This is a follow-up to my story 'Lunch at the Pentagon'. It will be much clearer if you have read 'Lunch,' even though I have tried to fill in some of the background.
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SURPRISE
Jack missed Sam like crazy; it had been waay too long since they'd seen each other! A lifetime! Forever!
In point of fact, it had only been two weeks since that memorable day when they'd crashed into each other in the corridor of the Pentagon, and in the hours following had renewed a friendship, and begun a love affair. They'd spent two days together—with several interruptions!—and recognized and declared their love for each other. Daniel—who was one of the interruptions!—had thought it was a hoot, and had broken into a victory dance in Jack's living room when he found out. Jack would not have been surprised if the 'hip-hip-hoorays' had prompted some calls from the neighbors! Daniel had been texting and phoning Jack every couple of days since, just to make sure neither of them had backed out.
Well, there wasn't any danger of Jack backing out! That was for sure! Almost nothing in his life had ever felt so right or made him feel as complete as having Samantha Carter say she loved him! And he missed her so bad! Those two weeks felt like a year! To make matters worse, they wouldn't be able to get together anytime soon, either; Sam could not leave Colorado Springs due to her work load, and he was stuck in Washington. Even though it was the weekend, he was tied up for the next two days—meetings with members of the appropriations committee tomorrow and a mandatory cocktail party at the home of the Chief of Staff tomorrow night. Then there was that outing on Sunday—at least that would be fun. He glanced at his watch. 17:45. He'd gotten away from his office a little early. He'd call Sam and they could video chat on the computer for a while. Unless she had to work.
Lt. Collins pulled the car up in front of Jack's row house in Alexandria. "Tomorrow morning at 09:00," Jack said as he opened the door. "Thanks, Collins. I don't know how you stand this schedule, but I appreciate it."
"General, working for you is a walk in the park." The lieutenant grinned over at him. Ben Collins had worked for some real D.C. a-holes in the past few years, and his assignment to crusty, scrupulously honest, blunt and so very human Major General Jack O'Neill was something he appreciated every day of their association.
"And you're gonna be good for Sunday?" Jack asked
"Absolutely, sir," the lieutenant said.
"Thanks, Collins," Jack said. He reached for the door handle. "See you tomorrow."
"Good night, sir." Collins didn't get out and open the door for the general. He'd been hollered at enough times for that, and he'd finally gotten the message. Now he only did so if the general had other passengers with him.
Jack watched the car leave, and turned to glance out over the Potomac, beyond the riverside park across the street from his house. The sun was low, and the shadows deepened the color of the water. This was a great location, good view, excellent neighborhood and not too far from Arlington, where the Pentagon was located.
He sighed as he walked up to his front door. Another evening in an empty house. He soo wanted to retire so he could move back to Colorado Springs and live with Sam...
Turning the key in the lock, he opened the door.
The lights were on. What the heck? And then a big grin split his face. Sam was sitting on the couch, her laptop in front of her on the coffee table. She looked up as the door opened and flashed that super-smile he loved.
"Hey!" he said, dropping his hat on the way across the room. By the time he got to the sofa, she was on her feet and around the table and they met in a hug. Oh, how good she felt! He was surprised, and delighted to see her! He bent his head and kissed her passionately.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded after they came up for air. "When did you get in? How long can you stay?"
She laughed. "I had a bit of a break. I've been here for half an hour or so. How are you?"
"Much better now that you're here!" he declared, pulling her over to sit with him on the sofa. He didn't want to let her go. "God, you look wonderful!"
"You look pretty good yourself," she said, thinking 'pretty good' didn't even half cover it! He was just the most gorgeous man in the universe as far as she was concerned!
"I've missed you so much!" he said, nuzzling her neck, nibbling the sensitive skin behind her ear, and listening for that little purr of pleasure he had quickly learned to expect when he did that. He got the fix he wanted within seconds, and his own thrill meter shot up several degrees at the soft sound. God, she was hot! He shifted position so he could reach her mouth with his, and his hands started toward the buttons on her blouse...
