Due to real life, a broken computer and circumstances I won't go into, this story is stalled at chapter 28. I'm still working on it but I won't post anymore chapters until I've written them all. Thanks for your interest and hopefully it won't be too long before we're both back here. :)

Title: "Who Can See The Wind?"

Author: Middle Child03

Category: Drama, angst, hurt/comfort, friendship (series story with missing scenes from lots of episodes)

Season: 10 - after The Shroud and before Bounty

Summary: Major Jack O'Neill, head of Homeworld Security, accompanies President Henry Hayes on a visit to Stargate Command. It won't be a boring day and it might even turn dangerous.

Pairings: None (no UST or established - no pairings at all)

Spoilers: Yes (expect anything and everything revealed from season one episode 1 all the way through the season ten episode Shroud and possibly references to the episode Bounty)

Rating: T (Because of the medical stuff and also just in case something comes up in future chapters but most of it is K+)

Warnings: A few swear words, lots of medical things and some violence. Also, this is not a feel-good team story.

Disclaimer: MGM, Gekko etc own everything Stargate. I own nothing. I just wanted to write a Jack based story for my friend C's birthday... years ago. Yep, been working on this for years.

Thanks to so many different people who have read this. Over time many Beta readers including Liz O, Angie, Jessi and Neoinean have contributed and I appreciate their efforts very much. Lately I haven't felt like sharing (lots of reasons – not sure you really want to know) so that means all errors, missteps, screw ups, typos, grammatical and spelling mistakes, and all other possible and impossible things wrong with this are mine and mine alone.

Note: This is a Jack O'Neill story and it's about his relationships, friendships, feelings and thoughts as I choose to write them. I read a lot of fan fiction, all kinds of fan fiction and try to keep an open mind about where the writer is going and why. If you read this story, I ask you to do the same. Please.

Any and all feedback would be great. This is a long story and I appreciate everyone who comes along for the ride. Here we go.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Major General Hank Landry smiled as he hung up the phone in his office at Stargate Command. He thought his predecessor, Jack O'Neill would contact him so when the call first came through he was surprised when it wasn't Jack. Immediately he was concerned that his old friend wasn't coming but then he heard George Hammond's personal assurance that Jack was on the plane.

It was early morning in Colorado and still dark, but Landry didn't mind. He usually arrived ahead of most of the day shift staff, but today everyone who should be in was already there. The President was coming to celebrate the NORAD anniversary and along with the Secretary of Defense, would deliver the news concerning the future shutdown and command transfer. Following the celebration in the upper level, he was expected to put in a secret appearance at Stargate Command, commonly referred to as SGC by those knowing of its existence.

The base commander quickly reviewed the report from the duty officer and proceeded to review a final to-do list. The Secret Service advance team had been underfoot for a week and there were still a couple of things that he needed to check on before the base was locked down in preparation for the President's arrival, but Landry expected everything to happen on time. Landry checked off the final item on the paper and then sat back, his mind going back to his friend Jack O'Neill.

It had been almost three weeks since Odyssey returned to Earth with Jack and SG-1 aboard. They had contacted Stargate Command before reaching orbit so by the time they arrived the ship's crew was ready and waiting to be beamed back aboard. At the same time SG-1 transported down into the gate room, O'Neill appeared as a hologram informing Landry that he needed Odyssey for a few minutes and then nonchalantly asked IOA liaison Richard Woolsey if he was coming along.

The man stood with his mouth gaping before curtly nodding and then he was engulfed in the bright white light of the Asgard beam. O'Neill told Landry he would talk to him soon and cocked his head toward SG-1 saying "See ya kids," just before his image winked out. A few seconds later Chief Master Sergeant Harriman announced the Odyssey reporting Woolsey safely on board and that they were on their way to Washington DC. Landry learned later that after contacting the President, O'Neill beamed directly into the situation room of the White House while Woolsey remained on the ship for 30 minutes trying to bully the commander into transporting him down.

