An hour later Lieutenant George Hammond walked into a local bar. At first glance he didn't see who he was looking for and turned to leave but at the last moment he spotted a blue dress jacket slung over the last stool in the bar. It's owner was obscured by shadow but Hammond could make out the tall frame leaning on his elbows perched on the bar, hands holding what looked to be a pint of Guinness.

"Well, you certainly showed your true colors in there Jack."

Jack didn't look up, keeping his eyes focused on the bottom of his glass. "Yep, well. Guess so." He paused a beat and took a drink from his glass.

Hammond forced himself to ignore the dispassionate vibe the younger man was projecting and instead cheerily helped himself to the chair next to Jack. "Honestly I'm surprised it took you this long."

Jack raised his eyebrow and glanced at the superior General, "Thought I'd go off on the President of the United States before now?"

Hammond shook his head, "No Jack, I'm surprised it took you this long to give up playing the fool."

Jack coughed on the sip he was about to take causing the other man to release a genuine laugh.

"Jack, I know you know diplomacy isn't always about playing nice or kissing ass. And albeit a little unorthodox, you said exactly what needed to be said and your ideas were good ones. Both President Hayes and President Mikhailov were impressed. Dr. Jackson is still there now drawing up the addendums to the existing treaty."

Slowly Jack lowered his pint to the bar top, "So…not court marshaled?"

Hammond smiled, "Whatever for?"

Jack shrugged, "Insubordinate conduct? Noncompliance? Conduct unbecoming? The list goes on and on and on…and on…" He took another slow drink.

Hammond shook his head, "I don't think so. In fact you may have opened yourself up for something worse than a court martial."

"Worse." Jack repeated to which Hammond simply responded with a nod and a smile.

"And yet…you're smiling." Jack observed wryly.

"Well Jack, you can't hardly blame me for being amused."

Jack sputtered a long low breath. "Yes. Well. Suppose not." He straightened and looked straight at Hammond, "Worse you said?"

Hammond's smile broadened, "Yes." He schooled his face into a more serious expression and glanced around the mostly empty bar to assure himself their discussion would remain private. "You know I'd been considering retirement for a while."

Not following the non-sequitur Jack just nodded, waiting for Hammond's explanation.

"It's something I've been unsure about for a while which is why I went on that stint with the Prometheus. However, being out there and facing being stranded in space made me realize that I was just stretching for a time long since past. Being with my family is really what I need to spend more time doing." Hammond paused reflecting on the times he had missed being with his wife and how much his grandchildren had already grown. When he cast a glance to Jack he was met with the other general's compassionate and understanding eyes.

"Yes, you've talked about that before."

Hammond cleared his throat, "Yes well, unfortunately my time spent debating cost me a valuable window. Previously there was no Homeworld Security so it wouldn't have caused too many ripples had I just declined the position in the beginning but since the embarkation of the Atlantis program and the further developments of the 302 and 303 projects not to mention the outpost and the absorption of Area 51 we can't go back to how it was in the past. For a position that didn't exist a year ago it's kept me busier than I've ever been; and that's including when I had YOU as a field op in my direct command."

Jack smirked and cast his eyes back to the drink in his hand. "So what's the deal then? Hayes not letting you go?"

Hammond shook his head, "The times I've brought it up to him, no. He didn't think there was anyone who could replace me."

Jack nodded sincerely, "He's right sir. There is certainly no one with current clearance. There are a couple of decent guys out there but you'd have to read them in and then give them some significant transition time. Probably their own staff of situational advisors too."

Hammond smirked, "That was Hayes' thought. But that would take a long time before I would feel safe leaving. There is someone I have put forth as a more reasonable replacement but the president disagreed with me…until today." The older man pierced Jack with a pointed look.

Jack met his gaze and squinted hard. After a moment he sat back and shook his head, "There is no possible way you are suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

Hammond nodded, "I am."

Jack splayed his hands flat on the bar top in front of him. When he spoke it was slowly and deliberately, "General…George…Sir…Are you mad?! I made Brigadier less than a year ago. I nearly had a mental break down my first few weeks on the job. In all truth I'm not General material. I'm terrible with paper work and I detest 70% of the administrative mess that comes across my desk. In truth I hate even having a desk that's not a table in the commissary. I think the fact that the SGC is essentially a front line command is the only thing that has kept me sane this past year. I completely understand the position you're in but trust me; I'm not your guy."

Hammond rolled his eyes, "Jack…you've done a wonderful job with the SGC. And although I think you're exaggerating a bit, I don't disagree that some aspects of your current position don't exactly match your strengths or interests; but that's one of the reasons I'm proposing this. I believe that you are actually more suited for my current job. The beauty of HWS is that each of the projects have their own commander. The majority of mundane administrative work…"

"Potatoes." O'Neill sneered

Hammond let out a long suffering sigh, "Yes, such as potatoes…, all of those would fall below your radar. Only the topmost problems and most important decisions about any specific project come across my desk. I haven't had to think about mess requisitions since coming to Washington. My position isn't one of operations; it's one of strategy concerning resources and priorities. It's all about making sure the right resources are going to the right projects…money, minerals, tools, information, people. You know what a value Reynolds is to the SGC; if my position had existed years ago perhaps it wouldn't have taken so long to realize he would be more useful as a field operative than in Nellis support. Of course identifying what our priorities are is a huge part of the game…one of the reasons why I'm convinced that we can't just read in a new man, we need someone with enough experience to truly be able to understand the value and potential of each of our undertakings. The president agrees with me on that."

Jack gnawed on the inside of his cheek, "Yet he did not agree with you that it should be me."

