was partially disassembled. There was a pair of green clad legs with combat boots sticking out from under the chassis. He led O'Neill over and they leaned over to look under the vehicle.

O'Neill could just see the lower torso lying on the roller pallet with various tools balanced on the young man's abdomen. Seiler raised his voice slightly. "John? Fredericks, you asleep under there?"

The sled rolled backward exposing the youngster's head and shoulders. "No, Sarge, I'm almost done here." When he saw Colonel O'Neill, the young man started to scramble up off of the floor.

"Whoa there, at ease." Jack raised his hand to prevent any precipitous movement. He looked over at the Sergeant. "Is there a place that we can talk quietly?"

Seiler reached down and grasped Frederick's hand, helping him to get to his feet. "Sure, Sir. My office is just over there." He indicated a doorway on the far side of the room. "Help yourself." O'Neill nodded and the Airman flushed under the Colonel's scrutiny. "You been causing trouble?" Siler asked the youngster.

O'Neill shook his head and grinned at the curious Sergeant. "No, he's not in trouble. I just need to borrow him for a while." He turned to the young man and nodded him over to the office. The young man started that way, looking suspiciously over his shoulder at the two older men. "Actually Seiler, I need a favor from him; I'll have your troop back in a few minutes."

"Okay, sir. No problem. I'll just see what this needs to be finished." Nodding at the Colonel, he got down on the sled and crawled up under the recalcitrant piece of machinery.

Once in the office, O'Neill closed the door on the two of them. He motioned for Fredericks to sit down. Unconsciously he took the same body posture that Hammond would have with him. "You are not in trouble, you are not under suspicion and nothing is wrong...with you. Understood?"

The young airman nodded uneasily. Jack took a moment to look him over. About nineteen years of age, black hair, blue eyes and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Tom Cruz. He had a purplish lump on his head and a band-aid covering stitches on his forehead. He could easily see where this kid would attract attention and not all of it would be good. "How's the head?"

"It's okay, sir. Really." The boy blushed again under the Colonel's scrutiny.

"Funny, Doctor Jackson used those very same words to me just the other day."

"Is Daniel...Doctor Jackson all right, sir?" Fredericks looked up sharply, concern plainly written on his face.

"Yea, he's okay. A little shook up, but he'll live." O'Neill pulled Seiler's chair out from behind the desk. "Why? Do you know what happened to him?"

"Uh, no sir. I hadn't heard anything about him being hurt. I haven't seen him this week." The boy started to nervously run a greasy hand through his hair, but caught himself. O'Neill pulled a paper towel off a roll that was sitting on the desk and handed it to him. "Doctor Jackson is a real nice guy."

Jack smiled. "Yea, Daniel is a good guy. John, I'm a little concerned about what's going on around here." He leaned forward on the chair playing with a large monkey wrench that was lying next to the roll of towels. "I'm hearing rumors and I want, no I need to get this mess straightened out." He looked up into a pair of blue eyes that rivaled Danny's. "How'd you get hurt son?"

The mechanic dropped his eyes to stare at the floor. "I uh, fell against a door, Sir."

"Really?" O'Neill sat back and dropped the wrench on the desk. "Funny, that's what Daniel said too." He looked directly at the young Airman sitting in front of him. "Then I found out that someone had slammed him up against the wall in the men's room." Fredericks was staring at the wrench that he had just put down. "I tell you what; I won't lie to you, you don't lie to me, okay?" The youngster nodded and shifted his eyes up to meet the Colonel's. He went for it, seeing that he'd made a point. "What really happened?"

Fredericks bit his lower lip and took a deep breath. "I was working late. Everybody else had left for the day. That new Marine officer, the LC, he came in and asked if the MALP was gonna be ready for today, Thursday. Said they would be going on a mission soon and he wanted everything to go right. I said it was fixed and ready to go." He stopped for a moment then continued. "Then he asked me if I was ready to go. I said I had to get the FRED ready for SG6 to take their stuff with them next week. He said that I had plenty of time and he had other plans for us. He pulled out a metal bottle, a silver thing."

