Part 3

After ten irritating minutes of dealing with "Jack being annoyed and/or a pain in the ass," depending on your perspective, Daniel sincerely welcomed the reprieve when the President and his wife walked up to them. As he maneuvered through the etiquette of greetings, he noted that, at last, Jack had finally stopped fidgeting.

The President turned to him. "Dr. Jackson, it's a pleasure to see you again. I understand you've been away on a dig."

"Yes, sir. At the Royal Tombs in the ancient Sumarian city of Ur."

"I see."

"It's part of what was once Mesopotamia. The British archaologist Wolley discovered the tombs back in 1922, but with the recent activity in the region, another's been unearthed. I was --"

"Daniel." Jack's tone had more than a warning in it.

Daniel caught himself. "Uhh, yes, of course. Sorry, sir."

"No need to apologize. I like to see a man enthusiastic about his work."

Daniel noted that the President seemed to turn to Jack with some relief, however. "So, General, enjoying the reception?"

Jack grimaced. "Sir, about your attendance here..."

The President interrupted. "We went over this earlier, Jack. And I said then I promised Markov I'd give him a hand with this, and I always keep my promises."

"Yes, sir. Of course."

The First Lady broke the brief silence that had settled. "Enough, gentlemen. On another note, General O'Neill, I look forward to meeting Colonel Carter."

Daniel noted with relief that Jack took the change of topic in stride.

"Yes, well, I wouldn't mind seeing her myself, ma'am." He glanced down at his watch yet again. "I'm sorry she's been delayed. There were some last minute issues at Cheyenne Mountain that required her attention. She should be arriving..."

He stopped in the middle of his sentence, staring at the staircase.

The President broke in. "Jack? Is there something wrong?"

"No, sir...uhh... wow."

The President looked toward the woman Jack was staring at dumbfounded. "Stunningly beautiful."

"Yeah; ya think?" Jack's voice sounded confused.

"Definitely."

The First Lady interrupted, both amused and annoyed. "Henry."

The President coughed. "Yes, of course. General, as I'm sure you're aware, neither my wife nor yours would be amused --"

"She probably will be."

"Excuse me?"

"Amused."

"General?"

"Sorry, sir. The thing is that I think that is Colonel Carter. Hard to be sure, though."

"You think that's her? Don't you know?" The President's tone was slightly startled.

"Well, I haven't seen her in two weeks. You never know what she's..."

Daniel broke in before the situation got out of hand. "Jack, you --uhh. He's joking, sir. Of course that's Colonel Carter."

"I see." It was clear from his tone that the President didn't see anything.

Jack couldn't seem to help himself. "Not a clone?"

"Jack - not funny."

"OK, alternate reality."

"Stop."

"Artificial life form?"

"Jack, we're in DC at a reception, for heaven sakes. Not Cheyenne Mountain." Daniel turned to the President. "Sir, sometimes his humor is a little ..."

"Unusual?" The President smiled.

"Actually, I was going to say unique."

The President looked back at Jack, who was still staring at the staircase. Daniel hit him in the ribs.

Jack coughed, and then smiled. "Sorry, sir. It's just that we don't get out much...uhh... I mean out of uniform... uhh. I don't exactly mean that either. Anyway, it's a nice rig."

The First Lady laughed. "General, as my husband said, the Colonel is stunningly beautiful. I suggest you be sufficiently articulate and mention it. As a woman, I have to warn you that she'll probably..." she paused, looking for a military phrase, "shoot you if all you have to say is 'nice rig'."

"That's all right then. She's threatened that any number of times."

"Jack, stop."

Jack grinned and looked toward the President and his wife. "Sir, ma'am, if you'll excuse me I'd like to go greet my wife."

"Of course." The President turned to Daniel. "Unique, you said."

"Yes, sir." Daniel sighed.

The First Lady commented, "I like him. It's rare to see a man distracted from power politics by the arrival of his wife. Refreshingly honest. "

Suddenly Daniel realized that that seemed to settle everything.

TBC…