Setting: Between Threads and Avalon, before SG-1 gets split up. Slightly AU because Janet. I refuse to write a fic in which the doctor is not Janet. Otherwise canon. Can follow Red Sky at Night but is not a sequel.
Pairings: Sam/Jack recently established. Possible hints of Daniel/Janet later.
Summary: A routine mission turns sinister for SG-1 while, back at the SGC, Jack awaits an important decision.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything would I be writing fanfic? Yeah, didn't think so.
Chapter 1
From behind a thin silk veil, the Stargate was being observed - in particular, the piece of machinery that had just come through it. The MALP trundled across the event horizon and came to rest a few metres from the gate. Something on its back twisted, as if searching for something. Then, in an instant, something large and metal followed it through the gate and launched into the sky, leaving a cloud of smoke and frightening any of the ampelou that had been brave enough to venture into the clearing. The veiled observer twitched, as the ampelou fled into the forest.
A knock on his office door made Jack look up, with a start. He'd begun writing a letter of resignation, he was sure, but apparently he'd drifted off into some kind of daydream after a few sentences.
I regretfully inform you that I wish to retire, in order to … In order to what? That was the question. They'd want some kind of explanation as to why he was retiring at the height of his career, and he couldn't exactly tell them it was so he could date Carter properly. That was the point where he'd begun to drift before, into thoughts of Carter and the last weekend they'd spent together at his cabin.
Another, more urgent, knock prevented him from pursuing that line of thought again. He straightened up in his chair.
"Yes?" he said, as one of the many random airmen on the base timidly cracked the door open, only to have it pushed firmly open by General George Hammond.
"Thank you, Airman, I can take it from here."
A nervous salute, and the man had shut Jack's office door behind him.
"General!" said Jack, with a smile and a sloppy salute, as he stood up. "Good to see you. Come to check I haven't trashed your office?"
Hammond chuckled, and snapped a salute back, before settling into the chair opposite Jack, who sat back down.
"Jack, I think we've reached the point where you can call me George."
"Yessir." He wheeled his chair in closer to the desk. "Alright George, what brings you to Cheyenne Mountain? I thought they had you working hard in Washington."
Hammond's right cheek quirked up into an amused smile.
"Actually, Jack, I'm retiring. I'm here to offer you the job."
The friendly smile on Jack's face hardened, and his eyes darkened slightly.
"George, with all due respect, I don't want the job. In fact, I was thinking of retiring myself."
He pushed away from the desk a little, and leant back in his chair.
"The President feels you're the best man for it, and I'm inclined to agree." Hammond leant in and placed a forearm along the edge of the desk. "Jack, if this is about Colonel Carter-"
"Of course it's about Carter!" Jack snapped quietly, more frustrated and tired than angry. He stood, walking over to the window, and his tone levelled, becoming softer and more exasperated. "George, I've been her commanding officer for 8 damn years – had feelings for her almost as long – and can you honestly say that, in all that time, our feelings for each other have ever affected the running of this operation?"
Over his shoulder he heard as sigh from Hammond.
"No, Jack, I can't. And I'd be willing to bet that nor can anyone else." There was a pause, and Jack heard a creak from the chair as Hammond stood. He turned. "I'll see what I can do... Perhaps, in light of the circumstances, they can make an exception..."
"If they want me, they're gonna have to, General. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've a briefing to attend. SG-1 are off to scout a potential source of naquadah."
Hammond chuckled at the obvious lack of enthusiasm in Jack's voice. "I'll see myself out then. Give my best wishes to SG-1."
"Yes sir."
Jack saluted as Hammond left his office, then crossed the room to go through the door into the briefing room, where Colonel Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c were all waiting.
Carter quickly stood, and he grinned as he met her eyes and she smiled slightly. She'd been extra careful lately, making sure to salute and stand up whenever he entered or left the room. He supposed he should act a little more... official, as well, but it was hard to. Well, he'd never treated any of his team like that before, and he was damned if he was gonna start now.