O'Neill nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"He wanted me to take a drink. I said I wasn't old enough...I'm only twenty. He laughed and said I was plenty old enough. Then he tried to touch me, grab me. I backed away from him and yelled..." His voice caught and he took a deep breath. Jack didn't rush him, just nodded acceptance. "But there wasn't anybody around."

Fredericks stood up and walked to the door. He stuck his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor. "He grabbed me by the arms and pushed me against the door. He tried...he tried to kiss me, I think. But I kneed him in the balls and shoved him away. I slipped and fell sorta." He shook his head. "I really did hit my head on the doorknob. When I came too, he had me down on the floor. Had his hands all over me and his tongue down my throat. I sorta, kinda gagged on him." Fredericks looked like he was going to throw up again, right there.

"He got all pissed off and slapped me. He wiped his mouth with his hand and said if I ever told anybody, he'd get me good. That my career would be over cause I was queer and I was asking for it." He looked over at where O'Neill was sitting. "I'm not sir. Really! I guess I did it now, didn't I?"

"No, John. You did the right thing. I only wish you had told someone earlier." O'Neill got up and came to stand by the young man. "Look, this guy had done things like this to several other people. I'm going to make sure he doesn't do it to anyone else." He reached over and put a gentle hand on Fredericks' shoulder. "Don't worry. No one else will hurt you. Understand?"

"Yea, uh yes sir. I do...Sgt Siler made me go to the clinic yesterday morning, Dr. Fraiser said it was confidential." He looked up at O'Neill with wide eyes."

Jack shook his head. "The Doc didn't tell me anything. She just said you hit your head on a door." He smiled gently at the young man standing in front of him. "Remember I work with Daniel Jackson. I know all about doors and buckets and things that hit people in the head." John Fredericks smiled shyly back at the Colonel's comment. "Don't worry about it." O'Neill reassured him again. "But I do need a favor."

Fredericks nodded. "What's that, Sir?"

"I'd like you to write me a statement. Just put down what you just said to me. Then, sign it and date it." He squeezed the airman's shoulder again. "Okay? Will you do it?"

The resolute blue eyes met O'Neill's brown ones. "Yes sir. Did he hurt anybody else?"

Jack sighed and shook his head. "You were to only one that had to see the Doc. But there were three others that he made... contact with. We've got to stop him, John. And I need your help to do it. Okay?"

"Okay, sir." He smiled up at the Colonel. "Daniel says you're a good guy. I trust you."

"Yea, Danny's pretty special himself." He smiled back. "But don't tell him I said that. It'll ruin my image as a hard ass."

* * *

Daniel had returned from the dining hall where he, Carter and Teal'c had eaten lunch together.. The large warrior had been insistent about their all going together for some reason, so the two scientists had finally given in and three of them had gone to the Commissary. The Colonel had another meeting with the General so had not been available to eat with them but the three friends had enjoyed the meal and each other's company. Afterwards, Teal'c and Sam had escorted Daniel to his doorway. He had a funny feeling that they hadn't left until he had been safely 'tucked into' his room. Then Teal'c had accompanied Sam to her office. Wondering about it all, Daniel went back in to his desk to start working on a translation.

But now he was looking for a folder that he needed. He was sure that he had left it on his desk. In fact the last time he had seen it was when Jack had come in this morning to say hi, steal a cup of coffee and not-to-covertly check on him. While he knew that his friend would not intentionally take things out of his office he wondered if perhaps the older man had accidentally picked it up along with some other folders he had been carrying.

Well, he needed it if he wanted to finish the translation of the inscriptions from 2p369 by this afternoon. And since SG11 was going back tomorrow, he needed to get it done today. Daniel got up, ran his hand through his hair and started out of his office to the nearest elevator heading down towards Officers country. Then he could go by Sam's and see if he could snag some of those homemade cookies she had told him about.

When he got to the elevator he was chagrined to find a 'work in progress' sign in front of the doors. That meant that he could go all the way back down the hall to the other elevator they had used earlier or just use the stairwell that was around the corner. Since Sam's office was only one floor up, it would be simpler just to walk up the flight of stairs and see her first. He pushed open the door and started up the staircase; his crepe soled chukka boots making squishing noises on the bare concrete. As he climbed the stairs he heard some odd sounds echoing up the concrete stairwell. They were coming from one of the floors below him, some voices and some rustling noises. He stopped to listen. Then he heard what sounded like the tearing of cloth. This was punctuated by a slapping sound and a sharp cry of pain.

