Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate. If I did you would know. I do however own Jackie; she is a character of my own creation (as are several other characters: all the people of the Anadim).
A/N: This story comes after "A Familiar Face." However it is not necessary to read it first (though it might be helpful). AU, Atlanta Crossover.
Prologue –
"Whatcha doin' Carter?"
Sam nearly dropped the alien device she was working on when she heard those simple words. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she turned around and confirmed what she already knew: Major General Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neill was standing in the doorway of her lab at Stargate command. Instinctively she knew that he should be in Washington DC in his own office at the Pentagon or sitting in some boring meeting with some stick-up-his-ass politician.
"Sir? What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing Carter." Jack responded as he walked into Sam's lab and sat down on the stool across from her desk. Absently he reached over and picked up one of her doohickeys and started playing with it.
The two sat in silence for – what seemed to Sam – an eternity. She watched as he fiddled with the device in his hands, wondering what brought him to Colorado.
"One would think, Carter, that after all you've seen in the last 12 years – especially dealing with the Ori the last couple – that you would be spending less time around this place." Jack motioned with his hands at the last part of his comment.
"It's because of the Ori that I'm still here, Sir. We've got to find a way to stop them."
"Life's too short to spend it cooped up in here alone, Carter." Sam started to protest but Jack held up his hand to stop her. "Don't worry, I'm not going to order you to get a life – tried that years ago and look, you're still sitting here. No." He shook his head and stared at the device in his hands.
Sam didn't dare interrupt him again, he didn't often express himself so openly – he was like Teal'c in that aspect – so for him to be opening up…no way in hell was she going to break that chain of thought.
"You need perspective Carter. Take a look at the people out in the world, their innocence and naiveté at what is going on in the universe. Take a moment to remember why we do what we do. Don't get so caught up in saving the galaxy that you lose sight of what we're saving." Quietly Jack stood up, gently set the doohickey back on Sam's table, and turned to walk out of the office. Stopping at the door he turned briefly and looked at her. "Think about it Carter."
Λ
"I don't care Sergeant. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
Jack smiled as he heard the voice coming through the door. Hesitating only a second, he rapped sharply on the office door.
"Enter." Came the gruff reply. "Sergeant, you make the choice, I don't want to hear about his again." Landry set the phone down a little harder than necessary as Jack entered his office.
"Having fun yet Hank?" Jack asked as he tried unsuccessfully to hide the smirk on his face.
"Remind me again, Jack, why we became generals." Hank grumbled as he smiled and shook Jack's hand.
"So that we can have the honor of flying a desk and answering the top 100 dumbest questions." Jack laughed. "So what was this one? Commissary menu or paint color?"
Hank chuckled with Jack as they spent the next several minutes reminiscing about the good old days when they had been asking the dumb questions instead of answering them.
"Not that I'm not enjoying this trip down memory lane with you Jack, but I have to ask: what brings you to Colorado?" Hank sobered slightly.
"I was wondering when we would get to that." Jack sighed. "After never-ending meetings with the President and Joint Chiefs, I have finally convinced them that I am of more use here."
"Here?"
"Everything I oversee – NORAD, the SGC, Area 51, Peterson – are all on this side of the country, yet they have me based in Washington making periodic trips out here. Now I'll be based out here and will make bi-weekly trips to Washington."
"Makes sense to me."
Λ
The next morning, Jack walked into the commissary and scanned the room. Spotting the object of his search, he grabbed a bowl of cereal and headed across the room to the furthest corner. Using his black ops training he managed to stop right behind the occupied chair without being heard.
"Morning Space Monkey. Whatcha doin'?"
Daniel jumped so high and spun so fast that his coffee flew from his mug across the table and onto the floor. Jack stifled back a laugh at Daniel's response.
"Jack! What are you doing here?"
"You know, I have gotten that response from everyone here at the base."
"Not everyone O'Neill."
This time it was Jack's turn to be surprised. Turning around he took in the huge form of his favorite Jaffa.
"Hey Teal'c." Jack said with a big grin.
The big Jaffa's only response was an almost imperceptible nod of the head, before sitting down next to Daniel with a huge tray of food.
"You didn't answer my question Jack." Daniel said, once Jack was settled in and eating his cereal.
"What question?" Jack asked innocently. Seeing the look on Daniel's face, Jack almost choked as he tried to swallow both his bite of cereal and his laugh. "Oh, right. Why am I here? Well, that's an easy one. Considering that I head up Area 51, NORAD, the SGC, and Peterson, all of which are located on this side of the country, I decided it was more practical for me to work from here and fly to Washington once or twice a month for meetings instead of the other way around."
"So you're going to be stationed here?" Daniel asked incredulously.
"Not here at the SGC. I'll be stationed at Peterson."
"Peterson? Why?"
"This is Hank's command. Having two Generals would be too much."
"Why do I get the feeling that you're not telling us everything Jack?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Daniel."
"I concur with Daniel Jackson. It does appear that you are not telling us everything O'Neill."
Jack turned and glared at Teal'c. His glare, which would frighten the toughest of marines, had no affect on the big Jaffa. Teal'c merely raised one eyebrow as if daring Jack to disagree. Jack shook his head.
"With the Ori practically at our door I thought it best that I was closer, nothing more guys."
Λ
Daniel walked out of the commissary and immediately headed towards his lab. He had been shocked when Jack had shown up. He was used to having a heads up when Jack came to Colorado. As he pondered things his feet propelled him away from his lab and towards Sam's. By the time he realized where he was going, he had already stopped in front of Sam's door. Deciding that since he was there he should stop and say good morning, he popped his head in. Daniel's face broke into a smile when he saw Sam once again asleep on her computer keyboard. Walking over to her he placed his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her awake.
"Sam. Sam. You've fallen asleep at your computer again."
Sam opened her eyes slowly at the gentle shaking and Daniel's voice. Suddenly her eyes flew open as she remembered her encounter with Jack late the night before.
"Daniel you will not believe the crazy dream I had last night."
"Sam you will never guess who is here."
Both had started to speak at the same time, and stopped once they realized it. Daniel and Sam chuckled at what had just happened."
"So what was this crazy dream you had last night?" Daniel asked.
"Don't worry about it; we can talk about it later. Who's here?"
"So I'm sitting in the commissary enjoying my morning coffee…" Daniel proceeded to tell her all about his encounter with Jack.
As she listened, Sam began to realize that maybe her encounter with Jack hadn't been a dream after all.
Λ
In the Pegasus Galaxy:
Young Verocon truly hated foraging for his father's favorite food. It wasn't that he didn't love his father, he just didn't like foraging. It was hot, tiring, and he always came away with a sore back from bending over. Then of course there was the stench of the animal that smelled out the Orana. Verocon had just bent to pick up a couple, when he heard a familiar whine overhead that made his heart stop. Dropping his basket and releasing the leash he ran towards the caves his village used to hide from the Wraith.
"Verocon!"
As he entered the caves, Verocon was caught up in his father's arms. Silently the two waited, with the rest of their village, for the Wraith to leave. The whining continued for a few moments before stopping in an explosion.
"Haná."
Verocon looked up to see the rest of the village elders beckoning to his father. With a reassuring pat on Verocon's head, Haná stood and moved to a far corner of the cave.