Title: Eight Easy Steps
Author: Angel Leviathan
Spoilers: Anything, everything.
Season: Time-line starts at 'Grace', Season 7. Set around three years past that. Humour me and pretend Janet's alive.
Disclaimer: SG-1 isn't mine. Maddie, Lanna, Tom and Matt are though.
"Carter, you sure you want to do this?"
"Why not? We've been saying we'd implement this training program for months."
"And you were awake until 3am last night worrying about it."
She frowned, "How do you know?"
"You kicked me and woke me up," he replied, drolly.
Sam winced, "Sorry."
"If I was that bothered about it, you'd have heard about it the instant I woke up," Jack grinned and rested his head on her shoulder, standing behind her, arms around her waist, "But seriously, if you-"
"They're here, I'm here, I'd better get on with it," Sam smiled, "Sir."
He released her and reached for the door to his office, "Go get 'em then."
She touched his arm, would have been for a brief moment, before she discovered she couldn't break the contact. Sam looked down at the ground, eyes slightly glazed, as if she could see into a horizon nobody else could, "…She would have been a year old in three days…"
He slipped his free arm back around her waist and rested his head against hers, "…I know, Sam…I know…"
"…I miss her…" she admitted, softly, "…We only had her for a couple of weeks…but…"
"She was ours," Jack tightened his grip on her, "She was our daughter. Nobody forgets."
She twisted in his arms and kissed his cheek, "Ever." Sam shook herself and managed to return her facial expression back to the ever-efficient Colonel, shooting an experimental smile in his direction as she left his office, closing the door behind her. Walking briskly into the briefing room, she tried the smile again and nodded to the four people before her who hurriedly stood up, and to attention.
"At ease," she stated, "No need to go so formal on me already."
A mixture of 'sorry Ma'am' and 'sorry, Sir''s met her ears as they re-seated themselves, and she sat down at the head of the table, "As you presumably already know, I'm Colonel Samantha Carter and I'll be your instructor for the next week. From your earlier briefing, I assume you know what this course involves?"
Major Madeleine 'Maddie' Hawthorn was the first to speak, "Leadership in the field, Ma'am?" her dark eyes betrayed the fear that she was wrong, or speaking out of turn.
"Yes, Major."
The woman breathed an audible sigh of relief, earning her a grin from her neighbour.
"Something funny, Major Tiari?" Sam questioned.
Lanna stared down at the table and shook her head, "No, Ma'am."
The two male officers seated across the table from the women were clearly amused by her dressing down, to which Sam objected.
"Major, Colonel, anything you wish to add?"
"No, Sir."
"No, Ma'am"
"Good. Now that's sorted, I should tell you why you are here. The four of you have been chosen to take command of four new SG teams once they are formed," Sam stood up, "Your performance as officers and leaders has already been noted, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Over the next week your skills will be put to the test and hopefully you'll learn a few things whilst you're at it."
"Excuse me, Colonel?" Colonel Tom Albers interrupted.
"Colonel Albers?"
"Will this training be off-world or here on Earth?"
"Both," Sam nodded, "As you know, potential officers for the SGC are put through scenarios here on Earth, however, most of your training this week will be off-world, including a mission that even I do not yet know about."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Tom answered.
She started handing out the notes made on the week's course, "Enclosed are the times, dates, 'where and when's' and objectives of this week. I'll tell you now, its not going to be easy," she said this as she handed a set to Lanna Tiari, who blanched a rather unfortunate shade of white, "My team and I have learnt many things the hard way over the years. Though you are here for leadership instruction, you will also be required to work as a team. As of this moment, you are all of equal rank," Sam reclaimed her seat, "I am your CO and you will report to me and me only. I will decide who is in charge on your missions. You will all have equal opportunities, but I will not stand for one-up-manship this week, understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Maddie nodded.
"Colonel."
"Yes, Sir."
Colonel Albers remained silent.
"Albers?" Sam prompted.
"…Yes, Ma'am," he muttered.
"Something on your mind, Colonel?" she pressed.
Tom sighed, "No, Ma'am," his green eyes remained fixed on the table surface.
"Glad to hear it," Sam snapped, "Report back here in five hours. You have this time to prepare and take in what you've heard. We'll be heading out to one of our training facilities later today," she stood up, "Dismissed."
Maddie glared across the table at Tom, who merely grinned, swiping his notes off the table, walking away. Beside her, Lanna sighed and exchanged a worried glance with Matthew Lleweylln, the remaining Major. He shrugged and headed off, the two women slowly pacing after those in front of them.
"By the way," Sam waited until they were about to go through the door, "You've been picked because you're good. Damn good. I expect you to prove that," she nodded a further dismissal.
"Isn't this going to be thrilling…" Tom ran a hand through his black hair, mumbling under his breath as they exited the room.
"What's wrong, Tommy, don't like being back down here with the Majors?" Matt quipped.
"Or don't you like taking orders from a woman?" Maddie grinned slyly.
"Shut up, Maddie," he snapped.
"Hit a sore spot there," Lanna said in a sing-song tone.
"She'll hear you, you know," Matt warned…
Sam leant against the table and let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, shaking her head, trying to hide a smile.
"Good going, Carter," Jack appeared from his office, grinning.
"Did you pick them on purpose, Sir?" she dared to ask.
"I thought they'd be an interesting lot," he shrugged, "but you wouldn't want me to go easy on you now, would you?"
She pondered this for a moment, "…No. But I can tell this week is going to be a hell of a lot of fun…"
"They're good, Sam," Jack stated, "better than good. Too good," he raised an eyebrow, "Some of them remind me of a young Captain I met a few years ago…"
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. But I shouldn't talk about her too much. Wife might get angry."
"She might indeed," Sam smiled, "You want to go get some lunch?"
"Sure."