He turned and started down the stairs. A little voice mentioned to him that he might want to get someone to help him investigate the sounds, but then again it might be nothing but a romantic interlude between two SGC personnel. He could check it out then, if it was nothing, he could fade away before whoever it was even knew he had been there.

But as he approached a landing several floors down, he realized he recognized at least one of the voices. It was Bowers! And there was another one, a woman's. What the hell was the man playing at now? Daniel picked up speed and went down the last two levels at a jog. As he swung around the last corner of the stairwell, he found the Marine LC holding a frightened looking female Army Private by her shoulders and pushing her back against the steel handrail. She looked about twenty, tiny and small boned, her brown hair disheveled and her uniform top was torn. The man looked up at him, an ugly expression snarled across his face. Unhesitatingly, Daniel grabbed him by the arm, breaking his hold on the young woman. "Stop it, Bowers. What do you think you're doing?"

The big man turned loose of the girl and came around with his other hand, cuffing him on the side of his head with an open palm, knocking the younger man back against the concrete stair steps. The woman retreated into the corner, pulling her torn uniform shirt back to cover herself. Bowers turned and started closing on Jackson.

"So what have we here?" The large Marine was panting a little, whether from exertion or excitement, Daniel wasn't certain. "McNeill's pretty boy grown some cajones? Or did you miss me?"

Daniel tried to get to his feet but before he could, the Lieutenant Colonel grabbed his left ankle and pulled him down onto the stairs again. Jackson looked past his attacker and called to the woman. "Go get Jack! Colonel O'Neill! Get some help!"

"What for boy? I don't need his help. I can take care of you all by myself." Bowers laughed, grabbed up higher and caught Daniel's leg by his calf muscle. Jackson responded by trying to kick the Marine in the knee or groin with the other leg but his angle was wrong. He punched the bigger man in the face but he couldn't get enough swinging room to inflict much damage.

Meanwhile Army Private Amy Rice had pulled her wits about herself and had fled down the remaining stairs and out the door into the hallway. She was calling for help, but there didn't seem to be anyone around in these lower office levels.

Daniel knew that he would be no match for Bowers in a close quarter's fight. The man outweighed him by a good fifty pounds and for all of Jack's hand to hand training, there was no comparison in their fighting skills. He was hoping for some quick relief but quick had better hurry up. The man was rapidly overpowering him. During the struggle, Daniel's felt a hard object in his shirt pocket, a Cross ballpoint pen. He managed to get one hand to it, pulled the steel-jacketed instrument out of his pocket and stabbed the officer as hard as he could with it. The sharp point of the pen actually penetrated the uniform shirt that his assailant was wearing and scraped down the large man's ribcage. Bowers pulled back with a curse. Taking the available room, the archeologist pulled one leg up to his chest and was able to push the enraged Officer off of him for a moment.

* * *

Jack O'Neill was in the General's office after giving Hammond A1C Frederick's written statement on what had happened in the maintenance shop. It was the final document that was needed and they had been reviewing the other witnesses' statements, documentation and Hammond's recommendations before turning it over to the Peterson Field legal office. As Jack had gotten up to leave, the two officers heard a woman's voice calling for help in the hallway. They both quickly headed for the door.

Rice was running down the hallway, pushing open the office doors, yelling for someone, anyone to come out and help her rescuer. Finally, she was met with success at an office door by the Two-Star General she knew to be Hammond and a tall, gray haired colonel.

* * *

Hammond had opened the door to find the young female Army Private banging on it. He caught her by the shoulders, to stop her and hold her up. "Young woman. What's wrong? What's going on? She was extremely upset and almost in tears, her green uniform blouse torn.

She was pointed at the door at the end of the hall. "They're fighting.... In the stairwell... Someone help him!" The Colonel pushed past them and ran towards the stairs.

"Who's fighting?" Hammond asked her as she tried to regain her control in front of a senior officer.