"Ow..." Something scratched him, and she winced at the same time, and that's when he realized he was in his dress blues—and she was wearing BDUs. He'd jabbed himself on his own medals, and evidently one of them had gotten her, too. "I'm sorry," he said. "Let me just get this jacket off... Where did I stab you? What are you doing in those clothes, anyway?"
"No, no. Leave your jacket on." She reached over to the table and picked up her laptop. "You'll probably want your cover, too."
"What? Leave it on? Why... what's..." He stopped as she got up from the sofa. "Where are you going?"
She grabbed his hat from the chair where he'd dropped it, and held it out to him. "Stand up, Jack. Come over here."
He took the hat, then got up, puzzlement all over his face. "What's going on?"
"Got a surprise for you," she grinned. "Here, hold this." She handed him a small white stone, which looked vaguely familiar. "Now come over and stand right beside me." He did, and snaked his arm around her, pulling her toward him. She laughed, punching in something on the laptop. "You might want to drop the arm," she suggested.
"Huh?"
"Drop the arm, Jack," she ordered. Surprised, he released her waist, as she hit a final key and they were enveloped in a brilliant white light...
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...the next instant his living room was gone and they were standing in the gateroom at the SGC.
"What the hell..." Jack looked around. A dozen people were scattered around the room. He saw Daniel and Teal'c, along with Al Reynolds and Dave Dixon; Siler was standing behind a mobile computer unit near the door. He glanced up at the control room and Hank Landry gave him a grin and a salute. "That was an Asgaard beam," he said, turning to Sam.
"That's right," she said, smiling and stepping slightly away from his side. Looking around at the crowd, he understood her order to drop his arm!
Jack hadn't visited the SGC in more than half a year, and everyone came forward to greet him. For a good half hour, he was busy shaking hands and catching up with friends and acquaintances. He was especially glad to see Teal'c, whom he hadn't spoken to in several months. Feretti slapped him on the back, and gave him a salute. Colonel Mitchell looked uncomfortable, as he always did in Jack's presence. Although he was surrounded by people, Jack noticed that the scientists had gathered around Carter, Captain Jennifer Hailey among them, and were apparently fascinated by something on her laptop.
Eventually most of the people departed, and Hank suggested they adjourn to the briefing room. The table was a little crowded, as the group included himself, Carter, Daniel, Teal'c, Landry, Mitchell, as well as Hailey, a dark haired woman in science department blue, another man he didn't recognize, and the alien woman, Vala, who Jack had not managed to warm up to. Since SG1 now consisted of Mitchell, Teal'c, Daniel and Vala, he was not surprised that she and Cameron were there.
"Welcome to the SGC, Jack," Landry began. "What do you think of Col. Carter's latest accomplishment!"
"Beats the hell out of a 4 hour plane ride," he said. "But I'd like to hear how she did it. I know there's no ship in orbit right now capable of beaming—unless I missed a really big memo!"
Landry laughed. "Colonel Carter, I'll let you explain."
Jack turned to look at Sam, and she smiled at him. "This is a prototype for a satellite-based transporter system, which we hope someday to implement planet-wide, sir. Right now there's only one installation on one satellite, which is in geosynchronous orbit over North America—and you and I were the first passengers!"
"You made me a guinea pig, Carter?" he asked in mock horror.
"Yes, sir. Who better?" she said as everyone laughed. "So far the only destinations programmed into the system are here and Area 51, and now your living room, but we plan to add several more very shortly."
"Well, that's cool," Jack said. "But I thought you were working on new ship design..."
"Yes sir, that, too," she said. "Actually most of the work on this project has been done by Captain Hailey and her team. General, this is Dr. Kylee Barrows and Dr. Marshall Waterhouse." She introduced the two scientists.
"Great job, folks," Jack said. "Hailey, this is impressive. Your idea?"
"Thank you, sir," Hailey couldn't help grinning. "We all developed the idea together. It just seemed like a natural offshoot of the Asgaard beaming technology."