It was a while later when Jack O'Neill phoned to tell Landry he was still his boss. The call was relatively short and Hank could tell his friend was rushed so he didn't push for small talk. Not that Jack would have participated in much of it anyway. In the end he accepted the order to get Intel on the state of the Ori and grimaced a little with the announcement that the President was coming to Colorado for the NORAD anniversary and intended to visit Stargate Command as well.

Aboard Air Force One somewhere over the Midwest

George Hammond moved easily into the spacious seat next to his friend General Jack O'Neill and absently smoothed his pants. He cautiously looked around making sure he wasn't overheard before quietly stating, "I made the call."

At least they didn't have to worry about being overheard by the great flock of reporters that always accompanied the President, a mercy for which Jack was exceedingly relieved. Except for one brief encounter in the restroom right before they boarded, Jack had managed to avoid the few press allowed on this short trip.

He was grateful that the reporters boarded the big plane through the rear door climbing the stairs and went immediately to the press section while he and Hammond boarded with the President using the rolling stairs to the middle deck. The reporters were confined to their own section well away from the White House Staffers and others. When the reporters asked the Press Secretary about the VIPs on the plane, they were told, "they're Air Force officers, we're going to an Air Force installation."

Jack looked over and Hammond smiled, adding, "Hank is expecting you."

Returning the smile he told Hammond, "Mike said I wouldn't be missed," while his right hand absently brushed over the uniform fabric on his thigh. He added, "The NORAD folks aren't expecting me to attend." Hearing Hank's name reminded Jack that they hadn't spoken since the day he returned to Washington DC. Three weeks or so and only a couple of emails had been exchanged, but then they hadn't needed to talk.

Jack remembered the gate room and the look on Richard Woolsey's face when the man realized he wasn't returning with the team. He'd asked the IOA rep to accompany him to DC while he faced the music and the man reluctantly agreed.. He knew Woolsey would try to detain him. Even though he didn't have the authority, Jack knew he would try to have him arrested and shipped back to DC in shackles. The IOA members were angry and afraid, wanting to blame someone, and O'Neill was the best person. He had defied them and let the Ori invaders, an army of followers probably with priors into the galaxy.

Leaving Hank and SG-1 behind, Jack briefly faced the IOA liaison before retreating to quarters to change into his uniform. He was fine in BDUs, hadn't even gotten dirty, but knew he should present his best when facing the President, SecDef, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Air Force Chief of Staff. So in the communique to Landry, O'Neill requested his possessions from his VIP quarters be brought aboard with the crew.

Woolsey yelled at him, insisting he could have him arrested and shot. O'Neill watched impassively while the man continued his tirade, in front of some of the Odyssey crew no less. As soon as the angry man took a gulping breath O'Neill jumped in with, "I don't have time for this. The President is expecting me." Leaving the man to the incredulous stares of the crew members, he walked away carrying his garment bag.

Woolsey wasn't anywhere near O'Neill when he transported down, which was good since he might have tried to leap into the beam with him. The bright light dissipated and Jack recognized the long meeting table and many phones and tactical displays of the White House situation room. Looking at his watch he realized he might be about four minutes early so he reached to pull out a chair to sit down just as the door opened.

In another second the President breezed in with several others behind him and Jack stood rigidly at attention. He watched as everyone came through the door and was thankful none of the IOA members had been invited. That was his preference and the reason he'd left Woolsey on the ship but there had always been the chance another member would weasel their way into this meeting.

"Jack, good to see you. Take a seat," President Hayes told him, sliding out a chair for himself.

"Thank you, Sir," he politely half mumbled . He waited for the President to sit before taking his own seat, not immediately noticing it put him two chairs down from the end of the long table with everyone else on the opposite side except the President who sat at the head. Telling himself to keep cool, it only looks like an inquisition, Jack waited for someone to speak. It was many seconds of scrutiny later when Air Force Chief of Staff General Michael Mantley* broke the ice and O'Neill was guessing that it had been planned that way in advance.

"Tell me what you think we should do with you, General O'Neill."

TBC

* Not supposed to use the name of 'real' Air Force Chief of Staff in the time line for this story, because he's a real person and this is fiction