Amy Rice was holding on to her composure and blouse by a thread. "A great big Marine and a civilian guy!" She was trying not to cry, to be able to talk. "He grabbed me and he was too big. And this civilian guy saw us he and pulled him off me...and they started fighting... help him please!" The General pushed her into his office out of his way and followed his Second in Command towards the stairwell.

* * *

Teal'c had escorted both Daniel Jackson and Major Carter to the dining hall where they had eaten lunch and then back to their respective offices. The two had left Daniel Jackson at his door and continued on to her office laboratory. They had stopped in the hall talking and Teal'c had just stated that he was returning to his quarters when the Jaffa heard a familiar noise, the sounds of battle. He turned to the partially opened stairwell door at the opposite end of the hallway identifying it as the source. Teal'c sprinted to the door and opened it, taking the stairs down two at a time. Carter was following right behind him.

* * *

Once Daniel had managed to get back on his feet, he was determined to make as good a fight as he could. His lessons with Jack had a least taught him how to duck more successfully and even get in a few good punches, his hard-earned muscle standing him in good stead. But Bowers was much bigger and Daniel knew if he was tagged by one blow from the ham- sized fists, he would be a goner for sure. So he feinted and backed away trying to keep distance between them until help arrived. Finally the bigger man in frustration snagged him by an arm and threw him against the corner of the handrail. Daniel thought he felt a rib crack and the ensuing pain knocked the breath out of him. Bowers then grabbed him by the shirt collar with one hand and slammed him head first into the corner. Jackson blearily turned to face his enemy, trying to keep his feet under him. The Marine moved quickly and wrapped both his hands around the younger man's throat , slamming him back against the wall, off the floor and held Jackson helpless as he strangled him.

* * *

When O'Neill had followed Hammond into the hallway and heard what the young woman had said, he pushed past the Army Private and ran towards the indicated stairwell. He pulled open the door and took the upwards flight of steps two at a time towards the sound of a fight. As he made his way up the vertical staircase towards the next level, he could catch glimpses of two bodies caught up in a violent struggle. Then he heard a grunt of pain and the sound of contact as a body hit against the cinderblock wall. Running up the last few stairs, he turned the corner to see Bowers holding Daniel up against the wall by this throat, the younger man's bloodied face turning an alarming shade of blue.

Jack O'Neill grabbed the big man by the shoulder and spun him around, punching him directly in the face with a hard right cross. Bowers' expression was one of savage surprise, but the blow did little except snap his head back. The big Marine dropped Daniel, who collapsed in the corner of the stairwell and turned on O'Neill. Identifying his new opponent as a more dangerous one, Bad Bob reached down into his boot and pulled out the knife he had secreted there. Bowers lunged forward intending to skewer the smaller man with the blade. The Colonel, recognizing the new threat, backed down the flight of steps, leading the assailant away from Jackson and motioning Hammond to step back out of the doorway. As Jack backed out into the office hallway he could hear the General on the phone in the background calling for Security Forces to report to the Command Level.

The two combatants started the circle dance of a knife fight. O'Neill reached down to his boot, then cursed to himself. Since he was not scheduled to go off world, he had left his own boot knife in his desk. The big Marine took a cut at him with his blade but Jack shifted back out of his reach. They continued their cat and mouse play for several moments. Bowers made a quick sideways move and managed to catch Jack on the forearm, slicing through the heavy cotton BDU shirt and into the muscle. Jack ignored the pain, concentrating on his assailant's movements and trying to judge the big man's skill and tactics: a feint to draw him out, an attempt to engage the man without further injury to himself and then a tactical retreat in front of a superior force. As he moved around to face the doorway, Jack could see Teal'c coming out of the stairwell behind him. The Jaffa hesitated a moment in the door, gauging the situation, but the timing was awkward, for now Bowers forced O'Neill around to block Teal'c, lunging forward to drive the knife home. Jack skipped back, avoiding the knife, continuing to look for an opening.

Hammond got off the phone to the SF office and reached into his desk drawer for his old service revolver. He turned and walked out into the hallway and shouted at the two combatants. "Marine, Stand Down! That's an order!" He then leveled his pistol at the two fighting men.