"And sooo Star Trek," Jack said. And then raised his eyebrows when Hailey blushed and the other two scientists stifled chuckles. "What?"
"We nicknamed her Scotty, General," Dr. Waterhouse said. "She didn't appreciate it at first."
Jack joined in the general amusement, making Hailey blush harder.
"It's going to be a while before this is anywhere near widespread," Carter pointed out. "The money just isn't there yet for the number of satellite installations that would be necessary. But right now we can program any destination in the forty-eight contiguous states and southern Canada, with just the one unit. It'll have to be carefully monitored, however, as only one transport can take place at a time."
"That should be easy, since you have the control key there," Jack said, pointing to the laptop on the table in front of her.
"For now," she agreed.
After the meeting broke up, she said to him, "We need to make a stop at the infirmary."
He winced. "My favorite place," he quipped sarcastically. "What for?"
"You know that little stone I gave you to hold just before we beamed?" When he nodded she went on, "That's the receiver for the transporter beam. We've developed a miniature version that can be inserted under the skin. Dr. Lam is going to put one in for you."
"Does that mean you can kidnap me anytime you want?" he teased, as they headed for the elevator.
She grinned a Cheshire-cat grin.
"So how many people have these things?" Jack asked as he watched Dr. Lam place a band-aid on the tiny incision where the receiver had been inserted.
"Only a half dozen or so," Sam replied. "Hailey and I. Dick Woolsey." She wrinkled her nose.
"Woolsey?! Really?"
"The IOA insisted," she said. "Dr. Waterhouse. And now you. Oh... and Daniel."
"Daniel? You mean now he can pop into my living room with no warning at all? Thanks a lot, Carter!"
She laughed. "It's strictly monitored, sir. And like you said, I'm the one with the controls."
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"I have to go back tonight, you know," Jack told her later as they were having coffee in the cafeteria. "I have a pretty full schedule for the weekend. Hey—any chance you want to go to a cocktail party at General Bracken's house tomorrow night?"
"Chairman of the Joint Chiefs?" she said.
"Yep. It's kinda required. I can bring somebody, though." He grinned. "It would make my evening a lot more pleasant." But he could tell by the expression on her face that it wouldn't happen. He sighed. "Well, never mind. I'll survive it."
"I'm sorry, Jack." Not that she really wanted to go to the party, but for an evening with him... "I just can't. There's a late afternoon meeting of the design committee tomorrow that'll probably last until ten or later. They usually do. I'm actually free Sunday, though," she added hopefully.
He perked up. "Really? How do you feel about the zoo?"
"The zoo?"
"I promised Miranda's grandson, Max, that I would take him to see the pandas. Remember? You were there..."
"Of course I remember Max." She lowered her voice. "I wasn't that drunk."
He chuckled and his eyes took on a sparkle. "Just nicely mellow," he whispered, and then grinned as she blushed furiously.
"Anyway, we're going to the National Zoo on Sunday," he went on. "Max's fifth birthday is in a couple of weeks. The zoo hosts kids' birthday parties, and I've reserved the room they call the Bear's Lair, which includes a tour of the Asia Trail. Pandas, of course. I'm meeting Miranda and Max, and their family, there at ten. The party's from ten til twelve. Then we'll have lunch, and spend a few hours in the afternoon doing whatever Max wants. There's so much to see, you could spend all day and not see it all."
"Sounds great," she said.
"How about it?" he urged, hopefully. "Now that you have this transporter gizmo, it'll be a breeze. You could even come late tomorrow night, after your meeting," he suggested hopefully. "I'd wait up for you."
"I'll bet you would." She looked regretful. "But I'm really not sure about tomorrow night. There's so much to do... I can come Sunday morning, though. I can justify the beaming as part of the prototype testing. I'm sorry about Saturday night, Jack."
He hid his disappointment. "I understand. At least I'll see you Sunday."