Hammond looked down, "No. He didn't. Jack, the president is a huge fan of you as an officer. Your record in the field speaks for itself. And even if you don't see it, so does your handling of the SGC. But you spent too much of your youth in black ops; playing it close to the vest, letting other make the first move, downplaying your own strengths. May be you think that no one really notices because you spend so much time with Colonel Carter and Dr. Jackson but anyone who really knows you knows that you're pretty damn intelligent yourself, and I'm not just talking about as a tactician. And anyone who has worked with you long enough knows that even though I'm fairly certain irreverent is your middle name that you handle difficult and fragile situations with a natural poise.

Unfortunately the president doesn't know you that well. He respects the hell out of you for all you've accomplished and has nothing but praise for current SGC operations but he fell for the old O'Neill trick. He expressed doubt that you could effectively do the job given its scale and some of the interpersonal requirements."

Jack smirked, clearly amused, "The president thinks I'm too dumb?"

"Something like that." The older General smiled, "You don't fit the profile of the typical Washington brass. It wasn't until today that he realized that it's not a bad thing and that you can more than hold your own regardless if it's a field full of Jaffa or a board room full of politicians. As I was leaving to find you Hayes pulled me aside and mentioned that he'd be open to having that discussion about my retirement again."

Jack gave a half roll of his eyes, "I think I'd rather the field of jaffa sir."

Hammond shrugged, "I know. That's why I said this was worse than a court martial."

Jack was quiet for a long time, fidgeting with the glass in his hand. Hammond knew he was mentally reviewing what it would be to take on this new position. It wasn't like taking over the SGC, this promotion would mean a move away from his base, his home and likely most importantly, his friends. Something that was hardly uncommon for an Air Force officer but something Jack hadn't had to do in over 10 years.

Hammond's suspicions were confirmed with O'Neill's next words, "I don't suppose HWS could be moved to Colorado Springs? I mean it's not that I haven't moved bases before, it's just I'd really rather not work that close to such dense concentration of politicians…and I hear the traffic is terrible."

Hammond shook his head, "Sorry Jack. It is where it is for good reason." Seeing O'Neill fighting off a downcast face Hammond spoke up again, "Look, it's not like this is going to be happening in any immediate future. It'll be a few months at the earliest. After all we'd need to line up your replacement which is actually more difficult than finding mine…there is no one on that base ready to take the reigns."

Jack was about to speak up in defense of Carter but he realized although he had complete confidence in her, Sam's own ongoing self-doubt would be an enormous hindrance. Plus there was no way they would put anyone less than a General in that office and no matter how many times she had saved the world military promotion protocol would prevent her from getting that first star for at least a couple more years. He quickly cataloged all the full bird colonels on base and realized that not only were they few in number but the ones that were there also were not base leader potential as of yet.

With a heavy sigh he nodded, "Yeah that one is going to take some work."

Hammond clapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it now. Like I said, the president just mentioned it in passing. I just wanted you to know that this is on the horizon because how much you impressed everyone back there. So don't worry and try to enjoy the time you have at the SGC."

Jack nodded glumly.

Hammond waged an internal battle as to whether to speak what was on his mind and if so how to say it. The dejected look of a man who was just told he'd be getting an impressive promotion was enough for the older man know he should lay it out there.

"Jack, knowing this is coming is one of the reasons I'm not going to give you a lecture about not taking out The Trust when you had the chance."

Jack turned his head sharply, a questioning look on his face, "Sir?"

"A couple of weeks ago. When The Trust stole the Stargate. You had the Stargate back and knew the threat they posed. You had the opportunity to order the destruction of their ship which would have put an end to all of this nonsense and might I add, prevent the last couple of days as well."

Jack's jaw muscles visibly tensed and he returned his gaze to the bottom of his pint glass. "I know sir."

Hammond took a deep breath, "Jack, I understand why you didn't do it. Heck, there may have been a part of you that couldn't do it which is what I would have been concerned about if we knew you were staying at the SGC for the long term."

When Jack provided no reaction Hammond continued, "It's not that I have a problem with your decision making it's that your relationship to SG-1 is too close. You've always been close as a team which was fine by me when you were in the field and I knew that your bonds wouldn't just go away with your promotion but it can't keep you from making those tough calls. So look at it this way, getting promoted and moving to DC is a positive in the sense that instead of being ordered to get some structured distance between yourself and SG-1 instead you'll be free to stay as close and familial to each of them as you wish."

Jack cocked his head slightly to the side. "No concerns about favoritism then?"

Hammond shook his head, "No Jack. Like I said, specific issues happening within any of the projects aren't any of your concern. You'd have as much input about SG-1 as I have in the past year." George reached out and placed his hand on Jack's forearm, "You're their superior for sure but won't be in their direct chain of command."

Hammond congratulated himself when he saw a spark ignite and just as quickly be smothered in Jack's eyes. Slowly he nodded, "I have always wanted to bring them all to my cabin…"

Hammond chuckled as he recalled Teal'c's reaction from his first trip to the infamous O'Neill cabin. "Well Jack, if you can get them to agree to go with you no one will give you any reason not to go ahead and enjoy yourselves."

Jack nodded once and finished the rest of his beer in one gulp, returning the glass to the bar with a sense of finality.

Hammond wasn't sure how to read his actions, "Good?" he asked.

Jack nodded, "Good."

Hammond stood, "Great. Come on then."

Jack slumped, "You want me to go back there?"

Hammond laughed, "Oh yeah, you don't think you're done, do you?! Look at it this way, you'll be the only person in the room who's gotten to have a beer yet today!"

Jack mumbled, "How do you think the president would react if we came back with a 6 pack?"

Hammond smirked, "Are you kidding me? He'd probably make you Secretary of State!"