O'Neill could hear Hammond shouting at them both, but couldn't spare the time to pay attention to what he was saying. He caught a glimpse of the General behind him but was concentrating on the knife in front of him. Suddenly, a single gunshot rang out and Bowers straightened upright, a surprised look on his face as a bloody hole appeared in his upper chest. Jack could smell the gunpowder in the air and his ears rang with the loud report in the confined area. Bowers hesitated, a surprised expression on his face, then fell forward like an oak tree, slamming face first into the carpeted floor. Behind Jack, Major General George Hammond stood, holding a 38-caliber colt revolver in his hand, the smoking barrel now pointing up at the ceiling.

O'Neill stood breathing hard, holding a hand over the bleeding knife wound on his arm. He felt Hammond come over and take hold of his good arm in support. "Jack, are you all right, son?"

He turned and nodded his thanks to the General, O'Neill had an impulse to reply, 'Yes Dad' but turned it into a "Yes Sir" instead. Then looked back to Teal'c who was standing over Bowers' prone body. "Daniel?"

"He is injured; O'Neill, but he will recover." The big man had come forward to O'Neill and was now gripping Jack's injured arm, tearing the uniform's sleeve to examine his knife wound. Jack took a deep breath, just relieved that the fight was over. He looked down at the General as Hammond, who had left his side, knelt next to the unconscious Marine.

Hammond looked up and behind Jack and Teal'c to motion the Security Forces and the Medical team into the hallway. The Warrior turned Jack back to see Daniel being helped down the stairwell by Carter. His face was bloody and he was going to have a spectacular black eye and bruised face but he was still able to walk under his own power.

Daniel was looking worriedly at Jack, seeing the blood stained shirt. O'Neill returned the look with a relieved grin. "How ya doin' Buddy?"

Jackson smiled at him crookedly through a bloody nose, rubbing his throat, and croaked. "Ribs. You?"

"Little cut, no problem." A medical technician moved over to him and was examining his arm.

"Sir, you're going to need some stitches." He stated. Jack nodded absently to the Corpsman, then he watched a gurney appear and Bowers being loaded on to it.

O'Neill indicated the activity. "Is he still alive?"

"Yes, Sir." Satisfied with O'Neill's condition, the Tech went to Jackson to start checking on him examining his face and neck.

A Security Forces airman had pulled two chairs out of the office area. Hammond indicated one to O'Neill. "Here, Jack sit down a minute." Carter then helped Jackson over to the other so he could be examined more comfortably. She and the Med Tech pushed the civilian down into it and helped him remove his shirt so the Corpsman could assess Daniel's injuries.

The Major then turned and looked carefully at her Base Commander. "General are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Major." General Hammond, looking a little pale, shook his head. "I just haven't had to shoot one of my own officers in a while. Takes the wind right out of the old sails."

"I can imagine, Sir." She replied dryly. She glanced around and saw Rice standing pale faced by the door. "Private, can you get us some coffee?"

"Oh, yes m'am." The younger woman had been standing silently watching the activity, not knowing what to do. She immediately headed back into the office area and returned in a few moments with several cups in her hands. "I'm sorry, I should have thought..."

Jack smiled up at her taking the steaming cup from her hand. "Thanks. I don't think we've been formally introduced. Colonel Jack O'Neill."

The attractive young woman smiled nervously down at him. "Private Amy Rice, Very pleased to meet you. I uh, just PCS'd into the SGC last week. I don't know a lot of people yet."

Hammond looked a little distressed as he took a cup from her. "We don't normally welcome newcomers like this, Private. Are you sure you're all right?"

Carter had glanced over at Daniel, still in the care of the medical technician and came over to look at the girl critically. "I think you're going to have a shiner. Did he hit you?"

She bit her lip and tried not to lose her composure in all the friendly attention. "He...he slapped me, ma'm. But if he..." she looked over at Jackson who was being fitted with a cervical collar and put protestingly on a gurney. "If he hadn't shown up when he did I don't know what would have happened."