Daniel and Teal'c arrived just then, and they decided to all eat dinner there together. Eventually they were joined by Mitchell and Vala and General Landry and several other friends. Jack stayed on base until after eleven, which meant it was past one in the morning DC time when Sam beamed him back to Alexandria. She refused to return with him, saying he needed to be at his best to face the Appropriations Committee; and he knew she was right—he wouldn't have gotten any sleep if she'd come. Besides, each powering of the new transporter cost an ungodly amount of money, and casual use was just not in the books.
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The Appropriations Committee meetings the next day were long and tiring; but at least it wasn't like it was in past years, when Kinsey was everywhere, doing his best to block all of the SGC's moves! The Hayes administration had been friendly to the Stargate Program, but old Henry was just way too conscious of his political role, letting Kinsey do a huge amount of damage before reining him in.
President MacKenzie Allen was a different creature altogether; she'd made it known from the get-go that she was one hundred percent behind the Stargate Program, and she had never used it as a political shuttlecock. She was, in fact, not really a politician, in the accepted sense of the word—maybe that's why Jack got along with her as well as he did. Of course, the Appropriations Committee was a force unto itself, and had never kowtowed to any President—but some of the members were strong friends of Allen's administration, and therefore inclined to support what she supported. The committee member Jack liked best was a long-time Senator from a New England state, currently President Pro Tem of the Senate, and Chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Homeland and Homeworld Security. He'd had lunch with this Senator in the midst of the meetings, and Jack found the things he'd had to say very encouraging. The fact that the Senator had an Irish name was just icing on the cake in Jack's mind!
So Jack was fairly optimistic when he made it home around 6:30 that night. It looked as if the Stargate Program was solvent, at least for the foreseeable future. He'd even gotten them to consider raising the allocation for the beaming technology. That, of course, was what his surprise visit to the SGC had been all about.
The cocktail party at General Bracken's was at 8:00, so he had a little over an hour to shower and get ready before Collins would be back to pick him up. He headed upstairs. He came down twenty-five minutes later, feeling somewhat refreshed, and headed for the fridge to get a beer. His housekeeper Miranda had been in that day, and there was a chicken casserole on the top shelf, with instructions for simply popping it in the microwave. He dished out a helping and warmed it up, while he drank half of his beer. The casserole was excellent and was just the perfect thing to fortify him for the evening. He donned his clean uniform jacket and was ready when Lt. Collins arrived, right on time.
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Moving toward a partially open patio door, in search of fresh air, Jack looked at his watch. 9:09. Nearly an hour of the cocktail party yet to endure; he'd told Collins to come back for him at 10:00. He scanned the crowded room. Uniforms and evening dresses everywhere. He sighed and took another step toward the outdoors.
A hand fell on his shoulder. "Jack!"
He turned to face Four-Star General Edward D. Bracken, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Damn...
He wasn't home in bed until well after midnight.
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Something smelled wonderful! More than half asleep, Jack turned toward the scent, and his cheek brushed against something soft and warm. Skin. Warm, fragrant skin... He buried his nose in the softness and inhaled. Carter, he thought hazily and nuzzled closer, feeling her shoulder, her neck, her hair against his face. He was curled behind her, chest to her back, his lap to her bottom, the front of his thighs to the back of hers. What a lovely dream...
He nibbled at her skin muzzily. His hand slid around her ribs, found only the thinnest of fabric, slipped up and cupped the weight of her breast, fingertips dancing lightly across her aroused nipple. She gave a soft groan and sighed in her sleep, moving her bottom against his... lap. The response of his body was instantaneous, and he came fully awake with an indrawn hiss of breath. Not a dream at all!
"Carter... What are you doing here?" he murmured hoarsely, drawing her closer and burying his face in the fragrant softness where her neck and shoulder met.
"Sleeping..." she muttered. She stretched a little and turned toward him. "At least I was..." She captured his mouth with hers and kissed him deeply, her arms winding around his neck and her fingers playing with the hair at the back of his neck in a way that simply drove him wild. He pulled her even closer—sleep was now the last thing on his mind...
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President Mackenzie Allen (played by Geena Davis) is a character from the series 'Commander in Chief,' which ran in 2005 or 2006.