"At ease, Colonel." He waited until she'd settled to continue. "Okay, you've all had time to read through the briefing notes. Sorry about that -" He wasn't. "- but General Hammond stopped by. He says hi..." He trailed off, looking down at his notes.
"Uh, Jack?" Daniel said, questioningly. "What was General Hammond doing here?"
Jack looked up at him, a wry smile plastered on his face. "Oh, the usual. Just checking on his office. Any questions about the mission? Should be a simple recon: scout out the natives, figure if they're friendly or not, make contact if they are. That kind of thing..."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow at Carter, who shrugged.
"Sir? Is everything okay?"
He broke into a genuine smile, then masked it – albeit badly – at the smirk on Daniel's face.
"Everything's fine, Carter, so how's about we get back to the mission?"
"I also believe that would be wise, O'Neill."
Jack dragged his gaze away from Carter's amused smile to nod at Teal'c.
"Thank you! Any insights, T?"
"It is possible that such a planet may also have been discovered by the Goa'uld. We should exercise caution when approaching the local population."
"You heard him, kids; exercise caution. Now, if there's nothing else to add, you're scheduled to leave in an hour. Standard protocol; make radio contact after 24 hours, and make sure to stop by the infirmary before you get geared up. The doc said something about shots." He clapped in mock enthusiasm, and stood, watching them leave. Carter saluted, he grinned, and she beamed back at him, shaking her head as she filed down the staircase to the control room.
George, he thought, you'd better come through for us.
The event horizon whooshed into non-existence as Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c stepped through. They were standing in a small, grassy clearing, which was only about the size of the Gate Room, and surrounded by dense forest. Daniel spoke first, interrupting the thick silence which had filled the air as if it were seeping from the trees.
"Well, looks like the natives weren't expecting us. Maybe they didn't see the MALP."
"They should have seen the UAV, at least. The report said it flew right over their settlement."
He shrugged. As they were in no immediate danger, he pulled a small cloth out of his pocket, took his glasses off to clean them, then replaced them on his face to turn slowly around, looking for a path away from the gate. Sam had had the same idea, and spun slowly on the spot, her P90 aimed instinctively at chest-height amongst the trees. Teal'c voiced his own unease.
"Colonel Carter, Daniel Jackson, I do not like this place. It feels somehow like a trap."
Sam nodded, keeping her eyes on the gloom between the tall trunks.
"I know what you mean. It's like we're surrounded or something. I'm getting a weird feeling..."
"Do you sense a Goa'uld presence, Colonel Carter?"
"No - I guess that's something. You?"
"I concur. It would also appear the Stargate is little used. I do not believe this is a Goa'uld planet, Colonel Carter. Perhaps we can hope that, if we are being observed, they will believe us peaceful."
She shrugged, and slung her gun at her side, keeping a hand on it just in case.
"Daniel!" she called, realising the archaeologist had wandered closer to the undergrowth at the far edge of the clearing, "Can you see any sort of path?"
"I think so... It's not much of one, though. I can't see any footprints either."
Sam checked her compass as she and Teal'c walked over to him.
"Well, it's heading in the right direction, at least."
A twig snapped loudly behind her, and she spun (thankfully without reaching for her gun). Teal'c was crouched in the centre of the path, his hands resting on a branch on either side.
"What is it, Teal'c?" Daniel sounded a little creeped out. If she was honest, he sounded like Sam felt.
"These branches have been moved somehow. It is almost as if they have been made to grow away from the path."
The branches he had indicated were bent, practically at right angles. Although they seemed to have grown, and the some of the tips had bent back in, they looked like – at some point in the last few years – their growth had been purposefully controlled to keep the path clear. She noticed a few other overhanging and overgrown branches showed the same signs of cultivation.
"I guess we can assume this isn't just an animal run, then." she said, beginning to lead the way down the track.
"Indeed."