Carter nodded and smiled gently at her. "That's Dr. Daniel Jackson, I'm Major Sam Carter." She glanced over at Colonel O'Neill. "Why don't we go to the infirmary and get you checked out, Amy. I think the Colonel needs to go too or Dr. Fraiser will put out an APB on him."

Jack made a face at her but nodded. "Yea, I'll walk before I'm given a taxi ride I don't want." Teal'c stepped in closer and grasped his good arm when O'Neill got onto his feet. Jack glanced up at him. "Ooops." He was a little light headed; the adrenaline rush from the fight was draining away and his arm 'was' beginning to hurt.

"Indeed. I will escort you O'Neill." The Jaffa Warrior was insistent. "It will do you no good to fall down at this time."

Jack grinned crookedly at his supportive friend. "Okay, talked me into it."

Hammond nodded and surveyed the bloodstained carpet. "Go on and get tended to, everyone. I'll get someone down here to clean up this mess, and then I can start working on the legal mess."

* * *

Down in the infirmary, Dr. Fraiser was already working on Daniel's battered face. Lt Col Bowers had been whisked to surgery by Dr. Warner. At Jack's concerned look towards Jackson, she smiled back at him. "Not too bad, Colonel. A black eye, some bad bruising on the neck, maybe a slight concussion." She smiled fondly back at Jackson. "Nose doesn't even appear to be broken."

Daniel raised his hand and touched the offending nose gingerly. "Fees broke."

She shook her head at him. "An ice pack will do wonders for it, Daniel. The eye is much worse."

"Tanks, I tink."

"Now, into bed with you." Before he could protest she added. "Concussion equals bed, you know that."

"Mide be a conncusson." He groused as Fraiser pointed him to the ward, but was led away by a nurse in spite of his protestations.

Then she turned to O'Neill. "Now let's see about this arm."

* * *

The following day, Major General George Hammond was escorting Marine Brigadier General Edward Simpson to the infirmary. There Lt Col Robert Bowers was being readied for transport to the Hospital at Peterson Field in Colorado Springs. The two men had read all the statements that Colonel O'Neill had submitted to Hammond the day before. Hammond had added his own report and that of Private First Class Rice to the pile. The completed file would be turned over to the Legal Office that afternoon. General Simpson was in support of the actions taken and would recommend Article 15 action and early retirement for the Marine officer. Hammond could have pressed for more severe actions but since his shot had done quite a bit of damage to the man physically, he was loath to push for the maximum punishment for a previously highly decorated officer. Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson had both declined to press charges and as they had received the most severe injuries, no one else seemed interested in filing charges either.

When they reached the infirmary, Hammond took Simpson over to introduce him to Jackson who was on bed rest for one more day and O'Neill, who was sitting next to his friend in the wardroom having the bandage changed on his wounded arm.

"You know O'Neill if you don't like the Marines; you don't have to go to such extreme measures to get rid of them." Simpson advised him.

"Sir," O'Neill replied. "I like the Marines fine. I liked Colonel Makepeace, he's a good man to have on your side. I was really sorry that he had gotten in over his head with that other situation.

The Marine senior officer shook his head sadly. "This is very unfortunate. Colonel Bowers is a good field officer. He'd had some discipline problems several years ago, but I'd hoped that he had learned his lessons and changed his ways. He was promoted several years ago for his actions during the southeastern Europe conflict.

General Hammond nodded. "I'd read his records before approving his assignment,

I just don't understand what he thought he was going to accomplish by his actions here.

O'Neill made a face as Dr. Fraiser tightened his bandage. "Well, I've known men like him before." He paused. "Bowers had a Bull in a China Shop Syndrome. He kept barging in where he wasn't wanted and didn't know how to act when he got there." He shook his head.

Daniel spoke up from his bed. "Jack, I thought it was the 'Bull In the Woods' problem?'

"Yea, the only problem was he went after the wrong Bull." O'Neill glanced from Simpson to Hammond. "He didn't realize who the real big bull was."

Simpson watched the two men quizzically. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

O'Neill replied. "Bad Bob Bowers came looking for me on the theory that I was it, but he was wrong. I'm only the big stick." He smiled at his General. "The only Bull of the Woods on this Mountain is Hammond of Texas.

FIN